tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post1669997862116146886..comments2023-11-12T09:52:42.825-05:00Comments on Medieval Woman: Blogging with Historical Novelist Susan Higginbotham: To Bibliography or Not to Bibliography?Susan Higginbothamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13517907583894026599noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-86923338955165822292006-12-07T12:44:00.000-05:002006-12-07T12:44:00.000-05:00I agree that it is helpful for a historical novel,...I agree that it is helpful for a historical novel, especially one about controversial people, or little known people,to have some references or a bibliography, or something. I put a bibliography at the end of my second novel, Madame Royale, because I was being challenged a lot after Trianon came out. I am really glad I did; it helps the readers and it helps me when I am debating with someone. For future novels I will always have a bibliography.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-19782282158778178472006-12-06T20:18:00.000-05:002006-12-06T20:18:00.000-05:00Another vote for Mr. Vollmann. I like bibliographi...Another vote for Mr. Vollmann. I like bibliographies or bibliographical notes in novels because it can give you an idea of what schools of thought a writer may subscribe to regarding a historical person or event. For instance, Phillipa Gregory based her portrayal of Anne Boleyn's downfall in her book the Other Boleyn Girl on Retha Warnike's contraversial thesis that it was because Anne miscarried a deformed fetus (not a view I personally agree with, but interesting nevertheless). The sources an author chooses to include can really tell you a lot about their opinions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-57793564510678593442006-12-06T11:48:00.000-05:002006-12-06T11:48:00.000-05:00I've just found a bibliography in a German YA seri...I've just found a bibliography in a German YA series I filched from my nephew. Crusades, Templars and the Grail, but the historical background is competently done. <br /><br />Little side-story: The author had a reading in Braunschweig my nephew attended. And since he was so brave to ask the first question after the reading, he got the author's newest book as gift.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-85570280497350843892006-12-06T04:21:00.000-05:002006-12-06T04:21:00.000-05:00I agree with you and Mr Vollmann, and I remember f...I agree with you and Mr Vollmann, and I remember finding the Jean Plaidy bibliographies useful. With a historical novel I always want to know what's history and what the author made up, and a bibliography or a detailed Author's Note or both are good ways of doing that.<br /><br />Bernard Cornwell's website is well worth a look, especially a flick through the Your Questions page, where readers sometimes ask him quite detailed questions about where such-and-such a thing came from and did so-and-so really happen, and so on.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-2283315749161532762006-12-05T23:08:00.000-05:002006-12-05T23:08:00.000-05:00Sherherzade, there were a few comments in the arti...Sherherzade, there were a few comments in the article about authors who liked to put in references for legal reasons. Interesting article in its entirety.<br /><br />Gabrielle, I'll have to check out Cornwall's website. Sounds very informative.<br /><br />Picked up Philippa Gregory's latest today and noticed that it has a longish bibliography . . .Susan Higginbothamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517907583894026599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-57352738321969482852006-12-05T12:51:00.000-05:002006-12-05T12:51:00.000-05:00I like bibliographies, too. They don't need to be ...I like bibliographies, too. They don't need to be in the book, but it's nice if an author has them on his website (Guy Gavriel Kay) or is willing to send a list if you ask.<br /><br />It should even help the authors. Bernard Conrwell is often asked about books in the Q&A section on his website, and sometimes he replies he's forgotten the exact title because it's long ago he worked on the novel in question. <br /><br />But maybe it takes the mindset of a researcher to think about assembling a bibliography for the readers and your own benefit. It's work, after all, and I can't blame an author for not doing it.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21031350.post-57807333100315936302006-12-05T11:12:00.000-05:002006-12-05T11:12:00.000-05:00I like a bibliography for just the reasons you and...I like a bibliography for just the reasons you and Vollman mentioned. They can be useful guides for learning more about a new topic of interest (or even an old one). I guess I had assumed that many did it for legal reasons (as in, "yes, I did borrow an idea, but you get credit for that....").Sherhazadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875945554987676866noreply@blogger.com