Using real events in fiction

EileenG

I'm in the middle of writing a historical novel, part of which is set in the Peninsular War. So I've been doing tons of research and finding some amazing stories.

What I want to know is if it's acceptable to use some of the things that real people did, and attribute them to my hero? Can I do this and put a footnote or note at the end saying this was really done by So-and-so? Or should I not do this at all?

Some of the tales of heroism are so astonishing that I'd be hard-pressed to come up with a fictional equivelent.

Antilles

Why not just change the names of the people and places and keep the events the same? That way you even get wiggle room to tie it in to the rest of your story.

EileenG

Well, that's pretty much what I'm doing. In the attack on Badajoz for instance, it was Lt James McPherson who climbed up the ladder to attack the castle, and got shot at point blank range, but the bullet bounced off his button, and he ended up running his jacket up the flagpole to show the castle was taken. In my version, it was one of my characters who did this. The event was the same, the character was different.

Antilles

EileenG wrote: »

Well, that's pretty much what I'm doing. In the attack on Badajoz for instance, it was Lt James McPherson who climbed up the ladder to attack the castle, and got shot at point blank range, but the bullet bounced off his button, and he ended up running his jacket up the flagpole to show the castle was taken. In my version, it was one of my characters who did this. The event was the same, the character was different.

Is it important that the event is historical? Why not make it a fictional attack on Guadiana with all the same elements, except Lt. Your Character climbs the ladder and gets shot?

EileenG

I can invent small battles or skirmishes, but something like this, with massive slaughter, followed by appalling looting and rapine, has to be historically accurate. It's like ignoring the battle of Waterloo and involved one that big.

Too many people know a lot about that war, inventing a whole battle would cause war.

Kinski

I don't know if you need to go as far as footnoting every instance of this - that could be a bit distracting for the reader - but you might include a note at the front of the book stating that many events depicted actually occurred, but involved real-life actors different from the character you portray. Perhaps you could also include an article on your website describing the events you've used, and what changes you've made, and direct the reader toward it in the book. But I'd urge you to be aware of the politics of any changes you make.

Arguably it's more important in this case to acknowledge your sources for these stories. It's one thing to take a real-life action committed by Mr. Been-Dead-For-200yrs and write a fictional version in which Chad Sexington does it instead, another to draw heavily on a living, working person's research and use it without acknowledgement (there's even a danger, if you don't go about this in a conscientious way, that you could be accused of plagiarism). Including a list of sources consulted at the end of the book might be a good idea.

EileenG

Right now, there's a dozen books on the Peninsular War sitting on my kitchen table, including all three volumes of the Duke of Wellington's journals. I swear, those things are written in about six point or smaller, and are half in French.

I don't think I'm stealing any unique research, but yes, a page of notes at the back might be the best thing.

Kinski

EileenG wrote: »

Right now, there's a dozen books on the Peninsular War sitting on my kitchen table, including all three volumes of the Duke of Wellington's journals. I swear, those things are written in about six point or smaller, and are half in French.

Maybe you should knock out a history book while you're at it...:p

Antilles

Kinski wrote: »

Maybe you should knock out a history book while you're at it...:p

I remember reading somewhere that some porn films are made so that they can have sex scenes cut from them and still make relative sense; so the studio can market the uncut version as porn and the cut version as a regular film

EileenG

Kinski wrote: »

Maybe you should knock out a history book while you're at it...:p

One of the interesting difference is that I have to write big events from one pov. And this was before mobile phones etc, so sometimes something signifcant is happening, but my guy can't know what it is, only the effect.

It means one of the difficult things is deciding where exactly I put him, since he can't be involved in the entire battle.

--Kaiser--

A lot of fictional books are based on real events and characters, two examples that spring to mind are The Count of Monte Cristo (based on the true story of Pierre Picaud) and Blood Meridian (the Glanton gang were real, maybe the Judge was too).

So I think it is acceptable to do this, as long as you acknowledge it somewhere (and as long as no one living can sue you!). Soemtimes truth is stranger than fiction

EileenG

It's based in 1812, so I think I'm safe from anyone claiming I've written about him.

Kinski

You're missing out on the 200th anniversary...that's a shame, had it been published around now, you might have got a little free media exposure with radio interviews and such (probably not much though!)

storker

EileenG wrote: »

One of the interesting difference is that I have to write big events from one pov. And this was before mobile phones etc, so sometimes something signifcant is happening, but my guy can't know what it is, only the effect.

It means one of the difficult things is deciding where exactly I put him, since he can't be involved in the entire battle.

From what you say of your book collection, I would guess that it probably contains at least some of Cornwell's Sharpe novels. I've only read two, Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Waterloo, and in each of these Cornwell either invents an event or adds a twist.

For example, at "Eagle" had Sharpe capturing a French eagle at the battle of Talavera in 1809, even though historically no Eagles were captured that day. "Waterloo" has Sharpe shooting the incompetent Prince of Orange, whereas historically it is assumed that the Prince was hit by a French skirmisher. Of course, Sharpe is hidden from view when he takes the shot, so the French get the blame anyway, which I thought was a clever way for the writer to handle it.

In "Waterloo", Cornwell gives Sharpe a reason to be present at the various Stages of the battle, so he gets to see plenty. Cornwell commented that with this particular novel, the battle itself is the story, so there was no need to attach it to a tale of Sharpe's derring-do; instead he just made Sharpe an observer/participant, which is one of the reasons I like it so much, and why I have little interest in reading the others.

With regard to your particular problem, you could always change some minor details, like have the bullet ricochet off a locket, or watch or something.

I'd be interested in reading your novel, as I have a keen interest in the history of the Napoleonic Wars.

Stork

impala67

maybe instead of footnotes at the end you write on the opening page the following is based on true events like they do in the movies.

mikerawlins

impala67 wrote: »

maybe instead of footnotes at the end you write on the opening page the following is based on true events like they do in the movies.

I agree. even though you will write a fiction, the whole story is based on true events and should be quoted on the beginning of the story...