Characteristics Of Good Historical Non Fiction Books

By Tamika Powell


Some of the best historical non fiction books are still being read after hundreds of years. In essence, they are narrative accounts of the facts. They may have been written about an outstanding figure such as Julius Caesar or Henry the eighth or they may be about a particular period in time. Everything from the ancient Greeks to the cold war have been the subject of many excellent works.

Ancient Greek life and civilization has always been a fascinating topic. Readers today still love to learn about the very beginning of democracy and the lives of these people. From the building of the temples to the writing of the epic stories and plays, the Greeks were an amazing culture. They managed to combine strength with beauty and intelligence with hard work. In many ways they are still an example to us today.

Some of the most popular works focus on wars. Unfortunately war has been a constant feature of virtually every society since the very beginnings of civilization. Many populated area has seen a constant shift of political boundaries due to war and conquest. Even into modern times maps are still be redrawn to reflect changes and this is a fascinating topic for a book.

There are literally thousands of non fiction works about ancient Rome, both the republic and empire. Over a thousand years later the Romans are still as captivating as ever. They were larger than life and often behaved in excessive and flamboyant ways. There leaders names have come down to us through history. Reading about the lives of everyday Romans is just as interesting. Many people traveled extensively and had very full lives working on farms, fishing in the oceans or fighting in the army.

The knights went on crusades through the Holy Land to fight for control of Jerusalem. Fantastic castles and cathedrals were build that are still awe inspiring today. Every year books are written that present a new idea or perspective on this fascinating period. Powerful narratives tell of Charlemagne the great Frankish king and his impact on history.

Certain geographical areas seem to lend themselves to many non fiction works. The Holy Land is one such place. It has thousands of years of history and enough characters to fill many libraries. A good author will check all of their facts and even travel to the actual sites in an attempt to get the most accurate facts. Readers must learn to critique each author and their work. Some writers allow their personal bias to become apparent, whilst others work hard to present an impartial and well balanced book.

One of the most enduring works of the nineteenth century is Charles Darwin's On the Origin of the Species. Darwin spent many years working on this book and was never in a hurry to publish. His ideas are still discussed today, yet his own life story is just as compelling as his work. Many excellent biographies have been written about the great naturalist.

The accounts given by historical non fiction books give the reader a clear idea of how people lived in the past. It may be the more recent past covering both the world wars of the twentieth century. The ancient past of the early civilizations also makes for excellent reading as we learn how our distant ancestors learns to grow crops, raise animals and develop a written language.




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