ABSTRACT
In most history writing, the general neglect or dismissal of historical fiction suggests a clear demarcation by historians between these two forms of discourse, but the line between them may be seen to be a shifting one. Southern African writers, all-too-aware of the biased and fragmented versions of their history produced by institutionalised history writing and historiography, find that a central preoccupation in their work is, as Bessie Head puts it, 'a search as an African for a sense of historical community'. Revisionist historiography in South Africa has shown itself to be increasingly aware of this point. The social history movement, of which Marks was to become a leading figure, has had particularly good reason to develop the connections between history writing and fiction. Now the dominant approach in South African history writing, social history has renewed interest in narrative, biography, and human experience.
