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novel 〃historical〃； the mere allusion to real events； or the introduction of
dates； may give us sufficient ground for identifying the period with which
a novel deals。 Of course the question as to whether a particular person or
event is truly historical； is not always an easy one to answer。 By the
adaptation in it of some purely mythical character or event； a novel is no
more constituted 〃historical〃 than is a Fairy…tale by the adaptation of
folklore。 King Arthur and Robin Hood are unhistorical； and； if I have
ventured to insert in my list certain tales which deal with the latter； it is not
on that account； but because other figures truly historical （e。g。； Richard I。）
appear。 As there has been some dispute on this question of the Historical
Novel proper； I offer the following definition：A Novel is rendered
Historical by the introduction of dates； personages； or events； to which
identification can be readily given。 I am quite aware that certain well…
known novels which give the general atmosphere of a periodsuch； for
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example； as Hawthorne's 〃Scarlet Letter〃 and Mr。 Hewlett's 〃Forest
Lovers〃do not e within the scope of my definition； but this is just
why I have added a 〃Supplementary List〃 of semi…historical tales。 And；
while I am alluding to this 〃Supplementary List；〃 I should like to give my
reason for omitting from it one remarkable book which has every claim to
be considered representative of the mid…nineteenth century。 Readers of
〃John Inglesant〃 may be reminded that in his interesting preface Mr。
Shorthouse alludes to William Smith's philosophical novel〃Thorndale。〃
As a picture of Thought developments in the early Victorian period； the
latter work has special historical interest for the philosophical and
theological student； in this respect it may be likened to Pater's 〃Marius the
Epicurean；〃 which vividly reproduces the Intellectual ferment of an earlier
age。 〃Thorndale；〃 however； is primarily didactic； and the philosophical
dialogues （interesting as these are to the metaphysician） hardly atone to
the general reader for an almost entire absence of plot。 The above is；
doubtless； an altogether extreme instance； but the exclusion of several
other works from the category of Romance seems to follow on something
like the same grounds。 Becker's 〃Charicles〃 and 〃Gallus〃 are little more
than school textbooks； while； turning to a less scholarly quarter；
Ainsworth's 〃Preston Fight；〃 and even his better…known 〃Guy Fawkes；〃
may be cited as illustrating what Mr。 Shorthouse means when he speaks of
novels 〃in which a small amount of fiction has been introduced simply for
the purpose of relating History。〃 In all such cases the average novel…
reader feels that he has been allured on false pretences。 I am well aware
that not a few of the books included in my List might be considered to fall
under the same ban； but I think it will be found that in most of them there
is at least a fair attempt to arouse narrative interest。
ing to the List itself； it will be noticed that I have been somewhat
sparing in the books given under the 〃Pre…Christian〃 heading。 Novels
dealing with these very far…off times are apt to be unsatisfactory； the mist
in which events and personages are enveloped； takes away from that
appearance of reality which is the great charm of the historical novel。 We
are hardly concerned； in reading 〃Sarchedon〃 and similar books； to get
away from the purely imaginary pictures which spring from the Novelist's
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A Guide to the Best Historical Novels and Tales
own brain； and the danger is that the very elements which add to our
interest in the tale as such； will go far to mislead us in our conception of
the period dealt with。 There is none of that sense of familiarity which we
enjoy when reading a sixteenth or seventeenth century romance； in the
latter case； the historical background； being easily perceptible； merges for
us with the creations of the author's own imagination。 Where the writer
of an 〃ancient〃 romance happens to be a scholar like Ebers； we feel that
so far at least as historical presentment goeswe cannot be far wrong； but
the bination of great scholarship and narrative capacity is； alas； too
rare！
I have likewise refrained from giving many tales dealing with Early…
Christian times。 We are here； it must be admitted； on controversial
ground； and under the First Century heading I have endeavoured to insert
romances of the highest quality only。 For instance； I think that Dr。
Abbott's 〃Philochristus〃 and Wallace's 〃Ben Hur〃 ought to satisfy two
different types of readers。 And this is the place； doubtless； to say that in
my lists will be found books of widely differing merit and aim。 School
teachers； and others in like capacity； will easily discriminate between
authors suitable for juvenile or untrained tastes； and authors whose appeal
is specially to those of maturer thought and experience。 Differing