I didn't add specific details because you didn't clarify if there's a specific novel, but if the question is generalized, then this answer works.
Answer:
Depending on the time a novel is released, and depending on the type of novel, it can correlate to the history of an event. The historical context of a novel really depends unless you have all of the details. When was it published? What were the events of the book? What time is the book set in?
Step-by-step explanation:
Basically, the historical context depends on the events of the novel, the time it was released, and the time the novel is set in.
Example:
An example could be Othello. In my Dramatic Arts & English class, we explored Othello and the issues it addressed. (That's what I mean)
Hope that makes sense, and if you need a better detailed explanation, just ask <3