The Historical Novel: Types and Definitions

AGAIN and again, of late, it has been made evident that there is, at the present time, no uniform way of defining the term “historical novel.” A very distinguished writer—known as both novelist and critic—has gone so far as to condemn the description “historical” when applied to any novel which depicts figures or events contemporaneous with the author, while another literary man of similar dual attainments and authority, has expressed an altogether contrary opinion, and has defined as “historical” a novel based upon its author's own youthful experiences. Yet again, I have seen it confidently stated in a newspaper article a week or two ago, that any list of historical fiction now put forward, ought to include books reflecting the period 1914–1918, seeing that such period is “one of the most memorable in the world's history.”