Historical Novel

As the term historical novel literally suggests it is a combination of two elements-history and novel. Facts are the underlying basis of history and a novel is a work of fiction. A historical novel deals with both fact and fiction. A historical novelist takes certain events and characters of history and weaves around them a fictitious enchantment. In making use of facts, the novelist does not follow the method of the historian but of the artist. He selects facts and arranges them according to his choice. In short, he takes into account the spirit and atmosphere of history. He recreates imaginatively the life of the past. He does not allow historical facts to come in the way of his fiction nor does he permit his fiction to violate the significance of historical facts.