Historical Fiction
Lovelace, Babbage, and Steampunk Comics
Normally when I use the phrase “comic-book history” here on the Margins I’m referring to the shorthand popular version of history that we learned as children and carry in our hearts as adults: Abraham Lincoln dashing off the Gettysburg address on the back of an envelope, the first American Thanksgiving, Marie Antoinette’s infamous line “let…
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Bernard Cornwell on Waterloo
Bernard Cornwell writes historical fiction. Really vivid, well-researched historical fiction with a military bent and complicated main characters. Now Cornwell makes his first foray into historical nonfiction with Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles. Published in time for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, Cornwell’s account features the…
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In which I consider historical novels
Occasionally two separate projects overlap in my head, creating bubbles of thought. (The process is a bit like pouring vinegar on baking soda: the end product is active and slightly acidic.) This is one of those times. As I mentioned before, I’ve been reading about Boudica’s revolt against the Roman empire. At the same time,…
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