How To Handle Historical Representation In Nonfiction

If you’re writing a nonfiction history book, you may have encountered the dilemma of historical representation. In a nutshell, it’s the communication and interpretation of history in creative media. 

Maybe you’re writing a book based on a family member’s diary or a biography, or a historical essay. Either way, mastering historical representation is tricky. In this blog, we’ll explore why correct historical representation matters and how to handle it in your own writing.

Why does historical representation matter?

Historical representation refers to the portrayal of historical events or facts within media, whether it be a TV show or a book. It involves the selection and interpretation of historical facts to communicate your narrative. 

If you’re writing a historical book, then representation has probably cropped up when dealing with offensive language or depicting sensitive scenes. You might have wondered whether to include these in your text; an important thing to keep in mind is that history isn’t always pleasant, but this doesn’t mean you should jump to removing it. Considering whether to include sensitive scenes or language is an important question. Should past unpleasantness be exposed, not only out of duty to accuracy but also as a lesson to learn from?

As a writer, knowing how to deal with sensitive topics is vital as they evoke strong emotions and engagement from readers. You’re in a position of power, where voice can inform and shape your readers’ views; therefore, getting it right matters! In a broader sense, painting an accurate and honest picture of history is important. In a world of misinformation and fake news, a nonfiction historical book should provide as accurate a depiction of events as possible.

How do historians construct an image of the past, and why does it matter for writers?

You may not be a historian or want to emulate their work, but understanding their processes and methods is integral to how you interpret and convey historical information. 

Let’s say you’re a writer and you’ve decided to compile your grandparent’s World War II diary into a book. Understanding how to carry out your own historical research is important in terms of historical representation. Historians typically base their study on different types of sources, such as primary and secondary ones. Primary sources are simply any historical source that records an event or period (e.g., your grandparent’s diary). Secondary sources are created after the event by anyone who doesn’t have firsthand knowledge of it (e.g. a book about WWII written in the 1980s). Evaluating both types of sources forms the basis of historical understanding.

Tips to make sure your writing is appropriate and sensitive… 

Balancing sensitivity with historical reality is a challenge. So, here are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with historical representation:

1. A good place to start is with awareness—knowing which individuals, cultures, or communities may be affected. Then, using this knowledge to be vigilant and informed when writing. This could simply translate into knowing which language could cause offence. If you’re considering removing offensive language or terminology, consider whether its exclusion would change the narrative’s message or tone. If so, then consider keeping it. In this case, you could give context about the use of offensive language in a disclaimer and provide an explanation of why it was considered acceptable to use during the time, and why it is no longer tolerated. This can help your reader understand the context from all angles and make their own informed judgment.
2. Warn readers about sensitive content as this can help to avoid distress. This could be done via a disclaimer or content warnings. Some people may view content warnings as a form of censorship, however, their purpose is entirely different. They don’t remove or restrict material; they simply ensure that readers are making informed choices about the media they’re consuming. Using them in your writing can help to notify readers of harmful language and avert potential issues.
3. Consider context- as contextualising your sources is an essential skill and can assist your readers with background information. This could mean framing the historical sources you’re using with additional information to aid the text. A simple structure to follow is including who, what, when, and where. This immediately contextualises the language as being from a historical source.
4. A final tip is to use quotation marks around any offensive language or outdated opinions. This signals that it’s a direct quote from a source, which you can then reference later on. Importantly, it indicates that you, as the writer, aren’t endorsing any offensive views but are relaying a factual historical situation. 

If you’re interested in how other writers have handled this, then check out My Father’s Book by Elizabeth Carter, who compiled and completed her father’s WWII diary of being a Japanese Prisoner of War. If you need any support with writing your manuscript, please get in touch with the Book Shelf.