Historical fiction and education–bringing the past to life

I have a goal for my book- and it’s not just the insurmountable accomplishment of finding a publisher. That would be amazing! But what would be the MOST rewarding for me? Honestly, It would be having my novel read by students in high school and college supplementing their Irish History, immigration and Civil War studies. 

I found in school that I needed more than just a social studies text book, more than a lecture from a professor, and more than what expository writing and non- fiction books could offer. World events and time periods would become meaningful to me when a course included documentaries, personal accounts, photos, real stories and of course, historical fiction. When an author brings historical figures to life, or writes about an important time period, then the reader can get a personal sense of who these people really were, and the motivations behind their actions. Likewise, readers can experience the historical time period through the writer’s use of imagery, description, dialect, and diction. These novels are so important because although they include timelines, dates, prominent historical figures and events, the information is relayed in a story. The historical pieces are woven into a whole fabric of the literary piece, bringing a time period to life through dialogue and historical settings.  

My great, great grandfather’s life took place in extraordinary times. Ireland during the Potato famine, the great migration of 1848, and the Civil War. His life could have been recounted in a timeline, or by important events or though the famous historical figures he encountered, but that would not have have given his remarkable life justice. 

Florence Burke did not just live in the times of the famine, he and his family. were directly impacted by the famine. His sister died of starvation and typhus, his neighbors were collapsing on the roadways and his whole village was panicked and either dying or fleeing. At 17 years of age he chose to leave Ireland and emigrate to America with no money and without his parent’s blessing. He entered New York City at a turbulent time in history: a time of mass immigration from all countries and a time where the Irish were among the lowest class and least accepted. 

However, (and this would never be told in a non-fiction book) my great, great grandfather was a fighter and he never surrendered to adversity. He made his way to West Springfield, MA, found work on a farm, married the love of his life, raised three children and lived a modest, (let’s face it, he was poor), humble life. 

His decision to join the war to become a landowner and to raise his family out of poverty was a pinnacle decision in his life. All of this and the struggles of his family at home are the basis of my novel. When I found the 19 Civil War letters in my attic, written from my great great grandfather to his family I knew I should preserve them but also share them. They are real letters written from Virginia by a soldier who was not even American or fighting for the same cause. He had his own motivation for being there yet he was amongst great men, powerful commanders such as Grant and Lee and involved in famous battles such as the Wilderness Campaign and Petersburg. He also had a wife that he adored and three children that he wanted to return to and make a better life for. 

This is why I wrote an historical novel. Florence Burke’s life was so full of rich history and defining time periods. His life story lends itself to enriching the studies of a wide variety of courses- and I hope that it has an opportunity to do so. Sharing his letters and his personal story would truly bring the Potato Famine, migration and the Civil War to life in a raw, emotionally charged way. That is my ultimate goal for this book- it may be the teacher in me or the type of learner I am– but I am certain that this novel can spark the interest of all readers and add a personal component to their studies.