Our subject for this seminar is the historical novel, a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting located in the past. It’s a fascinating genre to explore because it opens up so many good questions: How “true” to history do historical novels need to be? What are the strategies a writer uses to blend fiction and history? How do we respond to characters and incidents that we know are based on real-life figures? Can novels shape the way we think and write about history? We’ll look at seven novels set in England between the early 19th and 20th centuries, attending closely to their narrative strategies as well as discussing big-picture subjects like historical accuracy, authenticity, “world-building,” and nostalgia. The historical subjects we’ll study include Victorian murderesses, London, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and WWI.

Please note that assignments in this course include academic, journalistic, and creative writing. Students will be expected to write a book review; an abstract for an academic  conference; an essay pitched at an online magazine or website; and a treatment of their own idea for a historical novel.

Texts include

Barker, Pat. Regeneration

Barnes, Julian. Arthur and George

Barry, Sebastian. A Long, Long Way

Carey, Peter. Jack Maggs

Carr, Caleb. The Alienist

Ishiguro, Kazuo. The Remains of the Day

Waters, Sarah. Fingersmith