Ball gowns, tailcoats, horses, carriages, polite manners,
Lords and Ladies, drafty castles...*Sigh*. I love the romance of years gone by.
I suppose that’s why my bookshelves are lined with historical novels.
My introduction into this genre started with Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud
Montgomery when I was eight years old. That summer, my parents piled me and my
siblings into our Chrysler New Port with a pop-up trailer in tow and drove from
Southern Ontario to Prince Edward Island. Along the journey, my parents took
turns reading the novel aloud. Oh, how we cried one evening in that orange-clad
camper when Matthew died!
While listening to the tales of Anne Shirley, I remember
being intrigued by the time period. Montgomery added details of one-room schoolhouses,
the making of plum pudding (don’t forget to cover it!), purchasing household
products like hair dye from peddlers, puffed sleeves, and abused slates!
Not only do historical novels help transport the readers to
a different time and place, but one learns about history through a pleasurable
pastime. Some writers in this genre readily admit to doing poorly in history
class when they were in school. But once they read about historical events
within a novel, somehow history came to life. Now they have a passion for it!
I have learned so much through fiction. Here are a few favourites
with strong historical backdrops:
Carol Cox’s series, A
Fair To Remember was set in 1893 at the World’s Fair in Chicago. She
provides wonderful detail to this impressive event.
Lynn Austin’s novel, A
Woman’s Place, was set in the early 1940s. It’s the story of four women who
work in factories making airplanes during the war.
Judith Miller and Tracie Peterson’s series, Bells of Lowell delve into the lives of 19th century women who sought employment in the mills as America developed its textile industry.
