It's not a straightforward yes or no. Some historical fiction novels need that length to cover all the necessary elements. But if the story feels padded or loses focus, then it might be too long. It all depends on the quality and content of the writing.
Words like 'chivalry', 'empire', and 'feudal' are great for historical fiction. 'Chivalry' was an important part of medieval society, often associated with knights. 'Empire' can set the scale of the story, whether it's a small or large one. 'Feudal' describes a particular social and economic system that was common in history and can add depth to the story.
It varies greatly. Some short historical fiction stories might be around 1,000 - 5,000 words. Novellas in this genre could be 20,000 - 40,000 words. Full - length historical fiction novels often range from 80,000 to 120,000 words. However, there are exceptions. For example, some epic historical fictions can be much longer, exceeding 200,000 words. It depends on the complexity of the story, the number of characters, and the historical period being covered.
Such words can enhance the story in multiple ways. They can add historical accuracy. For instance, if you use terms like 'farthing' (an old British coin), it makes the story more believable. Also, words related to historical occupations like 'blacksmith' or 'scribe' can add color and detail to the narrative, making it more engaging for the reader. They also help to build the cultural context of the story, which is crucial for historical fiction.
Words like 'era', 'ancestor', 'heritage' are important. 'Era' helps to set the time period, for example, 'the Victorian era'. 'Ancestor' can be used to refer to the characters' predecessors, like 'His ancestor was a great warrior in the past'. 'Heritage' gives a sense of the cultural and historical background that the story is based on, such as 'They were proud of their Celtic heritage'.
Biography of Historical Figures
Historical figures referred to people who had left a deep impact and were widely known in history. In the creation of a novel, the image of these historical figures could be used to express the background and social environment of the times. Below are some famous figures in history.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military commanders in ancient Greek history. In the 3rd century B.C., he led the Greek coalition to conquer the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea coast, becoming one of the most powerful empires in the ancient world. Alexander the Great's campaign was full of thrills and miracles. He crossed the steppe, desert and forest, defeated the army of the Persian Empire, and finally successfully occupied the city of Alexandria in India.
Confucius
Confucius was a famous ideologist, politician, and teacher during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. He was one of the founders of Confucianism, which had a profound influence on Chinese culture. Confucius advocated treating others with benevolence, emphasizing the importance of etiquette, music, benevolence, righteousness and other values. He established a huge education system that nurtured many outstanding talents such as Yan Hui, Zi Lu, and Meng Zi.
Qin Shihuang
Qin Shihuang was the first emperor in Chinese history to unify the whole country. He unified the six countries in 221 B.C. and established the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shihuang's unification war caused huge casualties and property losses, but his rule also brought unity and progress in politics, culture, economy and other aspects. He established a unified system in the central government, promoted Legalism, unified weights and measures, and built huge projects such as the Great Wall.
4 Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most famous military generals in French history. He joined the French army in 1799 and became Marshal of France in 1804. He conquered Italy, Russia, Egypt and other places and became one of the greatest military leaders in European history. In 1812, when Napoleon invaded Britain, he suffered a defeat, but his military genius and innovative spirit were highly praised by future generations.
The above are some of the famous figures in history whose achievements and influences had an important impact on Chinese literature and novel creation.
Use words that are specific to the time period. For example, if it's a medieval story, use words like 'knight', 'castle', 'serf'. These words immediately place the reader in that historical context.
The word 'war of words' usually referred to a situation where both parties fiercely refuted each other in a debate or exchange. There were indeed many stories in history. For example, the ancient Greek philosopher, aristotle, once had a heated debate over a certain issue. In the end, aristotle won with the view that " I don't agree with you, but I agree with your argument."