Historical fiction is broadly defined as a fictional story that occurred in the past. The past can refer to events or characters that came about before the author was alive. More rigid definitions suggest that the plot of an historical novel generally should take place two generations or 50 years prior to the time in which it is written. The purpose of historical fiction is to entice readers with history that is alive, rather than mundane dates and names. At the same time, historical fiction attempts to capture the audience's attention with characters and events reflecting contemporary moods that realistically fit into an historical setting.
Evidence-based arguments are the primary difference between historical fiction and historical non-fiction. Historical non-fiction is usually an academic style of writing, in which the author attempts to pursue a thesis based on evidence obtained through rigorous scholarly research. Historical fiction tends to be written by writers instead of historians. The burden of proof is less important in historical fiction, rather the emphasis is on the use of the author's imagination and writing style to depict their own version of an historical event or characters.
Debate exists amongst scholars about the nature of the literary elements comprising historical fiction. Some scholars argue that authors of historical novels can manipulate the truth to strengthen the story they are telling. Others believe that authenticity is extremely important in historical novels, considering the extent to which the genre is used to understand history. Proponents of this view suggest that imposing contemporary values on an historical event or setting does a disservice to the reader. An accurate understanding of the social structures of the time period being written about is ignored, in favor of the opportunity to push a more current social or political agenda in an incorrect historical context.
Examples of historical fiction include: "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis, which is set during the Great Depression. "A Tale of Two Cities" is a Charles Dickens classic that comparatively explores London and Paris at the time of the French Revolution. Both "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows are set during WWII. The former takes a look at life in Nazi Germany, while the latter offers a glimpse into the experience of living in the Nazi-occupied Channel Islands.