History is in the Details

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you've had this happen: a friend says, "I just read this wonderful novel and it takes place in, [insert your favorite era], and I just know you'll love it! Here! Tell me what you think when you're done."

You pick up the book and across the front is emblazoned, "Over One Million Copies in Print!" and the back is full of accolades. All of this convinces you that, yes, you might like this book, but then you start reading it and...

 California, 1850:

"She felt so plain in the white shirtwaist and dark linsey-woolsey skirt. She put on the pink calico apron with matching bonnet and sighed as she headed to town. She wished she had enough money to buy some of the new Japanese silk coming in through Sacramento, but her husband had to purchase more barbed wire to fence in the back forty."

Are you silently screaming? While I did not quote any work exactly, it is based on something I recently read after being told numerous times it was a book I must read. What is sad, is the plot of the book isn't too terribly bad and the writing itself is fairly good, but the author was not prepared to write using an historical setting. This will assuredly grate on the nerves of anyone who frequently reads more well researched historical fiction or non fiction history titles. It is the same as seeing someone dressed in period attire, in an historical setting, holding a cell phone or coke can.

In the living history community, when someone makes an error with their impression--whether unintentionally or due to intentional laziness or apathy--the person or anachronistic object are labeled a "farb" or "farby." There are several tales as to the term's origins and meanings; I subscribe to the belief it means, "Far-Be-It-From-Accurate."

These "farby" moments in historical fiction can easily be avoided with just a little extra work and caution. What are some steps that can be taken to avoid including anachronistic elements in historical fiction? I will give you the steps I take below:

1.) Care deeply about getting things right. Shockingly, I've discovered some--like the young man in the photograph--who don't care at all about history, but they write fiction in an historical setting merely because they believe it will sell. I never tackle a time period I can't bond with on an emotional level. Make sure that whatever time and place you choose is one that you absolutely LOVE.

2.) Read some non-fiction about that time period. A lot of non-fiction. And include books, not just Internet searches. (And never use a film for reference! Just watch some episodes by the "History Buff" on YouTube to see what I mean. That is also probably where the author writing about 1850's California got the idea about what the female character should be wearing.)

3.) To continue on the subject above, look for the following types of non-fiction: 

• Basic political/economic overview of the time. Who was ruling? What were hot political topics? Was there a war? What was happening economically? Who were the key historical figures at the time--and don't forget to look at these issues from several decades before. Just as today we know about the Vietnam War, the Beetles, Reagan, Clinton, etc. so people in 1850 would still be talking about the annexation of Texas five years earlier and the war with Mexico. This information would avoid the mistake above about "Japanese silk," as trade with Japan had not yet begun.
• Diaries and memoirs. While these can't always be found--especially when looking at pre-Reformation when most individual were illiterate, if they do exist, make sure to read some. This is the best way to try and get into the heads of the people of another time or place. My character, Bertram, truly formed after reading several period diaries.
• Social and odd histories. I've read books on the history of food. I've read one on salt and many on the history of medicine. These all help me to understand the little things in the lives of the people I am trying to represent. Such as I can say barbed wire was not used until the 1880's and so no farmer would be buying it in 1850 California. Be forewarned, however, this research may just ruin many things for you. (Such as I have been reading about Scottish history and read about the history of the kilt. The movie Braveheart has been utterly ruined for me.)

4.) Pay attention to the details. If you describe what a character is wearing, make sure it is correct. If you describe them eating, be sure you know what would be available and affordable for your character. Before refrigeration you need to contend with what was in season. If you describe items on a shelf in a store, be sure you've done research to know what should be there. Never assume because you saw it on some television show! It's these details that can make or break a piece of historical fiction.

5.) Be wary of invention dates verses when and where the items were used. In the past, inventions took years to find their way into the lives of every day people. The telephone may have been in first successfully used in 1876, but it wasn't until well after 1900 that they began finding their way into American homes.

6.) Do not forget art! I use art history to gather information on clothing, furniture, and food of the times. Be sure to use art that is fairly contemporary to the time, and read up a little on the artist and the painting to be sure it wasn't some odd fantastical representation. A good example would be the painting of the "Last Cartridge" of the Franco Prussian War. While it the artist clearly had access to the place and many of the uniforms of the time, he took artistic license elsewhere. (The standing officer was truly wounded in the leg, but accounts say he commanded while laying in bed. Also, there was only one line infantrymen while the rest were marines, the artist decided to instead represent more branches of service in the painting.)

Do not forget still life paintings. There are many that have been done throughout the centuries, which hold so much wonderful information, such as this one "Cutting Onions" by Lily Martin Spencer. I can gather a lot about women's work clothing and available food for a woman in New England during the 1850's.

Here is another work, painted by Vermeer that can offer a glimpse into average clothing of mid-17th century as well a table setting and food. As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

I believe in this day and age of having so much information at our fingertips, the work of creating quality historical fiction is much easier than long ago. If you write, hopefully this will help. If you are a contented reader, then perhaps now you have a better understanding of all the "behind the scenes" work an author of historical fictions must do.

If you enjoyed this article, check out my historical fiction novels beginning with Grayback: Long Road to Damascus.

All text (c)S.H.Ford, 2017.