Learning History through Fiction
This page supports riverside Girls' Yr 9 Elective History unit on Historical Fiction.
This page supports riverside Girls' Yr 9 Elective History unit on Historical Fiction.
"We all know that history is written by the victors, but the matter doesn't end there. History is also written by the powerful, the educated, the privileged. By people who toe--and sometimes the ones who shape--the party line. People of the wrong gender, race, class, or nationality not only don't get to write history, they often don't even get to appear in it. It's one of the tasks of historians to address the gaps and deficits in the official record, but this is also where historical fiction can come in, giving a voice to those who were denied it at the time."
Asking the Wrong Questions, Abigail Nussbaum. http://wrongquestions.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/history-repeated-two-views-on-wars-of.html (This blog is also a good model for what you need to do in this assignment)
This page begins with some general articles about historical novels and some readings about using historical fiction to teach history. You could start with these readings or read them at the end to clarify or support your ideas. You don't have to read all the parts of academic studies - Read the "Abstract" section at the beginning or scroll down to the "Discussion" section to see what the researcher found out. Then go back and read the whole article if you think it is relevant.
After this you can find lists of historical novels from the school library. They are grouped by historical period, in chronological order. Each period includes authors, author websites and a list of links to historical information about that period. This information is sorted into the following headings:
Asking the Wrong Questions, Abigail Nussbaum. http://wrongquestions.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/history-repeated-two-views-on-wars-of.html (This blog is also a good model for what you need to do in this assignment)
This page begins with some general articles about historical novels and some readings about using historical fiction to teach history. You could start with these readings or read them at the end to clarify or support your ideas. You don't have to read all the parts of academic studies - Read the "Abstract" section at the beginning or scroll down to the "Discussion" section to see what the researcher found out. Then go back and read the whole article if you think it is relevant.
After this you can find lists of historical novels from the school library. They are grouped by historical period, in chronological order. Each period includes authors, author websites and a list of links to historical information about that period. This information is sorted into the following headings:
- Daily Life: Food, Fashion, Streets and buildings, Sports and hobbies, Education, Medicine
- People and Politics: Events, Inventions, leaders and celebrities, Important dates
- Society: Social classes, Gender roles, Religion and superstition, attitudes and values, rights and freedoms
IMPORTANT: Let me know which book you are using and I'll add links for it!
Historical NovelsHistorical Novel Society (Definition of a historical novel) [https://historicalnovelsociety.org/guides/defining-the-genre/defining-the-genre-what-are-the-rules-for-historical-fiction/]
History today (Rising popularity of historical fiction) [http://historytodaymagazine.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/historical-novels-are-back-in-fashion.html] Stories we tell about the past [https://theconversation.com/historical-fiction-fictional-history-stories-we-tell-about-the-past-40315] Histroy of historical fiction, looking at the difference between historical fiction and fictional history The Distant Mirror: Reflections on Young Adult Historical Fiction (Look it up on googlebooks. It's not all there but you'll find some excellent quotes and you can search for keywords). Includes discussion of marketing and new directions such as diary formats. The Female Figure in Contemporary Historical Fiction (Look it up on googlebooks. It's not all there but you'll find some excellent quotes and you can search for keywords)Focuses on the anachronistic sexualisation of women in historical fiction. |
Teaching History through fictionSeven Reasons I teach Historical Fiction
[http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/why-and-how-i-teach-historical-fiction] (Ignore the advertising booklist) Why teach historical fiction? (Includes excellent evaluation questions)[http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/cthistory/81.ch.10.x.html]How to evaluate historical novels [http://www.erpjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ERPV32-1_Groce-E.-and-Groce-R.-2005.-Authenticating-historical-fiction-.pdf] A Critical View [http://teachinghistory.org/issues-and-research/roundtable-response/25287] |
Ancient History
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Rome Steven Saylor Roman Blood Ancient Greece Adele Geras Troy |
There are lots of introductory texts on ancient civilisations in the Non-fiction section. Look in
If you're studying a retelling of an ancient tale, (eg Troy) it might be a good idea to look at the original ancient Greek text as well as general texts on society at that time. You can find introductions to these primary sources at Classical Literature [http://www.ancient-literature.com/index.html]. Many translations of the primary sources can be found at The Internet Classics Archive [http://classics.mit.edu/Browse/index.html]. |
Imperial China; Cultural Revolution
Adeline Yen Mah
Chinese Cinderella and the secret Dragon Chinese Cinderella The Mystery of The Song Dynasty Painting Carole Wilkinson Dragonkeeper |
Medieval History
Changeling Philippa Gregory
Pagan in Exile Catherine Jinks Pagan’s Crusade Catherine Jinks A Morbid Taste for Bones Ellis Peters Rosemary for Remembrance Felicity Pulman Rue for Repentance Lilies for Love Felicity Pulman Willows for Weeping Felicity Pulman Absolution by Murder Peter Tremayne |
Books about Medieval History can be found in the Non-fiction section at 940.1. they will give you a good general overview, but look elsewhere for detailed information.
You might also want to look at the links on Riverside's Medieval History page [http://aghslibraryhome.weebly.com/medieval-history.html] or speak to Ms Carmyn about a particular area of interest. (This is her area of specialisation - she has lots of resources at home! ) |
Renaissance History
The Lady Grace Mysteries (Feud) Grace Cavendish
The Lady Grace Mysteries (Deception) Grace Cavendish A Secret Alchemy Emma Darwin Raven Queen Pauline Francis The Queen’s Fool Philippa Gregory City of Masks Mary Hoffman At the House of the Magician Mary Hooper The Remarkable Life & Times of Eliza Rose Mary Hooper The Inquisitor Catherine Jinks The Raven’s Wing Frances Watta |
Key sites about Elizabethan England include:
Elizabethan England [http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-england.htm] Life in Elizabethan England [http://www.elizabethan.org/compendium/] Broward Country Schools has a comprehensive portal with links to many aspects of Elizabethan Life BBC has an informative series (3 episodes) called The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England. this is presented from the perspective of a modern tourist which is similar to what a historical writer would be doing, so it's well worth a look, especially if you don't much like reading. |
Colonisation, Slavery and Revolution
Laurie Halse Anderson
Chains (life as a slave) Forge (Slavery and the war against England) Kate Forsyth The Gypsy Crown (Gyspy fantasy/adventure during english Civil War) Kelly Gardiner The Sultan’s Eyes Julia Golding Black Heart of Jamaica Cat O’Nine Tails Cat among the Pigeons The Ruby Talisman Belinda Murrell Fireworks & Darkness Natalie Jane Prior Pirates! Celia Rees Pirates! Celia Rees Tracey Chevalier Girl with a Pearl Earring |
Girl With a Pearl Earring is set in C17th Netherlands and is a partly fictional biography of the painter, Vermeer [http://www.essentialvermeer.com/vermeer's_life.html#.VjgSc_nvO70] who lived in Delft. You can listen to the author discuss her inspirations and writing process at Ted Talks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCg2NcGYu34].[http://www.essentialvermeer.com/maps/delft/delft_in_vermeer's_time.html#.VjgS5PnvO70].
For more academic background research you could read a feminist critique of the novel [http://www.fermentmagazine.org/essays/3novels.html] or learn about the economic status of artists [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3780327?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents] at the Guild to which Vermeer belonged. |
Regency England
Arabella Georgette Heyer
Cotilion Georgette Heyer |
Victorian England
In the Shadow of the Lamp Susanne Dunlap
The Wild Girl Kate Forsyth A Very Peculiar Plague Catherine Jinks A Very Singular Guild Catherine Jinks A Very Unusual Pursuit Catherine Jinks The Locket of Dreams Belinda Murrell The Ivory Rose Belinda Murrell India Dark Kristy Murray |
1920s - The Jazz Age
The Green Mill Murder Kerry Greenwood
Murder on the Ballarat Train Kerry Greenwood Flying Too High Kerry Greenwood |
Colonial America
Grace and the Guiltless Erin Johnson
Cate of the Lost Colony Lisa Klein Witch Child Celia Rees Sorceress Celia Rees |
Australian History
The Girl from Snowy River Jackie French
The Road to Gundagai Jackie French The Secret River Kate Grenville Bridies Fire kirsty Murray A Girl like Me Penny Matthews |
World War II
Pennies for Hitler Jackie French
When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit Judith Kerr The Forgotten Pearl Belinda Murrell Tamar Mal Peet |