Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is a narrative that is set in the past but is not a true story. Often the author will use real historic events, characters, and locations to add realism to the work. Authors may also exaggerate or amend actual events to fit the plot.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is the story of Hank Morgan, a 19th century Connecticut man, who suffers a blow to the head and is transported back centuries to the time of King Arthur. Once there he has many adventures while he struggles to apply 19th century American…
It was a sunny day in the Australian Outback. Elizabeth Kenny, a self-taught nurse, was making her rounds visiting patients on farms and cattle stations. At one farm, she was told of a sick child on a neighboring farm. She knew that must be her next stop. When Elizabeth got…
This passage is about Eliza, an enslaved woman owned by the Shelby family. Her husband George is owned by a neighboring family. Eliza and George have one child, a small boy named Harry. Harry is charming, smart, and handsome. Earlier Eliza had overheard a slave trader speaking with her owner…
Henry drew his fist back, ready to let it fly. “Halt!” yelled Constable Evans. “All you do is get into brawls, Henry.” Henry glared at the teen who would have received his punch. “Yeah, fighting is in my blood. One day I will lead men with that fighting spirit.” When…
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote “Oldtown Folks” in 1869. She tells about life in a New England village called Oldtown. The passage below tells about Thanksgiving preparations in a Massachusetts town. ——————————————— The making of pies at this period assumed vast proportions that verged upon the sublime. Pies were made…
Abe leaned over the steamboat. “Not again. We’re caught on a sandbar. This happens too often.” Abe and his friend Sam watched as the crew unloaded the cargo, piece by piece. “Well, we might as well sit down. This will take a while,” said Sam. “Too bad we have to…
“Michael! Michael!” Abram raced into his friend’s room. “Michael, The Assembly of the Land is looking for you. Representatives have arrived from Moscow and are heading here right now!” Michael’s brows shot up into his forehead. “What would they want with me?!” Abram put his hand on his friend’s shoulder.…
The narrator of Kidnapped is David Balfour, a young man in 17th century Scotland. After the death of his parents, he must take care of himself. In this passage, he has been given a letter to take to his uncle in Cramond, a village outside Edinburgh. ————————————- On the forenoon…
“Johnny,” yelled Mr. Crawford, “load those apples in the cart.” Johnny wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. “Yes, sir.” He picked up a green one and took a bite. “Yuck. I keep forgetting these aren’t eating apples, they’re for making apple cider.” Mr. Crawford laughed. After work,…
In Stephen Crane’s novel, The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming is a young Union soldier in the Civil War. Before he enlisted, Henry had a romantic view of war. This passage takes place before Henry’s first battle as a soldier. —————————– However, he perceived now that it did not…