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Wednesday 28 August 2013

Enjoy Reading Historical Fiction Graphic Novels

By Amanda Baird


In the best historical fiction graphic novels a gripping fictional story unfolds with vivid illustrations, using a backdrop of some significant event or period in history. These books have the structure of a traditional fictional story but the reader is exposed to other times and places through a combination of illustrations and text.

Some people confuse graphic novels with comic books. The difference between them is that a graphic novel tells a complete story and is of the same length as any other book. Illustrations are used to help move the story forward, conveying physical movement and facial expressions. Some even appear in hardcover and are found on bestseller lists just like their more traditional counterparts.

The authors of these books often do a great deal of research into the period of history about which they are writing. By becoming familiar with the period or event they are writing about, they can accurately portray the way the characters think, talk and act. They have to have the skill to weave the story and the history together in such a way that readers do not feel they are being hit over the head with the research. The goal is to entertain while at the same time allowing the reader to wonder what it would have been like for them if they had lived in that time and place.

There are so many different periods in history and events that are covered in these books. The reader can experience what is was like to live in Ancient Greece during the Olympic Games or in America during the slave trade. Civil wars, assassinations of presidents, lives of kings and queens and survival of tragic events are all topics used in such books.

There are many of these books available from online stores today as this genre grows in popularity. They cater to all age groups and there are those suitable for small children, teenagers and adults. Younger children in particular who are just learning to read may benefit from reading such a book However, these books are not just for those who want an easy read. A number of them are complex, extremely well written and enjoyed by the most discerning adult readers.

The use of illustration to tell stories has been used since ancient times. Illustrations help those who find it difficult to create mental pictures in their heads as they read. The combination of text with visualization creates a world the reader can enter into without difficulty, engaging them in a unique way.

Such books are therefore often valued by teachers as they may revise the opinion of a student that history is a boring subject. They provide a tool to teachers for making the past more accessible and relevant to their students. Reluctant readers may also be encouraged to try such a novel, rather than having a wade through a heavy text filled book.

Historical fiction graphic novels are becoming more popular all the time. The combination of text and illustrations offers an immediacy, allowing readers to slip into a past world with ease. While reading an intriguing story, they are exposed at the same time to how people lived in other times and places.




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