Books Quote by Jose Emilio Pacheco

An old novel has a history of its own.

— Alexander Smith

History is a novel that has been lived, a novel is history that could have been.

— Anonymous

History is a novel for which the people is the author.

— Alfred de Vigny

History is a novel which did take place; a novel is history that could take place.

— Jules de Goncourt

“Historical fiction isn't history in the conventional sense and shouldn't be judged as such. The best historical novels are loyal to history, but it…

— Daniel Aaron

So much history, if you or I were to write it, could seem a fiction. These separations, these lines that tell us this is…

— Jamaica Kincaid

We've all faced the charge that our novels are history lite, and to some extent, that's true. Yet for some, historical fiction is a…

— Saul David

Historical novels, in particular, allow us to relive the past without the neatness of history, and with all the complexity of the present.

— Laila Lalami

The historical novel gives us perspective on our modern lives and helps us connect with the story, which we are continuing ourselves.

— Mary Pope Osborne

Today, we are fortunate that the historical novel has reached such extraordinary heights of technical mastery. The ability of society to connect with the…

— Amanda Foreman

History is present in all my novels. And whether I am directly talking about the sociological moment or just immersing my character in the…

— Paul Auster

A book brings its own history to the reader.

— Alberto Manguel