03-18-2003, 11:50 AM
Hi Conn,<br>
Haven't read your book yet, but intend to this summer, especially given the heavy cut price incentive. Much as I'm glad that you are adding to the popularisation of the ancient world I am astonished by the deal you have cut with your publisher. The amount of effort being put into launching the series is quite breath-taking and I just wish my publishers had had as much faith with my series from the start. So congratulations.<br>
On the accuracy front, I have mixed views. First and foremost we are writing fiction and must not lose sight of the need to entertain our readers. I kind of pity those readers who obsess over detail, particularly when the 'facts' the defer to are themselves far from given. I had some Italian complain to me that I had not referenced enough history for my second novel. Given that the only source we have is 800 words from Cassius Dio I'd be hard pushed to reference what little we are told about the Claudian invasion. So, I wouldn't take the carping too badly. Look at your sales figures, the advance in the bank account and the good reviews you are getting. That's what counts at the end of the day.<br>
My only quibble with historical fiction is where facts are twisted to the point where history recedes and authorial fantasy intrudes. Rathbone's Last English King does this to an annoying degree in places, but then the story itself is wonderfully told, his characters (most of them) so attractively presented, that you can forgive him pretty much anything. I guess that's the license you can enjoy when writing about historical figures who enjoy semi-mythical status.<br>
All the best<br>
Simon <p></p><i></i>
Haven't read your book yet, but intend to this summer, especially given the heavy cut price incentive. Much as I'm glad that you are adding to the popularisation of the ancient world I am astonished by the deal you have cut with your publisher. The amount of effort being put into launching the series is quite breath-taking and I just wish my publishers had had as much faith with my series from the start. So congratulations.<br>
On the accuracy front, I have mixed views. First and foremost we are writing fiction and must not lose sight of the need to entertain our readers. I kind of pity those readers who obsess over detail, particularly when the 'facts' the defer to are themselves far from given. I had some Italian complain to me that I had not referenced enough history for my second novel. Given that the only source we have is 800 words from Cassius Dio I'd be hard pushed to reference what little we are told about the Claudian invasion. So, I wouldn't take the carping too badly. Look at your sales figures, the advance in the bank account and the good reviews you are getting. That's what counts at the end of the day.<br>
My only quibble with historical fiction is where facts are twisted to the point where history recedes and authorial fantasy intrudes. Rathbone's Last English King does this to an annoying degree in places, but then the story itself is wonderfully told, his characters (most of them) so attractively presented, that you can forgive him pretty much anything. I guess that's the license you can enjoy when writing about historical figures who enjoy semi-mythical status.<br>
All the best<br>
Simon <p></p><i></i>
