--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key for me with historical characters…" description: "\"The key for me with historical characters is they're interesting because they're human beings. A little bit of Hemingway goes a long way here, but jour..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/michael-hirst-19597_also_the-key-for-me-with-historical-character_53330.jpg" --- # The key for me with historical characters is they're… ![“The key for me with historical characters is they're interesting because they're human beings. A little bit of Hemingway goes a long way here, but journalists and writers should honestly look at their material and have a real interest, a real passion in what they want to write, and they should…” quote by Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/michael-hirst-19597_also_the-key-for-me-with-historical-character_53330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/michael-hirst-19597_also_the-key-for-me-with-historical-character_53330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/michael-hirst-19597_also_the-key-for-me-with-historical-character_53330.jpg) > “The key for me with historical characters is they're interesting because they're human beings. A little bit of Hemingway goes a long way here, but journalists and writers should honestly look at their material and have a real interest, a real passion in what they want to write, and they should also have a lot of knowledge as well.” [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical narratives succeed when writers treat past figures as real people, blending factual knowledge with genuine curiosity and passion. **In simple terms:** Humanize history with enthusiasm and research. Key Takeaway Passion + knowledge = compelling history. Themes Humanization Research Passion Storytelling Empathy Mood Reflective Inspired Curious Type Observation Advice When to use this quote - Writing biographies - Teaching history - Creating documentaries - Developing historical novels - Journalistic features Key Concepts Historical context Character depth Narrative voice Practical Applications - Biographical essays - Historical podcasts Questions to Reflect On - How does personal interest change the portrayal of historical figures? - What balance should be struck between factual accuracy and narrative flair? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/also/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings/) [Bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes/) [Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hemingway/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-characters-593998/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honestly/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists/) [Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key/) [Key Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-historical-750236/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-way/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-passion/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writers Honestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-honestly-750237/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When writing about historical characters I try to be as accurate as possible, and in particular not to misrepresent the view they held. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/when-writing-about-historical-characters-i-try-to-be-as-accurate-as/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) > [“Other historical characters mentioned in the novel include Denmark Vesey, who had planned a slave revolt in Charleston, and William Lloyd Garrison, an abolitionist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/5-minute-publications/other-historical-characters-mentioned-in-the-novel-include-denmark/) [5 Minute Publications](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/5-minute-publications/) > [Though I hunt for anything that is different, I am looking forward to play some historical characters and the role of Gladiator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-chatterjee/though-i-hunt-for-anything-that-is-different-i-am-looking-forward-to/) [Priyanshu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-chatterjee/) > [You can't play history and you can't play historical characters. You just have to reduce it to the ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-toussaint/you-can-t-play-history-and-you-can-t-play-historical-characters-you/) [Lorraine Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-toussaint/) > [I did a great deal of research to write 'The Irish Duke.' Since all the people in this Lords of the Realm series are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-did-a-great-deal-of-research-to-write-the-irish-duke-since-all-the/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I've played all kinds of historical characters, but they are stuck in movies that aren't their movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-feore/i-ve-played-all-kinds-of-historical-characters-but-they-are-stuck-in/) [Colm Feore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-feore/) > [Though I enjoy playing historical characters, it is very taxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puneet-issar/though-i-enjoy-playing-historical-characters-it-is-very-taxing/) [Puneet Issar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puneet-issar/) > [I've always been drawn to writing historical characters. The best stories are the ones you find in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-writing-historical-characters-the-best/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I can relate to historical characters or imaginary ones. It doesn't matter if a story takes place in the future or in the present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-can-relate-to-historical-characters-or-imaginary-ones-it-doesn-t/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [In general, I think my freedom of invention is not limited when I use historical characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/in-general-i-think-my-freedom-of-invention-is-not-limited-when-i-use/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [As a biracial girl growing up in England, I'd never really seen any historical characters who looked like me depicted on film before that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/as-a-biracial-girl-growing-up-in-england-i-d-never-really-seen-any/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [“The trouble is, we are incurable sentimentalists. We insist on makin over historical characters to suit our preconceived notions of what they should be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-byrd-turner/the-trouble-is-we-are-incurable-sentimentalists-we-insist-on-makin/) [Nancy Byrd Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-byrd-turner/) > [I've played so many historical characters because most horrible dictators are short, fat, middle-aged men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hoskins/i-ve-played-so-many-historical-characters-because-most-horrible/) [Bob Hoskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hoskins/) > [I've played historical characters before, and I think the trap of all of them is if you try to do an impression. If that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/i-ve-played-historical-characters-before-and-i-think-the-trap-of-all/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [If you're writing something that's clearly labelled as an alternative history, of course it's perfectly legitimate to play with known historical characters and events,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-you-re-writing-something-that-s-clearly-labelled-as-an-alternative/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More by Michael Hirst > [For 'Vikings,' we have to do so much outside shooting, and it's normally - I think with American shows, it'll be 60 or 70…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/for-vikings-we-have-to-do-so-much-outside-shooting-and-it-s-normally/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > ['Downton Abbey' is just one cliche after another, and it is a really, really poor piece of drama. But that's only me talking. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/downton-abbey-is-just-one-cliche-after-another-and-it-is-a-really/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [People love cliches. If you can give people cliches, that's very good TV, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/people-love-cliches-if-you-can-give-people-cliches-that-s-very-good/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [With 'The Tudors,' I had a huge amount of material, I mean so many books and so much stuff about what they really said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/with-the-tudors-i-had-a-huge-amount-of-material-i-mean-so-many-books/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I couldn't give 'Vikings' away - I mean, I love these people. And I'm not sure anyone else writing it would necessarily have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-couldn-t-give-vikings-away-i-mean-i-love-these-people-and-i-m-not/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [The Vikings certainly didn't write anything about themselves; it was not a literate, but rather a pagan, culture. So what we get was written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/the-vikings-certainly-didn-t-write-anything-about-themselves-it-was/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [When I did 'The Tudors,' there was massive information available and a ready-made market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/when-i-did-the-tudors-there-was-massive-information-available-and-a/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [My instinct is to absolutely recoil when talking about writing in a mechanistic way. Nothing could be dumber than writing a film or TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/my-instinct-is-to-absolutely-recoil-when-talking-about-writing-in-a/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I've found that using historical material and being rooted in historical material is liberating because I always think to myself, 'Well, this actually happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-ve-found-that-using-historical-material-and-being-rooted-in/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [People offer me loads of stuff, and some of it I like, but I just can't do it because I can't write it all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/people-offer-me-loads-of-stuff-and-some-of-it-i-like-but-i-just-can-t/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [The American obsession with 'Downton' amuses me slightly because it's such a fiction. I've always been questioned about my historical veracity, and 'Downton' just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/the-american-obsession-with-downton-amuses-me-slightly-because-it-s/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I wasn't setting out to write a documentary; if I had, I would have done it in a completely different way. I was asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-wasn-t-setting-out-to-write-a-documentary-if-i-had-i-would-have/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [With 'Vikings,' I had the task of making these people interesting and, to a point, sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/with-vikings-i-had-the-task-of-making-these-people-interesting-and-to/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [Nobody knows what really happened in any historical period. There are some periods where we know more than others, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/nobody-knows-what-really-happened-in-any-historical-period-there-are/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) [Explore all 32 Michael Hirst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) ## More Also quotes > [I'm a workaholic, but I also like to vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrueche-tran/i-m-a-workaholic-but-i-also-like-to-vacation/) [Karrueche Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrueche-tran/) > [I've also directed, shot, and edited several music videos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/i-ve-also-directed-shot-and-edited-several-music-videos/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [With all the technology we're inventing and what they're coming up with scientifically, people are having longer lifetimes. It's scary, but in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-murphy/with-all-the-technology-we-re-inventing-and-what-they-re-coming-up/) [Brittany Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-murphy/) > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [I always like to look for adventure when I go away. I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) [Browse all 3,822 Also quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/also/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The key for me with historical characters is they're interesting because they're human beings. 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