THE FORMATION OF HISTORICAL FICTION TRADITIONS IN ENGLISH LITERATURE
Keywords:
English literature, historical novel, Sir Walter Scott, Victorian literature, cultural memory, historical imagination, literary traditionAbstract
This study investigates the formation and development of the historical novel in English literature, focusing on its thematic depth, aesthetic value, and socio-cultural significance. The historical novel is considered one of the defining traditions of English literary culture, reflecting the intricate relationship between national history, collective memory, and artistic creativity. The article highlights Sir Walter Scott’s pivotal role in laying the foundation of the genre in the early nineteenth century, followed by the contributions of Victorian writers such as Charles Dickens and Edward Bulwer-Lytton. It also examines modern approaches to historical fiction, which incorporate alternative histories, psychological analysis, and postmodern experimentation. Special attention is devoted to the interconnection between historical fact and artistic invention, the construction of narrative and character systems, and the representation of cultural identity within historical fiction.
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