[ SECRET POST #3687 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3687 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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[Viewfinder]


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[Final Fantasy VII]



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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 28 secrets from Secret Submission Post #527.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I have an MA in medieval history and am very mixed feelings on historical novels. On one hand, of course deliberately spreading misconceptions and falsehoods doesn't do historical studies any favors; neither does an author pretending to be a historian.

On the other hand, I'm also a lover of literature, and the fact is, not all interesting historical stories make for great novels. Sometimes they need to be tweaked and reworked, for pacing and drama. I think that's okay, as long as going into it, we treat it more as a historical fanfiction than a textbook. I also think this is completely within the spirit of historical novels - medieval-contemporary or not. "Sagas" based on pseudo-facts and rumors have always been hits, and that's okay.

So, I actually enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl, because it was a fun, decently written story. But that period's also not my period so maybe that's why I'm not particularly defensive if it fucks up the facts. lol

[(Anonymous)]

As a writer, I'm in favor of some poetic license when it comes to historical fiction. But I'd have to agree with OP that in this particular case, it wasn't needed. The idea that Anne Boleyn really was a witch (WTF, seriously) who committed incest and boned half the court is nowhere near as interesting as the far more probable truth: that she was an extremely ambitious woman with powerful enemies, who made the "mistake" of not bearing Henry VIII the son and heir he so longed for, which made her vulnerable to a political and personal fall. She wasn't a saint by any means, but neither was she guilty of all the things she got accused of. It was a political hit job that succeeded... no reason why that wouldn't make for amazing television or fiction.

[(Anonymous)]

My problem with Gregory's books is more that she picks one character to be the Great Shining Perfect Hero and everyone else is either on their side (therefore good) or EVIL SO EVIL and also JEALOUS. It's total Mary Sue stuff pasted on to some history. I can deal with a bit of history splinching, but the total recasting of everyone and everything in the Perfect Hero's drama is deeply annoying and not a good narrative.

[(Anonymous)]

Yup. I watched The White Queen and ended up really disliking Elizabeth Woodville, which I'm pretty sure was the opposite of what Gregory intended.

[(Anonymous)]

This is my problem with her writing... the characters are very much lacking in nuance and complexity. The Other Boleyn Girl was a prime example where Mary is practically a saint and Anne is a manipulative bitch-sorceress or something.