tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post494064863604818612..comments2024-03-26T17:38:35.264+00:00Comments on Catherine Curzon: Fact or Fiction for History WritingCatherine Curzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763562687608837832noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-67485813858507546082016-05-06T15:33:45.404+01:002016-05-06T15:33:45.404+01:00I quite agree. I wonder if some of it is due to a ...I quite agree. I wonder if some of it is due to a change in the way history is now typically taught. In recent decades there has been a move away from prescribing to the "great man" interpretation of history. Perhaps I would think very differently about historical fiction if I were reading and writing 50 years ago. Rose Fairbankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01838173402965567451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-18499521112067496362016-05-06T15:31:03.740+01:002016-05-06T15:31:03.740+01:00I agree. I could see a case being made for imagini...I agree. I could see a case being made for imagining that a famous person meets and says something to the fictional hero when you know he or she was actually at a place. Such as, I have Lord Byron say something about the Luddites to Mr. Darcy in Sufficient Encouragement. Lord Byron gave a notable speech of dissent in his maiden speech in Parliament in February 1812 about making frame breaking (attacking mills) a capital offense. But I don't think I'd enjoy a novelized account of Byron's life.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, the "biographies" were actually fictional novels. There was no Tristam Shandy, for example.<br /><br />Your comments on defenestration crack me up! I've had very similar thoughts! The <br /><br />My 5 year old son is starting to ask etymology sort of questions now too. Online Etymology Dictionary confirms the word was invented just for this act. I can only think that it truly shows how profound and unique the incident was. Worth noting is the phrase coup d'etat first appears in print about 20 years later. Rose Fairbankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01838173402965567451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-86375819237750871792016-05-05T19:44:34.515+01:002016-05-05T19:44:34.515+01:00I prefer to read and write fictionalized history. ...I prefer to read and write fictionalized history. I try to tell the truth as much as possible but as soon as I mention the weather or put words into a character's mouth they never spoke it becomes fiction. For those who want facts without any embellishment there is non-fiction.Susan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14898533319301471168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-57397634560668904542016-05-05T19:19:59.537+01:002016-05-05T19:19:59.537+01:00Regarding the initial question: I definitely DON&...Regarding the initial question: I definitely DON'T prefer fictionalized accounts of famous people. Taking real people and adding fiction to their accounts, blurs the line between fact and non-fact, and eventually it becomes difficult to determine what is real and what is not. (I consider Oliver Stone and his movie, "JFK" as an example.)<br />I want to comment on the word 'defenestration'. I first learned of that word as a tourist in Prague. I'd never heard the word, or the account, before then. I was struck(and still am)by how there is a very fancy, 'official'-looking word, for such an act. Why did it need this word? What was wrong with the words we already had - 'throw someone out the window'? Why don't all acts like that have fancy-shmancy words? When your brother punches you in the stomach - 'capaunchoofication'? Jamming your little toe around the furniture leg - 'grahyankowifying'? Tearing up something in defiance and anger - 'upyersanyabruddahsing'? Ginnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457158144918481735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-78183509086287675262016-05-05T18:52:59.121+01:002016-05-05T18:52:59.121+01:00Thanks for having me! It's been an honor and a...Thanks for having me! It's been an honor and a delight!Rose Fairbankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01838173402965567451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-6919396419039256572016-05-05T18:52:32.269+01:002016-05-05T18:52:32.269+01:00Thanks! I'll take a look!Thanks! I'll take a look!Rose Fairbankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01838173402965567451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-52993499155003977052016-05-05T18:38:35.773+01:002016-05-05T18:38:35.773+01:00I agree. I do love biographies and tend to like my...I agree. I do love biographies and tend to like my fiction to be separate from real people. I like monographs too. But I love the character development that can happen in a historical fiction.Rose Fairbankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01838173402965567451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-13778694056254259002016-05-05T15:21:11.792+01:002016-05-05T15:21:11.792+01:00On Monday 2 May under "Gold Fever" I did...On Monday 2 May under "Gold Fever" I did a post that involved a lady from a family that Jane Austen knew, Harriet Sneyd, later Macan, later Whitbread. You may find it of interest.Demetriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17198549581667363991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839525549786745818.post-59825800536345143872016-05-05T14:49:31.750+01:002016-05-05T14:49:31.750+01:00Personally, I prefer historical biography because ...Personally, I prefer historical biography because it is the courage and creativity of real people in exceptional circumstances that inspires me most.Helena P. Schraderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06535398166485310212noreply@blogger.com