--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some critics said, 'Hey, why are you…" description: "\"Some critics said, 'Hey, why are you writing historical novels?' I say they're not historical, they're contemporary, because people walking around who ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/per-petterson-8468_around_some-critics-said-hey-why-are-you-writin_2979783.png" --- # Some critics said, 'Hey, why are you writing historical… ![“Some critics said, 'Hey, why are you writing historical novels?' I say they're not historical, they're contemporary, because people walking around who lived through this, even a little bit, they carry it inside. The contemporary isn't just what you can see now.” quote by Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/per-petterson-8468_around_some-critics-said-hey-why-are-you-writin_2979783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/per-petterson-8468_around_some-critics-said-hey-why-are-you-writin_2979783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/per-petterson-8468_around_some-critics-said-hey-why-are-you-writin_2979783.png) > “Some critics said, 'Hey, why are you writing historical novels?' I say they're not historical, they're contemporary, because people walking around who lived through this, even a little bit, they carry it inside. The contemporary isn't just what you can see now.” [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical novels are actually contemporary because they reflect lived experiences of past people. **In simple terms:** Historical novels are contemporary, reflecting past lives. Key Takeaway Read history as living experience. Themes history contemporary experience Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - literature - education - personal identity Key Concepts narrative theory cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - How does past experience shape today? - What makes a story feel contemporary? A Different Perspective Readers may miss contemporary relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-novels/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When you read a history or biography you are entitled to imagine that it is as accurate as the authors can make it. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/when-you-read-a-history-or-biography-you-are-entitled-to-imagine-that/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [You think you're writing one historical novel and it turns into three, and I'm quite used to a short story turning into a novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/you-think-you-re-writing-one-historical-novel-and-it-turns-into-three/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Writing historical novels can be dangerous. We need to be as accurate and as fair about the historical record as we can be, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-rutherfurd/writing-historical-novels-can-be-dangerous-we-need-to-be-as-accurate/) [Edward Rutherfurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-rutherfurd/) > [I think all novels are contemporary. When people went to see 'Antony-Cleopatra' at the Globe in the 16th century, they were not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-think-all-novels-are-contemporary-when-people-went-to-see-antony/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I go to contemporary galleries all around the world when I can. There's always something historical and something contemporary; those are my rock references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/i-go-to-contemporary-galleries-all-around-the-world-when-i-can-there/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [One of the great things about collecting contemporary art is that you mix with contemporary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-graff/one-of-the-great-things-about-collecting-contemporary-art-is-that-you/) [Laurence Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-graff/) > [Ever since my youth it has disturbed me that of the literary works that survived their own epoch, so many dealt with historical rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lion-feuchtwanger/ever-since-my-youth-it-has-disturbed-me-that-of-the-literary-works/) [Lion Feuchtwanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lion-feuchtwanger/) > [That is why we may say that the historical development of capitalism has involved the thrust towards the commodification of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-wallerstein/that-is-why-we-may-say-that-the-historical-development-of-capitalism/) [Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) > [I'm sorry to say it has some historical analogs. 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