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Art of History: Unlocking the Past in Fiction and Nonfiction
Art of History: Unlocking the Past in Fiction and Nonfiction | Christopher Bram
9 posts | 5 read | 31 to read
One has to look no further than the audiences hungry for the narratives served up by "Downton Abbey" or "Wolf Hall "to know that the lure of the past is as seductive as ever. But incorporating historical events and figures into a shapely narrative is no simple task. The acclaimed novelist Christopher Bram examines how writers as disparate as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, David McCullough, Toni Morrison, Leo Tolstoy, and many others have employed history in their work.Unique among the "Art Of" series, "The Art of History "engages with both fiction and narrative nonfiction to reveal varied strategies of incorporating and dramatizing historical detail. Bram challenges popular notions about historical narratives as he examines both successful and flawed passages to illustrate how authors from different genres treat subjects that loom large in American history, such as slavery and the Civil War. And he delves deep into the reasons why "War and Peace "endures as a classic of historical fiction. Bram's keen insight and close reading of a wide array of authors make "The Art of History "an essential volume for any lover of historical narrative."
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KimHM
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One more post (I seem to have fallen in love with this book ❤️). He‘s in the midst of praising True Grit, in the above, a novel for which I haven‘t any use, so it‘s not just me loving what I agree with 😄.

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KimHM
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Pickpick

While possibly more illuminating for readers of history than for writers, this is nonetheless a deeply interesting, casually bold commentary on the ways we approach historical texts. Bram isn‘t afraid to be contrary (he hasn‘t much use for Wolf Hall or The Killer Angels) and is perfectly willing to correct William Faulkner. 💡💡💡💡💡

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KimHM
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Not, so far, as instructive or motivating as other titles in the series, but it has succeeded in making me want to read War and Peace (a thing which has never happened before!).

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Eugeniavb
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Mehso-so

So, great subject and some great quotes, but this book falls quite short of delivering what I was expecting. Its just some examples of books that the author has enjoyed in both fiction and non fiction historical accounts and how they compare to each other. He never goes any deeper than that. So it's a little disappointing.

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Eugeniavb
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"When I was a sophomore in high school, I had an English teacher named Mrs. Comstock, a handsome, formal, forty-something lady with a stiff neck in a high collar. This was 1968 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and she was already an anomaly, a throwback to an earlier age. But there was nothing stiff or formal about her love of books or the fearlessness with which she shared ideas with us." #firstlines (first book I read just from #underthelitfluence)

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annahenke
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Pickpick

This was, on the whole, a very brief, interesting discussion of history writing. Would recommend to writers of historical fiction and nonfiction and those with an interest in literary criticism.

I had read one chapter of this beforehand, but calling this book 2 of my #biblioweekend

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annahenke
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An interesting read. It has some dull moments but also some very insightful ones. With lots of references to history writing done well, this is a great resource for writers. #biblioweekend

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annahenke
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Agreed! Liking this one so far.

subwayreads "A dream with footnotes" - I love that 8y
annahenke @subwayreads I know! That's my fav part. 😊 8y
kammartinez "A dream with footnotes" Gosh but that is true :D. This also echoes what George R.R Martin said about history and fantasy being sister siblings :Dz 8y
Laalaleighh Oooh I love this. 8y
KimHM But this leaves out an important word: Bram says “history‘s *original* appeal is as pure escape.” That word implies (and the rest of the book explores) that we mature past escapism into more interesting involvement. 7y
98 likes8 stack adds5 comments
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annahenke
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Starting this tonight and very fascinated by the topic. I hope to write historical fiction someday, so if it's good I might have to buy a copy! Has anybody read it?

kammartinez I've got this stashed somewhere in the TBR eldritch Gothic mansion, so I hope this turns out to be good :). 8y
92 likes9 stack adds1 comment