ABSTRACT
Historical fiction, paradoxically, must be based on fact, which makes it different from other fiction. Some writers, for example Cynthia Harnett, used a wealth of detail to make the story live; others, such as Gillian Avery, use characterisation and leave an impression of the period; a few like Rosemary Sutcliff paint so vivid a picture with words that the reader can almost inhabit the past. Most historical fiction for children has so far been written in English but other countries have produced notable books in the genre, many of which have been translated into English, thus reaching a wider audience who may well be unaware of their origins. As early as 1837 Aleksandra Ishimova was writing stories of Russian history for children. Rosemary Sutcliff had a talent for making the past come alive through her descriptions, dialogue and a sense of place. Gillian Avery chose for her domestic comedies set in Victorian England.
