The Value of Historical Fiction Novels

Historical fiction novels sometimes get placed in the bottom of the pile when history teachers are deciding what books are important for their students to read.  However, when used in the correct way historical fiction novels have the power of inspiring students to learn more about a specific time period, person, or event in history.  If you are a student who finds history boring, I would suggest finding a historical fiction novel and reading it in your own time for fun.  By reading several different historical fiction novels, you can gain a better idea of the different subjects out there that are available for you to study.  Not everyone is going to love reading about the same time period or same person.  Therefore, it is really important for people to consider their own personal interests, and find a book that will hopefully coincide with the interests you already have.

There are a wide variety of historical topics that historical fiction authors write about.  Some topics that are frequently the premise for historical fiction novels include Ancient Egypt, King Henry VIII and his wives, the American Revolutionary War, and the American Civil War.  These are just a few examples of the types of historical subjects that are included in the historical fiction genre.

So, whether you love reading about pirates, princesses, or pilgrims it is important for you to first consider what you find interesting.  Once you figure out what historical topic or topics intrigue you personally, you can then go on to discover new ways to approach learning and studying history.

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