If you don't know what those old occupations were, how they were done, and how they interacted with the passersby, you're not prepared to write a historical novel. A historical figure doesn't pass through a blank countryside. That means you, the novelist, must learn by research what the whole place was like in those times. As much as you can, you must be like someone who has lived there, because you're going to be not just the storyteller but also the tour guide taking your readers through the past.
This quote emphasizes the importance of immersive research in writing authentic historical fiction. It highlights that creating a believable and vivid historical setting requires the author to go beyond basic facts and delve into the everyday lives, occupations, and interactions of people from the period. By understanding how common occupations were performed and how they influenced daily interactions, a writer can reconstruct a past world that feels genuine and immersive. This approach transforms the author from a mere storyteller into a guide who helps readers experience a bygone era firsthand. The analogy of the novelist as a tour guide underscores the responsibility of the writer to transport readers through time with credibility and detail. Such meticulous research fosters depth in character development and scene setting, making the narrative more compelling. It also ensures historical accuracy, which is crucial in respecting the culture and lived experiences of the people of those times. Ultimately, this quote reminds us that crafting convincing historical fiction is akin to active exploration rather than passive storytelling; it requires curiosity, diligence, and a desire to truly 'live' within the historical context to do justice to the story and its setting.
