[authorme] PUBLISHING EMERGING WRITERS, OCTOBER 2013

From: Bruce Cook <cookcomm@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Newsletter <authorme@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 07:28:08 -0500
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*In this issue... Viewpoints in Historical Fiction*

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*Viewpoints in Historical Fiction**
***by Bruce L. Cook

<http://www.derekhaines.ch/>

Viewpoints in Historical Fiction

By Bruce L. Cook

Have you considered multiple viewpoints for historical fiction?

The main consideration in these novels is the need for careful research.
And it’s not always easy, as anyone can testify when has tried to find out
controversial historical tidbits like – “Who invented the wristwatch?” or
“When invented the telephone?”

In my own writing, I needed to discover accurate historical facts regarding
a little known German attack on the Port of Brindisi in Italy. While this
sounds like an easy assignment, I was amazed to make two discoveries.
First, that main facts, like the date and time of the attack, were the
hardest to pin down. And second, that history was resplendent with the
least significant facts.

In the novel, once the story’s conflict is set and facts about setting and
events development are solid, the author needs to create and accurately
describe the characters. This can be a tall order, especially if the
characters have to be revealed through omniscient glimpses the author
inserts along the way.

An alternative is to describe characters, settings, and events through the
eyes of several main characters. Here we need to suspend any traditional
requirement for the author to comment directly or through the eyes of a
character. Instead, the author makes the action and setting vivid by
showing the actions of characters and their reactions to other characters.
It’s effective, but it’s also a challenge.

I was made aware of the possibility by the recent release of *His Kingdom
Come: A Novel* by Margaret Montreuil. Here the author created a startlingly
accurate story of the events surrounding and following the crucifixion of
Christ.  (Her former historical novel, *In His Sandals*, focused on the
Life of Christ.) Most importantly, the reader sees events through the eyes
of those closest to him.

The story gains its power through the variety of viewpoints used in telling
the story. We see events, in separate chapters, through the eyes of James,
Joses, and Jude (brothers of Christ), Miriam (sister of Lazarus), Daniel
(Jesus’ boyhood friend), the Apostles Simon Peter and Paul, and a newly
introduced scribe of Caiaphas court – Judah. In my view, the introduction
of this somewhat fictional character makes it possible for the reader to
understand what is happening in the context of the scriptures of the day –
necessarily best known by a scribe in the Temple’s court.

This novel is most significant in helping readers learn the chronology of
these events, considering that historical accounts are usually studied in
isolation from each other. Secondly, for writers, it’s a useful study of
writing technique because the author took the time to address events
through many characters’ eyes, thus helping readers achieve a vivid
impression.

Reference:

His Kingdom Come: A Novel, by Margaret Montreuil (Bloomington: Westbow
Press, 2011

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    Publishing Emerging Writers

    October 2013 (No. 1410)

   Publisher: Cookcomm - Bruce L. Cook, 1407 Getzelman Dr.t.,

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