Is Historical Fiction Growing in Popularity?

megsm07 · Post by **megsm07** » 06 Oct 2015, 20:39

I love reading about the history and significance a place and then visiting it. I enjoy having knowledge about a place and then seeing that knowledge become tangible when I visit it in person. England is a prime example - it has such a rich history. Reading about the Tower of London for example: its purpose, those who were "guests", what happened within its walls...then visiting the Tower and seeing in person all that I had read about was incredible.

Jsam+04 · Post by **Jsam+04** » 08 Oct 2015, 20:57

I agree that the demand is growing. I feel the older you get the more you search in the past.

B3cca 3ll3r · Post by **B3cca 3ll3r** » 12 Oct 2015, 14:17

I am a big fan of historical fiction! I'd love to hear some of people's favorite books and authors that drew you into historical fiction as a genre. The first "historical fiction" I ever really got into was the scholastic series "Royal Diaries", the series are a group of fictional diaries from princesses around the world based on events that happened in there real lives. My top favorite has to be Phillipa Greggory, her series about the women involved the Wars of the Roses and the Tudor monarchy are really delightful. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and the novels by Lisa See were a really great way for me to better understand the history and cultures of China and Japan.

carolinevieyra · Post by **carolinevieyra** » 26 Oct 2015, 01:57

Well; it has a solid base that lets a reader explore the style deeper and more carefully than most modern musings.

Squirrel2 · Post by **Squirrel2** » 02 Nov 2015, 21:43

I love that historical fiction is gaining popularity! It's amazing to hear about true historical events that authors then take creative liberties to bring these events to life. It helps me feel the joys and sorrows of these times. I am always impressed by the amount of research the authors do in order to keep the accuracy of the period including cities, architecture, historical figures, and artifacts.

PaulR · Post by **PaulR** » 25 Nov 2015, 14:31

Designation Historical Fiction is usually a good indicator of a strong educational aspect for a book. But readers keen for finding knowledge in their reading better be prepared to judge how much of history described in a book is fiction.

Emmanuel · Post by **Emmanuel** » 20 Dec 2015, 13:26

I love history right from my child day. I even prefer movies that are historical to any other category

MotherTheresa · Post by **MotherTheresa** » 17 Feb 2016, 11:10

Historical fiction is a great way to learn about a time period you would otherwise not be interested in learning about.

Paliden · Post by **Paliden** » 17 Feb 2016, 11:19

I've always loved Historical fiction but I also think that it has been growing due to the influence of shows like "Downton Abbey".

anamcara · Post by **anamcara** » 17 Feb 2016, 11:25

Outside of fantasy, historical fiction is one of my favorites. Historical fiction transports you to awesome worlds! If you go to Amazon, Goodreads, and other bookstore sites, historical fiction is one of the most popular genres. If my one son hadn't sent me some books to read that he likes (Darren Shan's The Demonata series), I would be finishing up Game of Thrones and moving on to The Moonlit Garden and Winter Men. But I've got a box of books to read and send to my son and it may take me a couple of more weeks to a month before I get done with them.

Illustrationsbybec · Post by **Illustrationsbybec** » 25 Apr 2016, 03:03

I've always been a big history fan, and studied it as long as I could at university. I love historical fiction because it helps me put a heartbeat into the stories I know to be true, and I personally find the facts easier to remember when they're linked to a compelling story or character.

Vermont Reviews · Post by **Vermont Reviews** » 25 Apr 2016, 05:58

Ealasaid wrote:
ALynnPowers wrote:
bookowlie wrote:
Strange but true. I look back at the September 11th attacks and think this subject will be in historical fiction years from now.
Exactly. And that was already 14 years ago (almost)! Technically it's already a historic event!
It's a historic even to my kids. My 12-year-old was born a year after September 11th. To them, it is an event in history that their parents witnessed. We talk about it when the anniversary comes, because my husband and I still remember the horror and sadness of that day, but I can tell that it is not "real" to them.

In a similar way, that is how I viewed things that my parents witnessed. Like the Vietnam War or JFK's assassination.

We all play a part in historical fiction whether we want to or not.

Very interesting thought, ALynn.

-- 25 Apr 2016, 05:58 --

Vermont Reviews wrote:
Ealasaid wrote:
ALynnPowers wrote: Exactly. And that was already 14 years ago (almost)! Technically it's already a historic event!
It's a historic even to my kids. My 12-year-old was born a year after September 11th. To them, it is an event in history that their parents witnessed. We talk about it when the anniversary comes, because my husband and I still remember the horror and sadness of that day, but I can tell that it is not "real" to them.

In a similar way, that is how I viewed things that my parents witnessed. Like the Vietnam War or JFK's assassination.

We all play a part in historical fiction whether we want to or not.

Very interesting thought, ALynn.

We all play a part in historical fiction whether we want to or not.

BaseballMom · Post by **BaseballMom** » 02 May 2016, 09:49

I think it's our maturity. I feel I wasn't interested, or too selfish, in school where I should have learned more about history. Now that I'm in my 40s and not wrapped up in myself I cannot drink enough of it in. Historical fiction is certainly my favorite genre now.

Vermont Reviews · Post by **Vermont Reviews** » 02 May 2016, 19:40

I have loved history for a long time. I feel that it is very important to know about what came before.

its a mun thing · Post by **its a mun thing** » 05 May 2016, 01:06

Unfortunately, what I see, and if you have noticed the "popularity" while you are in publishing ill unravel the secret for you. young readers buy leather bound barns and noble edition of the classics and historical fictions because they are "pretty and look absolutely gorgeous on my shelves" and it is actually many peoples guilty pleasure to buy book they will NEVER open just because the cover looks nice and the spine is used as an interior decor.