Hazel Gaynor: (Re)writing history - the timeless appeal of historical fiction

"For many, the word ‘history’ stirs memories of boring lessons at school — dates, battles, kings and queens, very long essays — while the term ‘historical fiction’ leads to assumptions about costume drama romances and books about Vikings..."

Hazel Gaynor: The imagined narrative in a historical novel comes from months, sometimes years, of detailed research. Picture: Moya Nolan

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an author at a party will be asked two things: where do you get your ideas, and, what do you write? 

The first question is tricky to answer quickly, especially while eating a mini-burger. The second question leads to, let’s call them ‘assumptions’, particularly if you write historical fiction.