Booking Through Thursday #3 History

Hosted by Booking Through Thursday

Now, there's an obvious reason why I'm putting this 'Booking Through Thursday' reply here rather than in its usual place over at 'The Story Factory Reading Zone'- its because its all about history!

Today we are asked to reply to the following:

Sometimes I feel like the only person I know who finds reading history fascinating. It’s so full of amazing-yet-true stories of people driven to the edge and how they reacted to it. I keep telling friends that a good history book (as opposed to some of those textbooks in school that are all lists and dates) does everything a good novel does–it grips you with real characters doing amazing things.
Am I REALLY the only person who feels this way? When is the last time you read a history book? Historical biography? You know, something that took place in the past but was REAL.

I must say, that I'm generally more interested in historical fiction than historical fact, but I have come across some really good historical biographies. I agree that a really good history book can do everything than a god novel does. 'The King's Speech' is a good example of this. I think what makes a good historical book for me is one that deals with people on a personal level. That's why a lot of the history non-fiction I read seems to be about the war- because those seem to tend to tell individuals' stories. When I read historical fiction (in fact any fiction really) the same holds true.

I like my historical fiction to contain historical fact as well, the characters (or what they do), may be partly or totally fictional but it should be realistic and set within a historically accurate context. That's why I really enjoy Christian Jacq's novels, for instance. Because you know he has professional knowledge about Ancient Egypt and is trying to stick to it, then it rings much truer.

So no, you're not the only one who feels that way. Real history can be interesting and (dare I say it) dynamic!