Heroines in Historical Fiction

History buffs may or may not rejoice in the recent popularity of books that came out in 2021 such as Sunflower Sisters (the last book in the Lilac Girls series), The Women of Chateau Lafayette, and The Rose Code all written by bestselling authors in this genre.

For those who do not wish to bury their noses in text upon text of dates and battles and names of generals, historical fiction may be the way to go as many of these are set against the backdrop of some significant event in history. Conscientious writers would do their research, visit the actual historical homes or landmarks, talk lengthily to the curators, and present a storyline that is as close to what actually happened using their creative imaginings to fill in the blanks.

For purists, the author’s reimagining of actual events may grate and cause an apoplectic reaction as they scramble to separate what could have been with what the author wished had happened.

Styles and points of view vary with the author. In the Lilac Girls series, the central characters are from the prominent American Woolsey family where the ladies across generations have carried out humanitarian and charitable work ranging from the Civil War (Sunflower Sisters), the Bolshevik Revolution (The Lost Roses), and World War II France (Lilac Girls). Along with the Woolsey ladies, each book also centers around two other characters whose lives intersect with the main protagonist. The subplots and character development for each is fully shaped by the events taking place. In this Martha Hall Kelly series, one of the ladies profiled is one the readers may not necessarily root for which makes the series rather interesting. Each book is set in the same timeline.

Author Stephanie Dray uses three female leads in The Women of Chateau Lafayette from various timelines but are all connected somehow through the Marquis de Lafayette or the legacy that he has passed on. The settings range from the French Revolution (starring his wife Adrienne Lafayette) to the two World Wars through the work of Beatrice Chanler (a.k.a. Minnie Ashley, actress). An inspired character, Marthe Simone represents a hodgepodge of real-life people during World War II. Despite the fictionalized aspects of Dray’s latest book, it still presents aspects of the wars which are often glossed over in history books or not even mentioned at all.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn focuses on the codebreakers of Bletchley Park with the same three characters crisscrossing between World War II and years later, against the backdrop of the Royal Wedding of then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip–with one of the protagonists based on Osla Benning, real-life girlfriend of the groom. It speaks of a group of people whose work was crucial in intercepting and decoding cryptic messages which proved crucial in winning some of the battles. The cheery Osla, the practical Mab, and the solemn Beth all provide interest and intrigue for readers who are drawn into their lives amidst the gory backdrop of war.

Though the books never claim historical accuracy, there are some aspects of which are realistic enough to draw in readers who like history, romance, and even a little bit of mystery. And because it is still a work of fiction, it is good to note that authors will probably inject their own brand of feminism and modern thinking in their stories. This may or may not detract from your enjoyment of this genre.

So in reading these works of fiction, it is good to read through the Author’s Note at the end of the books. It will help separate fact from fiction; it will identify which characters were actually based on a real person, which one was a composite of characters in history, and which one was totally made up. The notes also explain which details were added and why.

I appreciate the work and research done by authors of historical fiction as a lot of time and resources were spent on trying to access firsthand accounts and primary sources. The one cautionary advice that authors of historical fiction need to remember is to make sure story details are in keeping with the times that their stories are set in as opposed to trying to inject modern-day values to characters that belong to a different place and time. This is especially true when they introduce a fictitious character into their stories. Otherwise, historical fiction presents a good marriage between historical accounts and romantic stories.