Paul Ashton’s If it’s Not True It Should Be centers around the state of Australian historical fiction and is comprised of several pieces which illustrate the way in which history and literature relate to each other. Whilst history grounds creativity, creative non-fiction allows readers to connect with, and immerse themselves in, historical events. As well as being immersive, this work is also accurate, thereby informing the reader and bridging the gap between creativity and historical accuracy. Ten of the contributors are academically trained historians, whilst the other six are eminent writers of historical fiction. This ensures that a balance is achieved between imagination and precision, providing appropriate context and methodology that informs whilst inviting the reader to visualise and personally connect with the events in question.
Apart from being passionate about history, the contributors in this book all share a desire to harness the past in their creative writing practices: to draw on historical sources, both traditional and promiscuous; to develop well grounded historical imaginations which allow them to fill cracks, gaps or chasms in what are invariably incomplete, invented or censored archives; to look through the eyes of others; to read historical landscapes on the ground and in the mind; and to look to history for inspiration.
Like all good creative non-fiction history and historical fiction, it’s engaging, evocative of time and place, deals with significant events and issues—however large or small—shows different perspectives and is well researched.
This book is significant in that it conveys the notion that historians need to think of themselves as writers, as the utilisation of literary forms allows them to widen their audience and contribute towards the increasing accessibility of history.
PAUL ASHTON is adjunct professor and co-founder of the Australian Centre for Public History at the University of Technology Sydney and adjunct professor at the University of Canberra and Macquarie University. He has authored, co-authored, edited and co-edited over 40 books and is editor of the journal Public History Review. His series of creative non-fiction children’s histories—Accidental Histories—is being published by Halstead Press.
* There has been a significant expansion in the writing of fiction and creative non-fiction based on historical research and events for a broad range of audiences.
* Illustrates convergence of historicity and creativity, with authors demonstrating how the past can be used to give their work historical dimensions and insights.
* Features ten contributors, four of which—Stephanie Ho, Sarah Luke, Peter Stanley and Paul Ashton—are academically trained historians. The other six—Clare Hallifax, Alison Lloyd, Sophie Masson, Stephanie Owen Reeder, Felicity Pulman and Philippa Werry—are eminent writers of historical fiction, often for children. (Clare is also a publisher.) All are concerned with the notion of historical authority—and of sharing that authority.
