06-09-2003, 10:59 AM
Thank you for your comments, Simon. I can't say I agree with the comments on declamatory dialogue, though to be fair, you're not the first to point that out to me. As far as I'm concerned, people do say odd things occasionally and in representing conversation - especially a moment of crisis - it isn't always possible for someone to turn out a polished phrase. One of the problems with novel dialogue purporting to be 'realistic' is that it never approaches the halting lack of fluency that is the mark of most real speech. I shouldn't give the impression that I was trying for some sort of realism however. I like both those lines.<br>
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As for the comments on changed history, I do appreciate the importance in historical fiction of the interest that comes from knowing one is reading about real things. I am aware of the perils in my approach, but hope that the note at the end of each book goes some way to redress the balance. I suppose as a general rule, I will choose a more satisfyingly dramatic scene over a strictly accurate one, but will say what I changed at the back. That covers it, I think, though I have tried to be as accurate as possible where I have intended to be, if you see what I mean.<br>
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As for the simplicity of Marius, or indeed Sulla, I cannot apologise, really. I found the former far more admirable than the latter and would need a decalogue to explore every facet of their personalities. It has been my constant experience in writing these books, that considerations of space and pace have forced me to omit events and characters I would have liked to keep. This has always been a conscious choice, but a novel is not a historical text, if only for the density of information it is possible to put across. That is why I recommended Christian Meier's 'Caesar' in the note, for those who wanted to look further at the life and times. I've been told that sales of that book have had a little jump, which pleases me.<br>
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I do appreciate your comments. It would be surprising if my writing did not improve over the four books and I shall endeavour to keep them taut and interesting. The epilogue of that last has a bearing on the series title, by the way. I can't tell you how many people have mentioned to me that Caesar wasn't an emperor, which has been quite frustrating at times. He was declared a god though, which is quite a promotion for any young lad.<br>
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Conn<br>
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As for the comments on changed history, I do appreciate the importance in historical fiction of the interest that comes from knowing one is reading about real things. I am aware of the perils in my approach, but hope that the note at the end of each book goes some way to redress the balance. I suppose as a general rule, I will choose a more satisfyingly dramatic scene over a strictly accurate one, but will say what I changed at the back. That covers it, I think, though I have tried to be as accurate as possible where I have intended to be, if you see what I mean.<br>
<br>
As for the simplicity of Marius, or indeed Sulla, I cannot apologise, really. I found the former far more admirable than the latter and would need a decalogue to explore every facet of their personalities. It has been my constant experience in writing these books, that considerations of space and pace have forced me to omit events and characters I would have liked to keep. This has always been a conscious choice, but a novel is not a historical text, if only for the density of information it is possible to put across. That is why I recommended Christian Meier's 'Caesar' in the note, for those who wanted to look further at the life and times. I've been told that sales of that book have had a little jump, which pleases me.<br>
<br>
I do appreciate your comments. It would be surprising if my writing did not improve over the four books and I shall endeavour to keep them taut and interesting. The epilogue of that last has a bearing on the series title, by the way. I can't tell you how many people have mentioned to me that Caesar wasn't an emperor, which has been quite frustrating at times. He was declared a god though, which is quite a promotion for any young lad.<br>
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Conn<br>
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