best historical novels and tales(乔纳森尼尔德历史小说故事精选).-第3章
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they mislead the ignorant （i。e。； the majority？）； are an unpardonable offence
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to the historically…minded reader。 Moreover； the writer of such Fiction；
though he be a Thackeray or a Scott； cannot surmount barriers which are
not merely hard to scale； but absolutely impassable。 The spirit of a
period is like the selfhood of a human beingsomething that cannot be
handed on； try as we may； it is impossible for us to breathe the atmosphere
of a bygone time； since all those thousand… and…one details which went to
the building up of both individual and general experience； can never be
reproduced。 We consider （say） the Eighteenth Century from the purely
Historical standpoint； and； while we do so； are under no delusion as to our
limitations； we know that a few of the leading personages and events have
been brought before us in a more or less disjointed fashion； and are
perfectly aware that there is room for much discrepancy between the
pictures so presented to us （be it with immense skill） and the actual facts
as they took place in such and such a year。 But； goes on the objector； in
the case of a Historical Romance we allow ourselves to be hoodwinked；
for； under the influence of a pseudo… historic security； we seem to watch
the real sequence of events in so far as these affect the characters in whom
we are interested。 How we seem to live in those early years of the
Eighteenth Century； as we follow Henry Esmond from point to point； and
yet； in truth； we are breathing not the atmosphere of Addison and Steele；
but the atmosphere created by the brilliant Nineteenth Century Novelist；
partly out of his erudite conception of a former period； and partly out of
the emotions and thoughts engendered by that very environment which
was his own； and from which he could not escape！
Well； to all such criticisms it seems to me there are ample rejoinders。
In the first place it must be remembered that History itself possesses
interest for us more as the unfolding of certain moral and mental
developments than as the mere enumeration of facts。 Of course； I am
aware that the ideal of the Historian is Truth utterly regardless of prejudice
and inclination； but； as with all other human ideals； this one is never fully
realised； and there is ever that discrepancy between Fact and its Narration
to which I just now alluded。 This being so； I would askIs not the writer
of Fiction justified in emphasising those elements of History which have a
bearing on life and character in general？ There is； doubtless； a wise and
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an unwise method of procedure。 One novelist； in the very effort to be
accurate； produces a work whichbeing neither History nor Fictionis
simply dull； while another； who has gauged the true relation between fact
and imagination； knows better than to bring into prominence that which
should remain only as a background。 After all； there are certain root
motives and principles which； though they vary indefinitely in their
application； underlie Human Conduct； and are mon to all ages alike。
Given a fairly accurate knowledge as regards the general history of any
period； bined with some investigation into its special manners and
customs； there is no reason why a truly imaginative novelist should not
produce a work at once satisfying to romantic and historical instincts。
Again； if it be true that the novelist cannot reproduce the far past in
any strict sense； it is also true that neither can he so reproduce the life and
events of yesterday。 That power of imaginative memory； which all
exercise in daily experience； may be held in very different degrees； but its
enjoyment is not dependent on accuracy of representationfor； were this
so； none of us would possess it。 In an analogous manner the writer of
Romance may be more or less adequately equipped on the side of History
pure and simple； but he need not wait for that which will never ethe
power of reproducing in toto a past age。 If； in reading what purports to
be no more than a Novel； the struggle between Christianity and Paganism
（for example）； or the unbounded egotism of Napoleon； be brought more
vividly before our mindsand this may be done by suggestion as well as
by exact relation； then； I would maintain； we are to some extent educated
historically； using the word in a large though perfectly legitimate sense。
I recently read a work which here presents itself as admirably
illustrating my meaning。 In her too little known 〃Adventures of a
Goldsmith〃 Miss M。 H。 Bourchier has contrived to bring forcibly before
us the period when Napoleon； fast approaching the zenith of his power；
was known in France as the 〃First Consul。〃 The 〃man of destiny〃
himselfappearing on the scene for little more than a brief momentcan
in no sense be described as one of the book's characters； and yet the whole
plot is so skilfully contrived as to hinge on his personality。 We are made
to feel the dominating influence of that powerful will upon the fears and
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hopes of a time brimming over with revolutionary movement。 Whether
the Chouan revolt is in this particular story accurately depicted for us in all
its phases； or whether the motives which impelled certain public
characters are therein interpreted arightboth in regard to these and other
points there may be room for doubt； but at least the general forces of the
period are placed before us in such a way as to drive home the conviction
that； be the historical inaccuracies of detail what they may in the eyes of
this or that specialist； the picture as a whole is one which； while it rivets
our attention as lovers of romance； does no injury to the strictest Historic
sense。
I know well that numerous novels might be cited which； besides
abounding in anachronisms； are harmful in that they present us with a
misleading conception of some personality or period； moreover； I
acknowledge that this defect is by no means confined to romances of an
inferior literary order。 That Cromwell has been unreasonably vilified；
and Mary Queen of Scots misconceived as a saintly martyr how often are
these charges brought against not a few of our leading exponents of
Historical Fiction。 Let this be fully granted； it remains to askTo whom
were our novelists originally indebted for these misconceptions？ Were
not the historians of an earlier generation responsible for these wrong
judgments？ True； the real Science of Historythe sifting of evidence；
and the discovery and unravelling of ancient documentsmay be
described as an essentially modern attainment； so it would be
unreasonable to blame our older historians for errors which it was largely；
if not wholly； beyond their power to overe。 And it is just here that I
would emphasise my defence of the Romancist。 If Historians themselves
have differed （and still differ）！ may it not be pleaded on behalf of the
Historical Novelist that he also must be judged according to the
possibilities of his time？ For； while he may have too readily adopted
false conceptions in the past； there is no necessity why； in the future； he
alsoprofiting by the growth of Critical investigationshould not have
due regard； in the working out of his Historical background； for all the
latest 〃results。〃 And； I would further add； even though it be true that Scott
and others have misled us in certain directions； this does not prevent our
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acknowledgment that； given their aspect of a particular period； it was only
fitting that the scheme of their novels should be in harmony with it。 If
〃Bloody Mary〃 was a cruel hypocrite； then our reading of her period will
be influenced by that real （or supposed） fact； but； if further investigation
reverses this severe judgment on the woman herself； then； in Heaven's
name； let us mould our general conception afresh。 The fountains of
Romance show no sign of running dry； and； though we may look in vain at
the moment for a genius of the very highest type； the Future has
possibilities within it which the greatest literary pessimist among us
cannot wholly deny。 If； then； fault can be found with the older
Romancists for the spreading here and there of false historical notions； let
us look to future workers in the same sphere for adjustment。 I believe；
however； that one notable critic has pronounced the mischief already done
to be quite irreparable； seeing that the only 〃History〃 at all widely spread
is that derived from those very romances in which errors are so interwoven
with the sentimental interest of the plot itself that readers inevitably 〃hug
their delusions！〃 But I think that this danger need not be contemplated
seriously。 The Historical Novel exists primarily as Fiction； and； even
though in our waking moments we may be persuaded of the unreality of
that 〃dream〃 which a Scott or a Dumas has produced for us； we shall still
be able to place ourselves again and again under the spell of their
delight
