Final answer:
To write a novel based on the history of Texas, it's recommended to use third-person omniscient narration. This narrative mode provides a comprehensive view and allows for a mix of historical accuracy and fictional storytelling while maintaining a realistic and consistent tense.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you wanted to write a novel based on the history of Texas, it would be good to use third-person omniscient narration. This mode allows you to present all dimensions of the story with an all-knowing perspective. Unlike first-person point of view, where the story is limited to what a single character knows and observes, third-person omniscient narrators can describe events that happen to any character, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of your novel's historical setting and characters.
Using this narrative mode, you maintain historical accuracy while weaving fictitious characters into real events. Taking inspiration from the approach Kjartan Fløgstad used in 'Grense Jacobselv', you could create a fictitious Texan plot that maintains consilience with factual history without altering pivotal historical events. Similarly, you could echo Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables', where fictional characters interact within a well-defined historical reality.
When writing a historical novel like the one set in Texas, consistency in tense and a careful balance between factual history and fiction are important. The narrative tension should be compelling and the characters' emotions and dialogues believable within the chosen historical context. This sense of realism is crucial for engaging readers in the historical tapestry of Texas.