About the historical novel

History, Historical Fiction and everything in between

About the blog…

Welcome to a place where I look at popular historical fiction, and then like a proper killjoy point out the inaccuracies. Historical fiction is one of the most popular genres in the media but it’s often unclear which parts of a story are based in history and what has been made up for entertainment. If you’ve ever found yourself watching a period drama and wondering how much of it is based in reality then this is the place for you. I hope to make your scrolling easier and give you the easy answers.

This blog began in 2009 when, faced with a relatively long train journey (which would inevitably take longer because I have the worst luck when it comes to public transport) I picked up two books of historical fiction on offer at the train station. At some point during the journey, I wondered how many people had read the particular book I was reading and as a result thought that Catherine Howard and Anne of Cleves had had an affair. (Incidentally, so scarred was I by the novel that I never dared read the second. It’s still unopened on the bookshelf).
(Also for what it’s worth, there’s no evidence that Catherine Howard and Anne of Cleves ever had an affair).

In many, many cases the history behind historical fiction is more interesting and dramatic than fiction can ever hope to be, so it’s a constant wonder to me why it’s so often embellished. In truth, I love historical fiction be it on stage, screen, or softcover. I love anything that makes history accessible, interesting and entertaining but I also appreciate that many people accept what they see, hear, or read as fact. I hope to make the historical truth behind fiction entertaining and accessible which will hopefully make the subject even more interesting to you.

About me…

My name is Sarah and I have a BA in Medieval Studies and an MA in Historical Studies (both from the University of Wales). The subject of my undergraduate thesis was how/if Anne Boleyn brought the French courtly role of maîtresse-en-titre to the English court, and my postgraduate thesis focused on concepts of virginity in the hagiography of women. Or in human speak – the role Anne Boleyn played at court as Henry VIII’s mistress, and how all medieval sainted women had to be virgins.

My interest in History began with an excellent teacher who I was lucky enough to have for three years in secondary school. Rob Duv if you’re reading this, you’re the greatest for so many reasons. Now my interest is wide, varied, but mostly focused on the British royal court throughout history. In my time, my most prevalent research interests have included Hagiography, Mistresses & Sex Workers, the British monarchy, and Nautical history.  I have a weird interest in the Titanic, the Lusitania, the Empress of Ireland and basically any kind of shipwreck. Sometimes, I like it when the ships don’t sink and the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars is another interest and Master and Commander is possibly one of the greatest historical films ever made. I’m also really interested in the history behind urban legends and the blurred lines between history and myth. On the blog I lean towards shows and books that deal with the Tudors and Stuarts, Titanic, and the creepier side of life.

Elsewhere on the internet, I moonlight as a guest writer for Tudors Dynasty and contribute to research for Encyclopedia Titanica. The dream is to continue writing novels and one day to write history books, starting with the sex lives of Elizabethan courtiers but in reality will likely change every few months when my hyper-fixation kicks up a notch and changes direction.

Aside from a total history nerd, I am also a nerd in every other sense. I enjoy video games, comics, disaster & horror films, and have an outlying love of Formula One. I am very Welsh, have a sweet tooth of mythical proportion, and fell into the trap of thinking that I’d only get one tattoo. I live in sunny South Wales where I am surrounded by history and have the advantage of tripping over a castle every time I leave the house.

About the research…

During the research process, I inevitably find stories that don’t contribute to the subject I’m writing about but are interesting and/or hilarious in their own right. I post these and other historical curiosities on my Patreon which doesn’t have a minimum tier. Here, you can also make suggestions for posts, ask questions, and just chat history with me and others. 
 
A lot of research and reading goes into each and every blog post and because I am no longer beholden to markers, I don’t include a bibliography or citations for each one unless I’m using a quote. I’m currently working behind the scenes to compile a comprehensive bibliography but I’m available to provide specific references upon request.
At the end of each post I aim to post some relevant further reading. Links are provided through the Amazon Affiliate Program which helps to support this site.
 

Contact Me

You can reach me at sarah@thehistoricalnovel.com
 
I am open to guest posts on any aspect of history or historical fiction.

Debut Novel

With my literary partner in crime we have published our first novel; Heart of Pompeii. Based on one of the casts found in the remains of Pompeii, Heart of Pompeii is a queer love story, spanning a decade, set against the backdrop of the ill-fated Roman city.

The year is 70CE in Pompeii, Italy, and highborn Quintus Vistorius is about to break his family’s heart when he runs away from home to escape society’s obligations that he marry and have children. At the same time, Valens, a sheep farmer from the country, brings his new wife to start a life in the city. Already, his life is inexorably wound to Quintus’ whose disappearance has sent shockwaves through the city. When they do meet three years later, it’s in the Lupanar, Pompeii’s most notorious brothel where Quintus is now a sex worker going by the name of Ignis. For Val, it’s love at first sight. For Ignis, it takes a little longer as loving Val threatens the modicum of freedom he has found within the brothel’s walls.

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