Features
Handling Contradictions: Margaret George on the Challenges Posed by Young Nero
A challenge of writing historical fiction arises when authors encounter popular opinion that runs contrary to documented fact. For example,…
New Voices: Marc Graham, Linnea Hartsuyker, Jess Kidd & Crystal King
Legends are refreshed and new historical insights expressed by debut novelists Marc Graham, Linnea Hartsuyker, Jess Kidd, and Crystal King.…
Conjuring the Essex Serpent: Sarah Perry & the Modern Gothic Novel
When Sarah Perry’s husband told her the legend of a winged serpent menacing villages deep in the Essex countryside, her…
New Books by HNS Members, May 2017
Welcome to the first appearance of this listing, which features new historical fiction releases by Historical Novel Society members. The…
A Starring Role: Female Detectives Take Centre Stage
Female detectives first made their appearance in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1864, the female detective stepped into…
Writing Marlene: History, Story & Fact
Don’t defame the dead” is the adage among historical fiction writers. We mustn’t slander a protagonist who actually lived, unless…
Red Pencil: Girl in Disguise
Cindy Vallar analyzes the work behind published manuscripts. In this issue, she profiles Greer Macallister’s Girl in Disguise (Sourcebooks, 2017).…
Facts Behind the Fiction: Jennifer Robson’s Goodnight from London
Historical Novels Review’s prolific 20th-century section is proof that WWII-era fiction remains one of the hottest historical subgenres. Jennifer Robson,…
Celebrating 20 Years: A Personal Impression of the HNS by Founder Richard Lee
I began the society with an A4 leaflet folded into three. It proudly boasted of the society, which it described…
Engagement not Promotion: How Historical Novelists Can Be a Gateway to the Past
Every author of historical fiction wants to inspire readers to delve into the past, the one they’ve created in their…
About our Features
Our features are original articles from our print magazines (these will say where they were originally published) or original articles commissioned for this site. If you would like to contribute an article for the magazine and/or site, please contact us. While our articles are usually written by members, this is not obligatory. No features are paid for.
We also occasionally publish original short fiction features – on a very selective basis. We do pay for our fiction. Please read more about our original short fiction here.
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Latest Comments
- Claudia Oltean on "The Tourist, the Expat and the Native: A Traveler’s Approach to Crafting Historical Fiction": Your article is excellent on every level - content, perspective, writing. As …
- Martha Conway on "The Tourist, the Expat and the Native: A Traveler’s Approach to Crafting Historical Fiction": I love this observance about an author who is revising her book: …
- Avonna on "The Earl by Katharine Ashe highlights 19th-century women’s rights": Excellent review!
- Christina Courtenay on "Lesley Downer’s The Shogun’s Queen and the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan": It's a great book, Marius, I highly recommend it! Thank you for …
- Marius Kwint on "Lesley Downer’s The Shogun’s Queen and the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan": Very interesting: brings to life the imperial background to processes of globalisation …