Final answer:
The best representation of how an author draws upon history is by referencing historical events or figures, creating a story within a historical context, and possibly influencing societal attitudes towards those events through their writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author can draw upon history by referencing historical events or figures to provide context and background for their narrative. One method of doing this is by creating characters and plots that develop against a historical backdrop, which can offer a framework that is historically accurate, while the characters themselves may be fictional. This technique allows the story to maintain historical fidelity without tampering with established facts. An example of this is Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which weaves a fictional story within the context of a real historical event, the French Revolution. Authors may also engage in parallel reading, where they analyze literary texts alongside contemporary texts such as newspaper articles or political documents, helping to create a rich understanding of the historical context in which the story is set. Ultimately, by incorporating historical elements, authors enrich the narrative and provide depth, while also potentially influencing society's understanding and attitude toward those historical events.