Book Quote by Danielle Dutton
“I loved reading historical novels when I was young, but I definitely don't think I wrote one. When I read my book through, when it was completely done and in printed galleys, I was surprised by how uninterested in the passage of time and history the book seemed to be. Even though you can feel it all there, that's just not what it's focused on.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 2020
The author realized the novel focused less on historical timeline and more on timeless human concerns.
In simple terms: The story values human experience over historical detail.
Key Takeaway
Embrace themes that transcend time.
Themes
history
humanity
focus
timelessness
novel writing
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- Writing a novel
- editing process
- reader expectations
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Narrative focus
subjective perception
literary intent
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance historical detail with universal themes?
- What aspects of time do you want readers to feel?
A Different Perspective
The novel may still be constrained by genre expectations.
![“[My wife] liked to collect old encyclopedias from second-hand bookstores, and at one point we had eight of them. When I wrote my first historical novel---back in 1980, before I was online---I used them often as a research tool. For instance, I learned that the Bastille was either 90 feet high or…” quote by Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/75d/robert-anton-wilson-1198_bastille_my-wife-liked-to-collect-old-encyclopedi_864543.jpg)
