Contents

What is a historical novel? What is the difference between history and a historical novel? Name a few historical novelists.

Trace the development of Historical Novel in English Literature.

Historical novel is a narrative, generally of an adventurous nature, in which an historical background, including historical figures, is provided for the deeds of fictious characters. Scott is perhaps the greatest writer of such stories in English. His novels are called the Waverly novels. He wrote his novels on a frame work of historical events. Miss Sophia Lee was the lady to have produced the first historical novel. Sophia Lee in her novel “The Recess” describes the two daughters of Queen Mary of Scotland and Duke of Norfolk. Clara Reeve had revealed her interest in history in her novel ‘Roger de Clarendom. But the contribution of Jane Porter in this regard is more remarkable. Her masterpiece is ‘Scottish Chief.

Maria Edgworth after having written some educational novelswas to depict the countryside in her novel, “Castle Rackrant”. Critics say that Scott is not the chief exponent of the historical novel. The real credit goes to the French novelist named Dumas, the author of “Three Musketeers”. Scott is known as the founder of historical novel proper. His love of the past, his vivid description of nature, his art of handling the supernatural, his sense of humour-all these provide his historical novel with an enduring charm and romantic. colour. Anna Eliza Bray is the successor of Scott. Her novel “The protestant” is purely historical in intent. Horace Smith also wrote historical novel. His “Brambletye House” is a good example of working of the time spirit. It was followed by the for Hill Oliver Cromwell and some others, G.P.R. James wrote fully a hundred novels and tales. Most of them are historical novels.

Willing Harrison Ainsworth wrote ‘Rookwood’. His handling of historical material is crude and cavalier in the extreme. Hugo’s “Notr Dame de Paris” is a romance. Bulwar Lytton produced five historical romances” Deverux.” “The Last Days of Pompi”, “Rienzi”, “The Last of the Barons”, and “Harold”, Charles kingsley also wrote historical novels. His “Hypatia” still remains the sublimiest subject that historical fiction has appropriated. Thackeray’s “Henry Esmond” is a very popular historical novel. Dickens’ “A Tale of Two cities’ and Barnaby Rudge made notable contribution to the historical novel.

George Eliot’s ‘Romola’ is a historical novel. It describes the life. of Italy during the period of the Ranaissance. Arthur Quitller Touch wrote “Hetty Wesley” and “Splendid Spur.” He gave new life to the historical novel. Jacob Wassermann’s “The Triumph of Youth”, Ford Madox Hueffer’s “The Fifth Queen”, Miss Phoebe Gay’s “Vivandiers”, Miss Marjori Bowen’s “Black Magic” and Lion Fenchtwagner’s “Few Suss” are successful historical novels. Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is the greatest historical novel. In modern times Galsworthy’s “Forsyte gaga” can be regarded as an expression of the historical novel.