Genre+Study

Source: [] __**Historical Fiction **__

The //American Heritage Dictionary,// Second College Edition, defines "Historical" and "Fiction" in part as follows: **// Historical, //**// adj. **1.** Of, relating to, or of the character of history. **2.** Based on or concerned with events in history. //   **// Fiction, //**// n. **4.a.** A literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. **b.** The category of literature comprising works of this kind, including novels, short stories, and plays. //  The definition of historical fiction is the combination of certain elements of both of these definitions. For instance: a literary work or category whose content is produced by the imagination and based on or concerned with events in history.


 * Depictions of real historical figures in the context of the challenges they faced.
 * Depictions of real historical figures in imagined situations.
 * Depictions of fictional characters in documented historical situations.
 * Depictions of fictional characters in fictional situations, but in the context of a real historical period (i.e//. The Devil's Arithmetic//)