Tag Archives: TV

Writing historical fiction that appeals to modern views

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I really enjoyed the first season of Belgravia: The Next Chapter. It’s about a young couple’s first year together. There are also very strong subplots about their siblings, their neighbours, and their staff.

The show got me thinking about how historical fiction can stay true to the past and yet appeal to modern tastes.

It’s set in the 1870s and touches on some features of that time, most notably the severe difficulties faced by gay men, unmarried mothers, and disabled children. We all know that a lot has changed for all three groups over the last 50 years. Our modern sensibilities are very different to those of the 1870s.

What I liked about the show is that some of the characters voiced the views that were mainstream at the time. This helps us to understand why people thought as they did.

I was impressed by how the writers balanced this historical accuracy with modern sensibilities. The characters’ conversations reflected the 1870s, but the action of the plot led to outcomes that appeal to 2020s thinking.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter demonstrates that it’s possible to stay true to history while still appealing to current social values. The solution isn’t to make the characters say modern things. It’s to help them overcome the worst aspects of their time in a way that pleases us today.

Of course, there are other ways to accurately reflect history within the parameters of present-day tastes. Belgravia: The Next Chapter is designed to be cosy evening TV. Naturally, its approach is relatively cheerful.

I’ve been watching season one of a supernatural horror called The Terror. It’s a fictionalised account of a real British expedition that went missing in the Arctic in the 1840s.

To me, The Terror feels very authentically historical, but it has two elements that appeal to modern sensibilities while staying in keeping with the time.

Firstly, the characters are well written. We can relate to them as human beings who have the same weaknesses and vulnerabilities as us. They struggle with the same human emotions that affect us today.

Secondly, the supernatural element, although well integrated into the story, can be interpreted by viewers as a modern comment on British colonialism. The British characters are literally blundering into an indigenous spirit that does not want them there.

The lesson to be learned from both shows is that it’s not necessary to make characters say modern things to create historical fiction that is suitable for modern readers/viewers.

Dialogue that sounds too modern can be a problem for writers of historical fiction, so this is worth remembering.

Prehistory and the Romans on the BBC

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At this time of year, I like to watch documentaries. They’re a reminder of a more colourful world, out there beyond the gloomy British weather. I saw three interesting ones on the BBC at the weekend. Two inspired me with a glimpse into prehistory. One taught me about ancient Rome, but was also a bit exasperating.

Let’s start with the best.

The Mystery of the Desert Kites is about the world’s oldest megalithic structures. Scattered across the Arabian desert, they are vast symmetrical shapes. Made from low stone walls, they’re cleverly designed to be difficult to see on the ground. That’s why people in planes were the first to spot them.

There are more than 6,000 in existence, with some extending over several kilometres. They’re also far older than the pyramids or Stonehenge.

This documentary explores their age and original purpose. I found it quite awe-inspiring to think about people who lived such a long time ago. These humans performed two remarkable feats. They made the structures symmetrical, despite not being able to see them clearly from the ground. They also carved accurate maps of the shapes into stone.

The Mystery of the Desert Kites is a lesson in how intelligent humans can be, even without access to modern technology.

I also enjoyed The Lost Neanderthals, a similarly scholarly and intelligent documentary. It’s about a cave in southern France that was inhabited by Neanderthals for many thousands of years.

In 2015, investigators found the remains of a Neanderthal man they called Thorin. Tests on Thorin’s bones led to a discovery that suggests Neanderthals lived in cultural communities, just as we do today. If you’ve ever fancied writing a novel about the Neanderthals, it’s worth watching this documentary.

Most of human history has been forgotten. There’s so much we don’t know about the far distant past. On the other hand, we know a lot about the Romans because they left huge quantities of written material behind.

The last documentary I saw this weekend was about the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE. Civilisations: Rise and Fall episode 1.1 is very informative but takes a sensationalist, attention-grabbing approach.

There are lots of clips of historians talking and dramatised clips with actors. There’s also a sense of urgency, with heavy hints that Western civilisation is heading the way of Rome.

Whereas the first two documentaries went in deep on single subjects, Civilisations: Rise and Fall condenses decades of Roman history into less than an hour.

I thought that the attempts to draw parallels with issues in our time were risky. That’s because rather than go into detailed specifics about the 21st century, they left the parallels open to interpretation. I read them as ‘treat people well.’ Another viewer with different political beliefs could have read them as ‘people are a threat.’

The first two documentaries allow history to be history. The third uses history as a tool to make a point. I’m not against using history to say something about today, but I think it needs to be carried out very carefully.