Final answer:
Historical fiction incorporates historically accurate settings, events, and social norms, and often includes real historical figures alongside fictional characters. It differs from realistic fiction by being rooted in the past and avoiding historical inaccuracies or anachronisms. Well-known examples include Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables' and Kjartan Flögstad's 'Grense Jakobselv'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elements of historical fiction differentiate from realistic fiction in key ways. The genre of historical fiction centers around stories that are set in the past, using actual historical events or periods as a backdrop to the narrative. Writers often integrate both fictional characters and real historical figures, weaving their invented characters into the events that actually occurred. The core of historical fiction is maintaining historical accuracy regarding events, settings, social norms, and other period details, while the characters' personal stories may be fictional.
For example, Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, tells a powerful story of individuals during the tumultuous times of the French Revolution. While the characters are a product of Hugo's imagination, the setting and some of the events are historically accurate. Similarly, in Kjartan Flögstad's Grense Jakobselv, the plot centers on the reintegration of ex-Nazis into society after World War II, a historically factual circumstance embellished with fictional narratives. Precise historical detail is a hallmark of the genre, giving readers a sense of authenticity and transport to another time.
In contrast to realistic fiction, historical fiction must tread carefully to avoid anachronisms and factual inaccuracies about well-known historical events or figures, which would be viewed as falsification, even within the bounds of fiction. While realistic fiction often deals with contemporary settings and is not constrained by past historical accuracy, historical fiction must align with the known history even as it spins a tale of its own.