History and Story

October 9, 2014 | 2 books mentioned

In a piece for Public Books Rebecca Steinitz reviews some recent historical novels, including The Luminaries and The Invention of Wings, and argues that the best historical fiction “plunges the reader wholly into the past, enlightening and entertaining us, while also making us reflect on our present, in history and in literature.” Pair her piece with Laila Lalami‘s account of “How History Becomes Story.”

is a staff writer for The Millions. She lives in New York and every so often writes things at kaulielewis.wordpress.com.