Often written historical records are flat, two dimensional and are written to record an event. We cannot ever know what the facts were around that event, yes, we know the truth, but not the facts. The facts are rarely explored because facts are the totality of the event, the truth is the writers prespective or understanding of an outcome. So we have to look at the evidence and present a view of the facts, the inner thoughts, the exterior influences that no note taker or scribe, could ever know. So yes without doubt, historians have no choice but to draw conclusions from the theatre of the event they are reporting, writing or presenting on.
‘theatre of the event’ is a wonderful phrase - it gets at the performance, the interpretation, the imagination of bringing something passed back to life!
Thoughtful and thought-provoking... I've written a bit of historical fiction but my aim has not been to engage the reader with the historical record in a hopefully more palatable fashion. But simply to tell a story. I don't myself subscribe to Mantells method of researching everything that could possibly be researched. If it suits my story to give a sea coast to Bohemia then that's what I'll do!
What an incredible piece! The “magic trick of historical fiction”…I love it! I don’t know anything about history methodology, but this was really lovely and reflective. Thanks Luke:)
Often written historical records are flat, two dimensional and are written to record an event. We cannot ever know what the facts were around that event, yes, we know the truth, but not the facts. The facts are rarely explored because facts are the totality of the event, the truth is the writers prespective or understanding of an outcome. So we have to look at the evidence and present a view of the facts, the inner thoughts, the exterior influences that no note taker or scribe, could ever know. So yes without doubt, historians have no choice but to draw conclusions from the theatre of the event they are reporting, writing or presenting on.
‘theatre of the event’ is a wonderful phrase - it gets at the performance, the interpretation, the imagination of bringing something passed back to life!
Thoughtful and thought-provoking... I've written a bit of historical fiction but my aim has not been to engage the reader with the historical record in a hopefully more palatable fashion. But simply to tell a story. I don't myself subscribe to Mantells method of researching everything that could possibly be researched. If it suits my story to give a sea coast to Bohemia then that's what I'll do!
I loved this!
What an incredible piece! The “magic trick of historical fiction”…I love it! I don’t know anything about history methodology, but this was really lovely and reflective. Thanks Luke:)
Thank you Aiden - I was much inspired by our conversations and life at the cottage!