The Readers' Advisory Guide to Historical Fiction

Offered as both a self-guided tour of historical fiction and as a reference, Baker focuses on the aspects of historical fiction that draw readers in and how we can identify them quickly enough to make educated suggestions. Her agenda is to help readers’ advisors identify the main types of traditional historical fiction and its offspring, develop a vocabulary for discussing and understanding historical fiction, understand the particular appeal of historical fiction, identify some of the benchmarks, authors and titles on historical fiction, suggest resources and tools for readers’ advisors, and to develop strategies for successful readers’ advisory in historical fiction. There are 10 chapters: a wall of portraits, a hall of doors; talking with historical fiction readers; historical fiction by time period; historical fiction by place; biographical historical fiction; historical fiction by subject; culture, ethnicity, religion, and gender in historical fiction; historical fiction and other genres; expanding readers’ advisory services; keeping current, staying relevant. There is a bibliography, notes and appendixes. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)