tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post4397975751801930141..comments2024-03-09T11:34:22.175+00:00Comments on The History Girls: Heard It All Before? Catherine JohnsonMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-12350288603623050192012-04-15T12:45:50.004+01:002012-04-15T12:45:50.004+01:00I've blogged a lot about this myself. There&#...I've blogged a lot about this myself. There's the quotation by Peter Ackroyd it may be that "Without history, democracy is dumb." Without history, we have no sense of our own identity or the journey of civilisation and we're lost souls. Or maybe primordial slugs.<br /><br />And I sense too that part of the great hunger for historical fiction is that our schools and politicians have so signally failed to support the teaching of history, so signally failed to give us that anchor...and historical fiction, at its best, teaches but in an engaging, enthralling, way--it's not just names and dates and battles, it's people. And that really is history. Without the people, it's geography! <br /><br />Okay, I'm getting carried away. My apologies. But I feel so strongly about this. Loved this blog. Best--MMM.M. Bennettshttp://www.mmbennetts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-84451901184361537162012-04-15T12:14:39.313+01:002012-04-15T12:14:39.313+01:00Fascinating post. It's easy to be nostalgic bu...Fascinating post. It's easy to be nostalgic but, for most, life was hard and short.In my own novels I like to write about some of the grittier aspects of living in the past, which prevents a love story from being too 'sweet'.Charlotte Bettshttp://www.charlottebetts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-39444368301632435822012-04-15T09:49:44.874+01:002012-04-15T09:49:44.874+01:00I think historical fiction and fantasy can both pr...I think historical fiction and fantasy can both provide an alternate world through which to explore themes and situations which are relevant to the modern reader. Sometimes in contemporary fiction, because I know the world described I find myself sidetracked with thinking about how realistic / unrealistic something is. Also it can be safer for a writer to explore contemporary issues in this way (even unconsciously). Maybe historical romance isn't looking too hard at politics but it does explore gender etc - the changing nature of the romantic hero a clear indicator of that. It has always been thus Aeschylus' Oresteia used characters/myths/ancIent history to explore contemporary political ideas.Meg McNultyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04985840066083718618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-35436290526299088542012-04-14T20:45:59.204+01:002012-04-14T20:45:59.204+01:00An interesting post, Catherine. And I agree, The ...An interesting post, Catherine. And I agree, The Devil's Whore was brilliant - but I was beginning to think I was the only person who remembered it.Ann Turnbullhttp://www.annturnbull.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-60322946573686066012012-04-14T17:21:59.716+01:002012-04-14T17:21:59.716+01:00Celia have you seen the National Theatre of Scotla...Celia have you seen the National Theatre of Scotland have been devising another piece about the press? Deborah orr talks about it in todays Guardian, I shall definitely look for tickets!<br />And btw thought you addressed the same issue re soldiers in This Is Not Forgiveness. A great read.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14610226884546830879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-4310116405378250442012-04-14T15:54:37.761+01:002012-04-14T15:54:37.761+01:00Excellent post, Catherine. I certainly agree that ...Excellent post, Catherine. I certainly agree that Historical Fiction is not all about escapism, nostalgia bonnets and bustles. It can also present uncomfortable truths about the past and therefore the present. One of its functions is to rip away comfortable assumptions about the past, whether about class, race, or conflict. I also saw Black Watch - a tremendous piece of theatre and agree that the reality for serving soldiers in terms of the reasons for them joining up, their experience on the battlefield and the ambivalence with which the civilian population treats them has changed little form the Recruiting Sergeant, through Kipling's Tommy Atkins to the present.Celia Reeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059549379622664741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-52911449576113161752012-04-14T12:22:59.960+01:002012-04-14T12:22:59.960+01:00Very interesting post! I've seen it mooted tha...Very interesting post! I've seen it mooted that historical romance/love stories etc are very popular because there's nothing much nowadays to prevent your loving anyone you like! Not sure that's true but it's something to think about. Not so much at stake nowadays if you defy your parents, religion etc. No ostracism if you have a child without being married etc.adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-12087106581756740012012-04-14T10:42:43.861+01:002012-04-14T10:42:43.861+01:00Great post, Catherine, and I couldn't agree wi...Great post, Catherine, and I couldn't agree with you more - some of the cliches about historical fiction/ dramas are infuriating, as many posts on History Girls have pointed out. Yes, some HF is ovaltine-safe and nostalgic, just as most Sci-Fi is fearful and pessimistic. We know about the past and we worry about the future. As you say, at the heart of stories set in the past are the people, and the fact that these historical characters are moving in different social and political landscapes only serves to highlight our own situation and clarify own ideas.Linda B-Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01599899073420595717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-17852200973913982452012-04-14T08:27:29.969+01:002012-04-14T08:27:29.969+01:00To be human, with all the lies, frailties and madn...To be human, with all the lies, frailties and madness, does not change so much. Historical fiction can be cosy...the best can also teach hard truths.<br /><br />Very good post. Thank you.Essie Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04611324005960689918noreply@blogger.com