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Historical fiction is a sub-genre of fiction that often portrays alternate accounts or dramatization of historical figures or events. Stories in this genre, while fictional, make an honest attempt at capturing the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the person or time they represent with attention paid to detail and fidelity.^[1] Historic fiction is found in books, magazines,^[2] art, television, movies, games, theater, and other media.

Historic fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and usually during a significant event in that period.

In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical event complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way altered.

As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established history. If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often considered historical fantasy.

For more details on this topic, see historical novel.

Historical literature includes the works of authors that epitomize a specific period in history. A few examples of fiction that take place in notable time periods, or involve historic events include the following.

• The Waverley Novels, by Sir Walter Scott (over 40 distinct books)
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Pharaoh, by Bolesław Prus

• James Michener: 40+ epic novels, first famous work was Tales of the South Pacific.
• William Napier: Wrote Attila trilogy
• Bernard Cornwell: Sharpe series and others
• Conn Iggulden: Emperor series and Conqueror series
• Anne Easter Smith: Wars of the Roses series
• Wilbur Smith: Ancient Egypt Series
• Simon Scarrow: Eagle series of Roman military fiction
• Harry Turtledove: Alternate history fiction
• Mark Twain: Various works of historical fiction about the American South.
• C. S. Forester: Hornblower series and others
• Adam Bagdasarian: Forgotten Fire
• Ann Rinaldi: 40+ young adult historical fiction novels, primarily set in the United States.
• Erich Maria Remarque: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Night in Lisbon.
• Jack Whyte: Camulod Chronicles / A Dream of Eagles, set in early Fifth Century Britain; also Templar Trilogy
• Phillipa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Constant Princess.

Works of historical fiction are not reserved exclusively to literature. Many films have been created which attempt to use a historic event or setting as a backdrop and actors portray fictional or historic figures set in these events. Below are a few notable examples.

The Tudors - A dramatic television series observing the reign of Henry VIII.
Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima directed by Clint Eastwood
Memoirs of a Geisha - A fictional account of the life of a Geisha set in World War II Japan. Based on the book of the same name.
Forrest Gump directed by Robert Zemeckis - A simple man is woven into major American historical events from the 1950s to the turn of the century.

• alternate history
• historical fantasy
• historical novel
• historical romance
• sword and sandal

1. ^ http://www.britannica.com/search?query=historical+fiction&ct=
2. ^ See, e.g., Paradox Magazine, which publishes short stories in the historical fiction sub-genre.