One of the big things historical fiction readers look for (beyond exciting stories) is a degree of historical accuracy. We often want to learn about the real history behind the fiction to some degree, enough to really interest us in the period events, locations and people.
So how can we, as authors, be true enough to reality that our readers get a good sense of the time and location, enrich their reading experience and perhaps spark a new interest in the era? That is something I really focus on, and a lot of work goes into it.
I believe the setting of Historical fiction matters as much as the characters and plot. What is a story set in Rome or Constantinople without conveying the majesty of those cities? And if you want to describe the majesty of those cities in a way that makes sense, you really need to be familiar with them. Not only will that allow you to paint a more immersive, consistent image of the scene, but it will give you ideas for specific places that can fit into the narrative of your story.
My case study is Constantinople (modern Istanbul), the centrepiece location for 3 books in my ‘Last Viking’ series. I really wanted to know the city before I wrote much about it. The first thing you can do, of course, is study maps and artist impressions of the ancient city. I wanted to know where everything was in relation to each other. What do you have to pass through to get from the imperial palace to the Hagia Sofia? (The ceremonial Chalke gate). What did it look like? (massive bronze doors in a triumphal archway with statues and columns). How can that be described to the reader and used in the story?
Google maps/earth is surprisingly useful for orienting yourself with surviving landmarks but nothing, however, beats walking those streets yourself. I went to Istanbul and stood in that square under the Hagia Sofia. I walked down the slope past the long-gone Chalke gate to the palace district, and found that it was far steeper and narrower than I expected. I realised the palace really lived in the shadow of the hippodrome, something you cannot see from a map, and that the whole complex of the palace existed on a series of interleaving terraces and pathways that makes it far more interesting than just being a big courtyard.
Overall, I hope that readers will get a better sense of being there, of knowing what it is to stand between the Hippodrome and the Hagia Sofia, two wonders of the age, and the feeling of passing through the Chalke gate to the hidden inner sanctum of the palace – the sense of privilege and awe that would inspire in a citizen of the empire. Because if you can convey that, maybe the reader enjoys the immersion in the story more. Perhaps that person also goes away with another level of interest in the history behind your fiction, and you have done more than just entertain them for a few precious hours.
