The historical novel : $b An essay

"The Historical Novel: An Essay" by Herbert Butterfield is a critical examination written in the early 20th century. This work explores the relationship between historical novels and the study of history, asserting that such novels offer a unique gateway to understanding the past. It discusses notable figures in literature, particularly Sir Walter Scott, and how their works transform historical events and contexts into compelling narratives that resonate with readers. The opening of the essay establishes Butterfield's purpose in assessing the significance and impact of historical fiction. He argues that historical novels resurrect the past in the reader's imagination, bridging the gap between factual history and narrative art. Through his reflections on the nature of memory, sentiment, and romanticism, he introduces the idea that while history provides the backdrop, it is the personal, emotional engagement of historical fiction that allows readers to connect with previous ages more deeply. Butterfield’s critical approach situates the historical novel not just as storytelling but as a significant aspect of how we interpret and relate to history itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir Herbert Butterfield was an English historian and philosopher of history, who was Regius Professor of Modern History and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He is remembered chiefly for a short volume early in his career entitled The Whig Interpretation of History (1931) and for his Origins of Modern Science (1949). Butterfield turned increasingly to historiography and man's developing view of the past. Butterfield was a devout Christian and reflected at length on Christian influences in historical perspectives.