Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Roadmap

In this module Professor Holsinger poses a working definition of historical fiction and sets expectations for the course content and assignments.

What is Historical Fiction?

In this module Professor Holsinger details the history of the historical fiction novel through the 18th and 19th centuries.

Poetry and Exile in Ancient Rome: Jane Alison

In this module author and professor Jane Alison interacts with the seminar class students of Professor Holsinger’s at UVa to discuss her experience writing “The Love Artist.”

Two Centuries of Historical Fiction

This module reviews the history of historical fiction looking at major works and authors from the 18th and 19th century including The Leatherstocking Tales, William Wells Brown, and Charles Dickens.

19th Century Historical Fiction

This module dives into the works of Anna Katharine Green and Professor Holsinger provides an overview of the forces that are effecting the craft of historical fiction.

Seminar with Katherine Howe

In this module author Katherine Howe interacts with the seminar class students of Professor Holsinger’s Historical Fiction class to discuss her book “Deliverance Dane.”

Seminar with Geraldine Brooks

In this module author Geraldine Brooks interacts with the seminar class students of Professor Holsinger’s Historical Fiction class to discuss her book “Year of Wonders.”

Seminar with Mary Beth Keane

In this module author Mary Beth Keane interacts with the seminar class students of Professor Holsinger’s Historical Fiction class to discuss her book “Fever.”

Seminar with Yangsze Choo

In this module author Yangsze Choo interacts with the seminar class students of Professor Holsinger’s Historical Fiction class to discuss her book “The Ghost Bride.”

Dialogues in Historical Fiction

This module consists of a series of interviews with authors and Professor Holsinger. Authors include: Michael McKeon, Eva Stachniak, David Robbins, Matthew Pearl and Andrew Taylor.

Assignments and Wrap-Up

This module has the two voluntary assignments for the course: Identifying a Historical Archive and Writing Historical Fiction. The module also contains the closing remarks video of Professor Holsinger.

Resources

This module includes the course readings, a list of archival resources, and an overview of the authors included in the course.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the history of historical fiction going all the way back to ancient Rome

Offers insights from bestselling authors of historical fiction

Provides an opportunity to interact with a global learning community

Emphasizes the importance of identifying historical archives for historical fiction

Taught by Bruce Holsinger, a highly respected professor of English and Director of UVA's Creative Writing Program

Provides voluntary assignments to encourage critical thinking

Reviews summary

Well-received historical fiction lectures

Learners say this largely positive course offers informative lectures and insightful discussions about the world of historical fiction. Instructor Holsinger leads the course, joined by guest speakers who are experienced historical fiction authors. The syllabus explores a range of topics including the evolution of historical fiction, crafting compelling characters, and methods for conducting thorough research. Based on positive feedback from those who have taken the course, learners can expect a well-structured learning experience with plenty of learning materials. Some learners mentioned that the lectures also offer recommendations for further reading, providing learners with a rich list of related materials. The course offers access to a number of resources, including interviews with authors, reading lists, and discussion forums. These resources provide a well-rounded learning experience that caters to a variety of learning styles.

Guest speakers are experienced authors

"I am not from Arts or Literature background yet understood everything easily. The author interactions were a really good learning experience"

"The genre was relatively new to me (previously not a historical fiction reader), so I discovered many wonderful authors."

"Provides an excellent into to the genre, followed by outstanding interviews with first-rate authors."

Well-regarded instructor with clearpresentation

"Professor Holsinger is incredibly knowledgeable and is one of the better educators that I have experienced in several years."

"Prof and UVA go to great lengths to present an exciting, interesting, comprehensive course."

"I have a new appreciation for historical fiction and it's critique and I hope to read any future historical fiction with improved criticism and knowledge."

Provides recommendations for further reading

"The class dicussion with novelist Jane Alison was particularly enchanting."

"I've learnt a lot in just a few days and the lectures are well timed and crafted, not too heavy."

"This course is mostly fantastic."

Covers a range of relevant topics

"Excellent resources, and the lectures are interesting."

"This is a difficult task, especially when the number of reviews is low."

"An excellent course with some valuable insight into writing, and reading historical fiction."

Limited interaction with staff

"There is no interaction with the instructor, staff or mentor."

"unlike many other courses on Coursera, this course would not allow me to submit the quizzes or assignments."

May not get feedback

"To get the certificate you only need complete these."

"As the course is an archived one few people do it at any point in time so doing the assignments is questionable in terms of your time as there is little likelihood of (a) getting them marked quickly or (b) meeting the peer review hurdle."

"You get a certificate after completing three bad quizzes in week 3 of 12. There is no way to complete the two peer-graded assignments at the end."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction with these activities:

Gather Resources and Tools

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Collect a set of writing tools, websites, and resources to supplement your research and writing process.

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Set up a research journal
Identify resources and tools
Organize resources and tools
Share your list with other students

Develop Historical Character Profiles

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Create well-rounded character sketches that include historical and fictional character traits, motivations, and relationships.

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Establish character name and occupations
Establish physical descriptions
Establish personality traits
Establish motivations and desires
Establish relationships with each other

Character Dialogue Practice

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Improve your ability to write believable and engaging dialogue between characters.

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Practice daily writing exercises
Read and analyze great examples of dialogue
Get feedback from others
Revise and rewrite your dialogue

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Career center

Learners who complete Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past, using primary and secondary sources. This course can help build a foundation in historical research methods and provide exposure to a variety of historical periods and topics.

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Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. This course can help build a foundation in historical research and provide exposure to different historical periods and topics.

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Archivist

Archivists collect, preserve, and maintain historical records and documents. This course can help build a foundation in archival methods and provide exposure to different types of historical materials.

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Historical Interpreter

Historical Interpreters share historical information with the public through presentations, demonstrations, and tours. This course may be useful for developing public speaking and presentation skills, as well as a deeper understanding of historical topics.

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Author

Authors write books, articles, and other forms of literature. This course can help build a foundation in creative writing and provide exposure to different writing styles and genres, particularly historical fiction.

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Museum Educator

Museum Educators develop and implement educational programs for museums and other cultural institutions. This course may be useful for developing public speaking and presentation skills, as well as a deeper understanding of historical topics.

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Curator

Curators plan and oversee exhibitions, conduct research, and care for collections of artifacts and specimens. This course may be useful for developing knowledge of historical artifacts and exhibition design.

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Museum Archivist

Museum Archivists preserve and maintain historical records and artifacts in museums, ensuring they are available for research and educational purposes. This course may be useful in providing a foundation in understanding the historical context of the artifacts and records.

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Researcher

Researchers conduct original research and analyze data to answer questions and solve problems. This course may be useful for developing research skills and gaining knowledge of historical research methods.

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Editor

Editors review, revise, and prepare written material for publication. This course may be useful for developing editing and writing skills, as well as an understanding of historical context.

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Documentarian

Documentarians research, write, and produce documentaries on a variety of topics. This course may be useful for developing research and writing skills, as well as an understanding of historical context.

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Librarian

Librarians select, acquire, catalog, organize, and maintain library materials. This course may be useful for developing research skills and gaining knowledge of historical resources.

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Teacher

Teachers develop and implement lesson plans, instruct students, and assess their progress. This course may be useful in providing a deeper understanding of historical topics and developing engaging lesson plans.

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Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and report on news and current events. This course may be useful for developing research and writing skills, as well as an understanding of historical context.

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Copywriter

Copywriters write persuasive and engaging content for marketing and advertising campaigns. This course may be useful for developing writing skills and gaining an understanding of historical context.

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