Historical novels are set in a specific historical period or setting, typically referencing historical events, developments and/or persons.

Examples of historical novels include Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe, Howard Pyle’s Robin Hood and Alexandre Duma’s The Three Musketeers.

What characterises the historical novel and historical fiction and what makes a good historical novel? Does a historical novel need to be completely historically correct?

Keynote speakers on historical novels take a look at these questions, sometimes relating to specific literary works and their authors.