Final answer:
Historical fiction is the type of writing that combines factual historical details with imaginative elements such as fictional characters and events, set in a real historical period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of writing that includes real historical people and places, but also incorporates imagery, events, and characters from the author's imagination, is known as historical fiction. This genre permits authors to create a narrative that feels authentic to the time period while still allowing for creativity and inventiveness.
For example, historical fiction may introduce fictional characters interacting with historical figures or participating in real historical events. Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which is a story set around the time of the French Revolution, is a prime example of historical fiction, as it blends real historical context with the compelling fictional story of Jean Valjean and other characters.
Different from nonfiction and creative nonfiction, which must adhere to factual accuracy, historical fiction allows for a more artistic approach. Fiction, in general, is a narrative that stems from the imagination, and this becomes historical fiction when the narrative is rooted in the past with a high degree of historical detail.
Therefore answer is c) Historical fiction.