Historical Fiction - Worthy or Worthless?

Hi all.
I got this book today and I was wondering what you all think to this type of fiction weaved within a true historical event?
Do you think that it belittles and soils the memory of those that died during the action or maybe a fitting tribute?
Would it spark an interest in WWII for people that don't normally read non-fiction?
Is there any place in your collection for this fiction (if you don't normally read it)?

This book actually looks really good and Radcliffe is a deft author. Robert Harris is also another author to try out.

Dambuster: Amazon.co.uk: Robert Radcliffe: Books

 

Craig,

I believe it is akin to a double edged sword.

On the one hand if the reader is aware of the correct facts this is not a problem and may pehaps wet the appetite to search for more Historical facts on the subject.

The other side is a person not clued up on the Historical side picking up the book and reading it, just may believe they are reading factual events.
Thereby thinking the facts as read are Historically true.

I hope that books of this type are clearly marked as being a work of fiction interwoven with factual events.

I have read several novels over the years and some were good, but I was always aware that the book was a work of fiction.

Regards
Tom

 

Not read very much WW2 fiction to be honest but I did enjoy the Pat Barker Regeneration Trilogy based around the Great War.

Personally speaking I don't think books like these belittles the memory of the fallen as I am aware they are strictly works of fiction.

As somebody who owns the complete set of Flashman novels I would nominate George MacDonald Fraser as a truly superb example of someone who can write a damn fine story interwoven within historical events. They are both fairly accurate and very, very funny.

 

I always enjoyed the Leo Kessler and Sven Hassel books when I was at school-I ended up actually siding with the Germans hoping they'd beat the Russians.

The only current 'facted based fiction' book I've got is The Greater Share of Honour by Kim James. I've not read it yet but I did find out about a War Crime against some black colonial troops fighting for France that were executed and have a memorial to their name in the village.

So in short that can't be all that bad in my book.

Andy

Craig are you moaning about your B/day presents already?

 

As one who is himself half through writing a novel loosely based on his grandfather exploits I obviously sit in the 'FOR' camp. The book itself isn't an out an out war book, however, it does feature some well known operations. I have carried out a fair amount of research to insure dates,times and outcome are reflected in a factually accurate manner. It is not intended to be an historical reference book, neither is it a romantic or Rambo like book.Its about a man who went to war and was scared by it for the rest of his life and I have drawn upon my grandfathers own experiences to form the foundation of the story.

 

this is actually an interesting subject and something I think merits debate.

I write historical fiction, but there is a subject, very personal to me which I find it difficult to go with.

I have a maltese background (grandparents) and have a great affinity for the place. I also have a deep interest in the seige 1940 -42 including Faith, Hope and Charity and then the later arrival of hurricanes and spitfires to the island.

now the fighter flight had 8 pilots. but there is collectively, very very very little information about them.

so, if writing a fiction about faith hope and charity, do I use the characters names? or do I make a new unit, placed in the same historical situation.

the movie malta story goes with fictional characters and I think that is the way I MUST go.

to use historical people does them a disservice and could offend relatives and family members which is not my intention. but I'm also constrained by historical fact.

 

Craig are you moaning about your B/day presents already?

I picked it myself, mate, after reading this excellent book.



For me Harris' Enigma is the standard which all other author's should aspire to.

 

I do not read fiction, nor will I watch it, however I am sure a properly researched novel, about a subject close to your heart can make for a good read.
My experience of good research was a telephone call I received, from the author Margeret Mayhew,her books are well researched, and she had a need to know what a k2 ambulance was like to drive, she had been told you turn the key and pressed the starter, at which point I stopped her, and pointed out they don't have a key and you pull the starter, I also found it impossible to explain what they are like to drive, so I invited her to come and drive mine, this she did,(involving a 300 miles round trip) and after was able to put into words, just what it was like to be thrust into a k2 for the first time and playing God Save The Queen on the gearbox. To be fair Margaret drove it very well for a first timer, and the book is out, its called THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE, (had to read it although fiction) especially as I got a mention in the acknowledgements.
That is a well researched book, it was also nice to meet Margaret's husband the author Philip Kaplan who has written a number of ww2 books

 

George McDonald Fraser, Bernard Cornwell & Alexander Kent form the backbone of my non-fact reading, Fraser in particular was exceptional in weaving the fact and fiction.

 

"Enigma" is a special case and can't be taken as typical....due to the HUGE amount of secrecy surrounding Station X for many many years, and even today not many survivors from there will talk about it apparently. Some do, and have helped in the recovery of so much, and its preservation....but the huge missing gaps allow for fiction.

Same with the current crop of Greek/Roman historical fiction that seems to be weighing down the shelves since Troy and Gladiator hit the screens; the historical gaps SHOULD allow plenty of room for good fiction in the right context...

But I've picked up a few and have to say...the majority are excreble in the detail; good yarns....but held together by a sort of pre O-Level standard of Ecce Romani historical detail. They just don't compare to the rollicking "ancient world" novels of the original Ben Hur, or even Graves' I,Claudius, or Rosemary Sutcliffe's "canon" of post-Roman Britain-based fiction.

There has ALWAYS been good WWII fiction - and really baaaaaad stuff; when I was younger, every rack of paperbacks in shops seemed to hold a copy of Forbes' Tramp In Armour - and I at last picked up a copy a few years ago. It was awful.

The problem is....schools are actually teaching WWII history nowadays; when I was young, not many did for it was too...recent, maybe? There was a myriad of memoirs and histories - but it hadn't yet been broken down for SCHOOL history texts.

It means that there are a lot more people out there now with a LITTLE knowledge of WWII - enough to poke holes in bad novels, or in ones about subjects that are SO well known about.

So Lancer...if I were you I'd go for the idea of a "half-way house" - set a couple of fictional characters in among the real life ones - and have them interact with them to an exent. Don't make your actual protagonist a historical figure...yet because of the history and how well it's known, you can't TOTALLY divorce your story from it either! A bit of a Catch-22 for you...

 

My experience of good research was a telephone call I received, from the author Margeret Mayhew,her books are well researched, and she had a need to know what a k2 ambulance was like to drive, she had been told you turn the key and pressed the starter, at which point I stopped her, and pointed out they don't have a key and you pull the starter, I also found it impossible to explain what they are like to drive, so I invited her to come and drive mine, this she did,(involving a 300 miles round trip) and after was able to put into words, just what it was like to be thrust into a k2 for the first time and playing God Save The Queen on the gearbox. To be fair Margaret drove it very well for a first timer, and the book is out, its called THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE, (had to read it although fiction) especially as I got a mention in the acknowledgements.
That is a well researched book, it was also nice to meet Margaret's husband the author Philip Kaplan who has written a number of ww2 books

I didn't know that Kaplan was married to Mayhew having read both.

 

I have read 4/5 fictional books around the general subject of service in Burma and soldiers from that campaign. Each book has given me something different toward either understanding what it was like back then from the human point of view or has enhanced the general background of the country itself and its natural surroundings.

One day I might try writing something myself and these books will have helped mould my story as much as any factual based books. I guess the trick is to stick with trusted authors who remain faithful to the history and reality of their subject matter.

Two examples are:

'A Soldier's Return', by Melvyn Bragg. This book is very well delivered and portrays the difficulties of returning home to a country that has changed, but has not changed as much as the soldier and the things he has witnessed. My grandfather sadly did not return, so this book gave me an insight into the traumas and inner conflict some men suffered on their return into civil life.

'Burma Boy', by Biyi Bandele. This is a beautiful little book and is so well researched you never once thought it was anything other than a real true life account. One of those books you never want to end.

 

Hi Gage,
Philip Kaplan gave me his new book, Chariots of Fire, 2006?, it was definitely him, they came together, and I thought she said Mayhew was her pen name, what did you think of the novel, was it accurate, regards lofty

 

I guess the trick is to stick with trusted authors who remain faithful to the history and reality of their subject matter.

Two examples are:

'A Soldier's Return', by Melvyn Bragg. This book is very well delivered and portrays the difficulties of returning home to a country that has changed, but has not changed as much as the soldier and the things he has witnessed. My grandfather sadly did not return, so this book gave me an insight into the traumas and inner conflict some men suffered on their return into civil life.

And that's the OTHER secret - it's "Everyman's" story, while about named characters....the story could have happened to ANYONE coming home. In other words - it's intended to strike a non-specific chord in the reader

 

Hi Gage,
Philip Kaplan gave me his new book, Chariots of Fire, 2006?, it was definitely him, they came together, and I thought she said Mayhew was her pen name, what did you think of the novel, was it accurate, regards lofty

I've read a couple of Mayhew's


This being one.

Also Kaplan being involved with 'The Few' and 'Around The Clock'.

 

When I was a lad my favourite fiction book was 'Covenant With Death' by John Harris.
About a 'Pals' battalion being formed & then destroyed on July 1st 1916.
It was rather good & not as dry as a non-fiction book would be. I enjoyed his WW2 books as well.
Sometimes it's nice to escape into a novel.
Saying that I don't read them now I'm a 'grown up'.

Owen I enjoyed and still enjoy this book. This was one that got me interested in finding out the facts, as did Tell England by Ernest Raymond, a novel about the English involvment at Gallipoli.

Novelisations can whett the appetite and instill a desire to learn more, as do movies, but more and more people seem to believe they are true. It's a sad day when you have to tell people that Hitler did die in Berlin in 1945 and not Paris in '44!

 

Interesting thread!

I quite enjoy good historical fiction but the memorable books are few and far between. If based on an accurate depiction of events I think it serves a useful purpose.

My favourite is The High White Forest by Ralph Allen.

 

I always enjoyed the Leo Kessler and Sven Hassel books when I was at school-I ended up actually siding with the Germans hoping they'd beat the Russians.
lol - same for me, I'm ashamed to say

I'm definately in the 'FOR' camp, but it - somewhat obviously - depends on the author. I thought 'Piece of Cake' was splendid, and Deighton's 'Bomber' was pretty good - I expect 'Goodbye Mikey Mouse' is good too, although I haven't read it. Waugh's 'Sword of Honour' is so dry it should come with a health warning, but still funny. Looking further afield, I've read quite a few of James A. Michener's books and found them wonderfully informative about their respective subjects ... although some of them were pretty hard reads ('Poland', I'm looking at you).

Fiction can be used to explore and illuminate ideas and themes that aren't really practical for a non-fiction book. It's somewhat similar with photos and paintings or drawings. Some time ago I spent a reasonable amount of time looking at photos from various phases of the fighting in North Africa, but what I found most useful for getting an idea of the subtlety of changes in elevation, and the importance of a few feet along the Alamein line - for example - were paintings and sketches. A camera will take a photo of what the lens sees, with no interpretation. A good photographer can take better photos, superb photos, even, but they're still kind of limited. An artist, on the other hand, can use subtle variations of colour and shading to accentuate the depth of the el Mrier depression, for example, and the steepness of its banks. That's something photographers really struggle with, based on the photos I've seen. Along those lines, I don't think that 'Piece of Cake' could have been written about a real squadron.

A good author that does good research, and uses that to inform and populate the world their characters move in, will likely come up with a good, interesting, engaging and informative read. I like those books

Regards
Jon

Off Topic a little: George Macdonald Fraser, of course, wrote a fabulous non-fiction book about his time in Burma. Hysterically funny in places, too.