(Other Book Appreciation Posts can be found on The Reading Corner)
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I’ll be honest—I haven’t read much historical fiction in recent years.
I also haven’t thought too much about how far removed from a historical event one must be before telling a story about it—especially when it’s a fictional story about people who really existed.
No matter how much truth is woven in, there are still fictions too. And when dealing with historical fiction, it can be difficult for the reader to ascertain how much is truth and how much is not. At least, it often is for me.
Their Shadows Deep is a historical fiction book by Peter Golden. In it, a former police officer turned writer searches for her husband’s killer with a backdrop setting of the 1960 Presidential Race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The more she searches, the deeper and darker the shadows she finds herself in…
But perhaps backdrop isn’t the right word. This book isn’t just historical fiction in the sense that it takes place during actual events and many (if not all) of the characters are fictional—seeing as JFK is one of the main characters in Their Shadows Deep. (Yes, you read that right.)
I’ll admit, that caught me by surprise. (Would it have caught me by as much surprise if I had read synopsis more carefully? Probably not.)
While I personally would be hesitant to fictionalize such a prominent figure from American history—and relatively recent history at that, 1960 wasn’t all that long ago—it’s clear that Mr. Golden did his research. (The sources section at the end of the book alone attest to that.)
The amount of research needed to make sure historical fiction stories are not only entertaining, but also immersed in the time period in which they’re written, is simply astounding. I think that might be what I admire most about writers of historical fiction.
A story that is not only plausible, but also historical accurate and deeply authentic… I’m sure that’s what writers of historical fiction chase after. Like many storytellers, they’re often dedicated. Driven. Eager to get the story right—down to the last detail.
And it’s clear that Mr. Golden approached this story with that same drive, care, attention, and focus.
Until next time,
Al
