《best historical novels and tales(乔纳森尼尔德历史小说故事精选).》第6章

and the discovery and unravelling of ancient documentsmay be　
described as an essentially modern attainment； so it would be　
unreasonable　to　blame　our　older　historians　for　errors　which　it　was　largely；　
if　not　wholly；　beyond　their　power　to　overe。 And　it　is　just　here　that　I　
would　emphasise　my　defence　of　the　Romancist。 If　Historians　themselves　
have differed （and still differ）！ may it not be pleaded on behalf of the　
Historical Novelist that he also must be judged according to the　
possibilities of his time？ For； while he may have too readily adopted　
false　conceptions　in　the　past；　there　is　no　necessity　why；　in　the　future；　he　
alsoprofiting by the growth of Critical investigationshould not have　
due regard； in the working out of his Historical background； for all the　
latest　〃results。〃　And；　I　would　further　add；　even　though　it　be　true　that　Scott　
and　others　have　misled　us　in　certain　directions；　this　does　not　prevent　our　
13　
…　Page　14…
A　Guide　to　the　Best　Historical　Novels　and　Tales　
acknowledgment　that；　given　their　aspect　of　a　particular　period；　it　was　only　
fitting　that　the　scheme　of　their　novels　should　be　in　harmony　with　it。 If　
〃Bloody　Mary〃　was　a　cruel　hypocrite；　then　our　reading　of　her　period　will　
be　influenced　by　that　real　（or　supposed）　fact；　but；　if　further　investigation　
reverses this severe judgment on the woman herself； then； in Heaven"s　
name； let us mould our general conception afresh。 The fountains of　
Romance　show　no　sign　of　running　dry；　and；　though　we　may　look　in　vain　at　
the moment for a genius of the very highest type； the Future has　
possibilities within it which the greatest literary pessimist among us　
cannot wholly deny。 If； then； fault can be found with the older　
Romancists　for　the　spreading　here　and　there　of　false　historical　notions；　let　
us　look　to　future　workers　in　the　same　sphere　for　adjustment。 I　believe；　
however；　that　one　notable　critic　has　pronounced　the　mischief　already　done　
to　be　quite　irreparable；　seeing　that　the　only　〃History〃　at　all　widely　spread　
is　that　derived　from　those　very　romances　in　which　errors　are　so　interwoven　
with　the　sentimental　interest　of　the　plot　itself　that　readers　inevitably　〃hug　
their　delusions！〃 But　I　think　that　this　danger　need　not　be　contemplated　
seriously。 The Historical Novel exists primarily as Fiction； and； even　
though　in　our　waking　moments　we　may　be　persuaded　of　the　unreality　of　
that　〃dream〃　which　a　Scott　or　a　Dumas　has　produced　for　us；　we　shall　still　
be able to place ourselves again and again under the spell of their　
delightful　influence。 Moreover；　while　admitting　Dumas"　carelessness　of　
exact　detail；　it　would　hardly　be　contended　by　the　most　sceptical　that　his　
works （still less those of Scott） are without any background of Historic　
suggestiveness。 Scott； indeed； shows signs of having possessed　
something　of　that　〃detachment〃　which　is　one　important　qualification　in　the　
Historian proper； there is a fairness and prevision in his historical　
judgments which we look for in vain when reading the works of his　
contemporaries。　
And； having thus touched on what I believe to be the true relation　
between　Romance　and　History；　I　may　note；　as　a　last　word；　the　use　of　the　
Historical　Tale　to　those　who　have　the　training　of　young　folk。　That　〃desire　
to know；〃 which is an essential for all true learning； is sometimes best　
fostered by methods outside the ordinary School routine。 Thus； as　
14　
…　Page　15…
A　Guide　to　the　Best　Historical　Novels　and　Tales　
regards　History；　where　the　text…book　fails　in　arousing　interest；　the　tale　may　
succeed；　and；　once　the　spirit　of　inquiry　has　been　stimulated；　half　the　battle　
is　gained。 In　saying　this　I　am　far　from　wishing　to　imply　that　the　reading　
of　romances　can　ever　take　the　place　of　genuine　historical　study。 I　know　
well that such a book as Green"s 〃Short History of the English People〃　
may　prove　to　some　more　fascinating　than　any　novel。 There　are；　however；　
cases　in　which　recourse　may　be　had　to　a　high…class　work　of　fiction　for　the　
attainment of a truer historic sense； while； taken only as supplement to　
more　strictly　Academic　reading；　such　a　work　may　prove　to　have　its　uses。　
Considerable discrimination is requiredas I have already hintedin the　
choice　of　suitable　books；　and；　as　a　help　in　this　direction；　I　have　made　out　
（vide 〃Suggested courses of Reading〃 at the end of this volume） two　
special　lists　for　Boys　and　Girls　respectively；　which　will；　I　trust；　be　found　
useful。 If；　besides　being　of　help　to　teachers；　my　remendations　should　
lead　in　any　degree　to　further　appreciation　of　the　great　masters　of　Romance；　
the labour （by no means inconsiderable） expended on this little　
pilation　will　be　amply　rewarded。　
J。　N。　
January；　1902。　
NOTEthe order in which the books are placed is； on the whole；　
according　to　the　periods　dealt　with；　occasionally　the　grouping　decided　on　
has　prevented　absolute　correctness　in　this　respect。　
15　
…　Page