The politics of history
I love history. When I was a little girl and I was bored, I’d read the encyclopedia Britanica. Not kidding. So I’ve enjoyed the research that has gone into my current novel. But, but but but but…I fear I have overloaded my brain and it is spilling onto paper.
While my book is set during the American Revolution, I’ve realized that the politics of the time have only a little to do with the plot, is so much that it’s more prevalent as a setting, not action. So, in having researched all of this info, I do include secondary characters that are appropriate to the time, but do not really move the story forward. But i wanna show everyone how smart I am, pout.
In my recent editing I’ve cut out about 30 pages and see that most of the detritus removed includes the only scenes with the historical figures. At the time of writing them, I thought it was important to set the political tone for the heroine’s motivation. I was wrong. Don’t you just hate when that happens?
Yes, it had to do with her character, but not enough to make that exchange valuable. It more had to do with the father and a villain, whose characters I can show in better ways. I knew it was a dud when I realized that all she did in this was struggle to control her tongue because it was unusual for a woman to partake of this discussion in front of members of the Continental Congress, who just happened to be dining at this particular rice plantation. How trite.
I am glad that I got rid of that scene. I will simply have to find another way to include politics, but only minorly, as a character.
When is it ok to include politics in fiction?
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Although I often drop politics into my works I only do it in passing, as a character trait builder.
For example in one of my vampire stories, my vampire recalls the urban renewal of Paris in the mid 19th Century, how it made the poor of Paris refugees in their own country and how they voted Communist for the next century or more. He didn’t make a big deal out of it, but he had seen it, it was important and he wasn’t surprised at the consequences of it.
In a story in my latest e-book a character says a bit about rent control. Again, not a big deal, but it expressed her opinion on the matter and built her character.
In my opinion, politics shouldn’t be more than background in a work of fiction, very quiet background. If you want to educate your readers, write a history book.
Thank you Rob. Yes, I totally see that, too late. Well, it’s NOT too late. I’ve edited it out now. I totally want romance to be the focus. When I go back into the revisions, I will layer it in as, you say, for character building. After all, Connie is her daddy’s girl, and his politics shaped her.
Good question! In my own Regency work, I’ve also done LOTS of research into the political arena. I spent all spring reading an exhaustive biography of Wellington, for crying out loud. I think politics will bleed into your story to the degree with which they directly impact the characters. My hero is a veteran of the Peninsular campaign, and he’s got a thing or two to say about it, even though the main action takes place in London. Sometimes historicals seem to take place in a vacuum, with all the trappings of an era–the clothes, the architecture, the carriages–but none of the context.
It’s a fine line. Of course you don’t want to overwhelm your readers with unnecessary info dumps, but there is a place for politics in historical romance.
The finest discourse on the Battle of Waterloo I’ve yet read is the 50-page side trip Victor Hugo takes in Les Miserables. He wasn’t shooting for the Avon market, but it did did give the rest of the novel a sense of post-war weariness, and let the reader understand the cynicism and desperation of the characters.
When is it okay to include politics? I’d say when you write something like, The American President. Where your character’s conflict circles around their views on some subject.