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"The historian, if honest, gives us a photograph; the storyteller gives us a painting."
- From "Historical Fiction for our Global Times", Leon Garfield

     It has been said that there is a fine line between fact and fiction. Historical fiction, and for that matter history itself, proves the case. Even the most carefully researched historical thesis is likely to contain some errors. Often it is through no fault of the historian, because sources are fallible and are subject to interpretation. Sometimes the original sources are incomplete, contradictory and/or are written by people who at the time wrote journals that were self-serving.
     Authors of historical fiction face the same challenge. While their novels may lack the accuracy of a non-fiction history book, the best authors of historical fiction strive to capture essential historical truths. This is Leon Garfield’s essential point. History books present historical facts, often in support of the author's thesis. The best historical fiction “gives us a painting” that adds color and depth to our understanding of the past.
     This ability to capture the essential truth is the ultimate test of both traditional historiography and historical fiction. History books may be accurate, yet ineffective in making an essential point. Simply presenting readers with a synopsis of key dates, people and events doesn't always succeed in helping us understand their significance. Historical fiction, by definition, includes some deviation from historical fact. Yet it, too, often succeeds or fails based upon the author’s ability to communicate an essential historical truth.
     In this instance, truth is defined as more than a collection of facts. It is the historian's ability to relate the essence of an historical event in a manner that communicates its historical significance. While historical novelists may not adhere as closely to historical fact, the best historical authors meet a similar standard in their ability to communicate the significance of an historical event.
     Authors of historical fiction write novels that run the gamut between truth and fiction. In some cases, their books are meticulously researched and include extensive notes. They may attempt to recreate historical events as accurately as possible using real characters. Sometimes only the dialogue is fabricated, and even then conversations are recreated as closely as possible based upon historical sources such as letters or newspaper articles.
     On the other end of spectrum, some writers place their stories and characters in historical settings, but the history itself is frequently distorted and/or incidental to the story. Since a key purpose of assigning historical fiction in the context of a history class is to stimulate an interest in real history, books that fall into this category have not been included in the book reviews on this web site. The following list organizes the books reviewed on this site into a scale that approximates the author's approach to historical truth.

Non-Fiction History

Narrative Non-fiction History

Mostly Non-fiction - Recreated Conversations

Historical Fiction - Mostly Real Characters and Events

Historical Fiction -
Many Real Characters and Events

Historical Fiction - Mostly Fictional Characters and Events

Fiction - History Incidental to the Story

Historical Fiction - Recreated Conversations
* Essentially non-fiction, but conversations are based upon speculation, not fact.
* All characters and historical events are real.
* Extensive bibliographies and source notes are usually included.
Examples:
The Frontiersmen. Allan W. Eckert.
Killer Angels. Michael Shaara.
Lincoln. Gore Vidal.

Historical Fiction - Mostly Real Characters and Events
* Mostly true, conversations are based upon speculation, not fact.
* Most characters and historical events are real, though the author may occasionally embellish the story by adding characters or modifying historical events or settings.
* Bibliographies and source notes, if included, are usually limited.
Examples:
1812. David Nevin.
Burr. Gore Vidal.
Dream West. David Nevin.
Red Cap. G. Clifton Wisler.
Thousand Pieces of Gold. Ruthanne Lum McCunn.

Historical Fiction - Many Real Characters and Events
* Fiction, but many characters and most of the portrayed historical events are real.
* The basic plot is fictional, but the historical setting and surrounding events are central to the story.
* Bibliographies and source notes, if included, are usually limited.
* Author notes may include some information regarding which events are real and which are not.
Examples:
Just Like Martin. Ossie Davis.
The Bridges of Toki-Ri. James Michener.
The Fifth of March. Ann Rinaldi.
The Jungle. Upton Sinclair.
Time Enough for Drums. Ann Rinaldi.
Winds of War. Herman Wouk.
War and Remembrance. Herman Wouk.
Wolf by the Ears. Ann Rinaldi.

Historical Fiction - Mostly Fictional Characters and Events
* Most characters and many of the historical events are embellished or fictional, though they are usually based upon real historical events.
* The basic plot is fictional, but the historical setting and surrounding events are central to the story.
* Bibliographies and source notes, if included at all, are very limited.
* Author Notes may include some information regarding which events are real and which are not.
Examples:
Angle of Repose. Wallace Stegner.
Centennial. James Michener.
Legacy. James Michener.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Mildred D. Taylor.