Novels, Historical

The historical novel is a genre of literature whose story is set during a period that predates the author's own time, often by a significant number of years. A historical novel generally involves substantial research by the author concerning details of the period. The genre became widely popular during the 19th century Romantic period, advanced by great novelists such as Sir Walter Scott.

The purpose of the historical novel extends beyond that of entertainment, though many excel at this in their own right. Authors have often intended to deliver a message, advance a cause or ideology, or popularize history and present a time period to the public; none of these intentions is necessarily exclusive of the others. Historical novels are commonly set during eventful periods in human history, depicting a conflict or a transitional moment in time. Some historical novels span a lengthy duration and may include many accurate details about the past.

A prominent example of a historical novel that deals with the notion of time is Mika Waltari's The Egyptian, published in 1945. First written in Finnish, The Egyptian is set during the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaton, more than 3,000 years ago. The novel is centered on a fictional character, Sinuhe, the personal physician to the pharaoh, who recounts the tale of the pharaoh's decline and [Page 929]fall. The tale also parts from Egypt and describes Sinuhe's extensive travels throughout the ancient world. Published immediately following World War II, Waltari's novel was intended to explore the violence and brutality of the human condition and to imply that this has changed little from ancient to modern times.

The legendary Greek conqueror Alexander the Great has been depicted in numerous works of literature. Nikos Kazantzakis's Alexander the Great, written in the 1940s, is one modern example intended primarily for a younger audience. Kazantzakis was already a prominent author and philosopher by the time he penned the novel. Alexander the Great is a flattering depiction of the hero from a Greek author with a sense of pride in Greek history. However, Kazantzakis does not entirely succumb to glorification of the hero, presenting his faults and human qualities as well. The modern reader can thus relate to an ancient heroic figure.

The intention of delivering a powerful message through a classic work is exemplified by Henryk Sienkiewicz's historical novel Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero. Published in 1895, Quo Vadis is the Polish author's most famous work. The story is centered on a romance between a Roman patrician (Marcus Vinicius) and a young Christian woman (Lygia) at a time when Christians faced violent persecution by the Roman authorities. The novel conveys a strongly Christian message, implicit in the title as well as in the vivid depictions of Christian martyrdom. Sienkiewicz received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1905. Quo Vadis has withstood the test of time, having been adapted to several film interpretations.

Popular interest in the time of imperial Rome and the birth of Christianity is evident by the reception of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ in 1880. The author, Lew Wallace, was an American Civil War general, politician, and novelist. The book has been acclaimed for its accurate descriptions of the Holy Land of 2,000 years ago, though Wallace had never set foot there. Set during the reign of Tiberius, Ben-Hur is a tale of a Jewish aristocratic named Judea Ben-Hur who is falsely accused of murder by a Roman officer, Messala. Like Quo Vadis, the story deals with a pivotal moment in time as Christianity emerges within the Roman Empire. Ben-Hufs exceptional popularity helped to make the historical novel a popular literary and cinematic genre in the United States.

...