Mexico City, September 24, 2024.- The School of Philosophy and the Institute of Humanities, of the University of Mexico, organized the Universidad Panamericanaorganized the seminar The dialogue between literature and historya space in which both disciplines were intertwined to offer a profound reflection on how literary fiction can reinterpret, enrich and even question our understanding of the past.
An in-depth exploration of historical fiction
The event, moderated by Dr. Alberto Ross, director of the Institute of Humanities at Panamericana, was attended by leading figures in literature and academia: Erma Cardenasnarrator, essayist and translator, winner of the 2006 Bellas Artes José Rubén Romero Prize for the Novel for The Innocent Assassin; Beatriz Rivasnovelist and student of the Master's Degree in History of Thought of our university; and Dr. Héctor Zagalauthor of seven novels and research professor at the School of Philosophy of the same university.
Throughout the conversation, panelists explored how the historical novel offers fertile ground for creating characters and plots that, while inspired by real events, are shaped by the author's creativity. Literature, it was discussed, can fill in the gaps that history leaves, while inviting the reader to a personal reinterpretation of events.
Historical novel: between reality and fiction
One of the main themes was the decision by many authors to set their works in historical contexts, an approach that adds an additional layer of complexity to literary creation. For the panelists, history provides a framework that enriches literature by allowing characters to interact with real events from an artistic perspective.
Erma Cárdenas, in La asesina inocente, highlighted how even historical records can be subject to interpretation, which opens space for the imagination. Her protagonist, with multiple birth certificates, is a reflection of that ambiguity that the historical novel can explore, where the official is not always the definitive. For Cárdenas, the historical novel demands a balance between fact and fiction, allowing the reader to become immersed in the narrative without constantly questioning its veracity.
Beatriz Rivas argued that while creating completely fictional stories can be a challenge, historical characters and events offer a more accessible basis. In her works, such as those in which she explores the lives of figures like Napoleon Bonaparte, she uses fiction to fill in the emotional and psychological gaps that historical records do not document.
Héctor Zagal, for his part, argued that the historical novel does not seek to replace history, but to complete its unfinished stories. In his work Empirededicated to the last days of Maximilian of Habsburg, Dr. Zagal uses fiction to delve into the emperor's final reflections, offering the reader an intimate interpretation of a character on whom official history does not always shed light.
Literature and history: a space for reinterpretation
The panel agreed that the historical novel has the power to enrich the understanding of the past. Far from distorting reality, it allows the reader to explore the limits of what is known, posing thought-provoking scenarios. Literature, not being subject to the same documentary constraints as history, can speculate on the thoughts and motivations of historical characters, giving depth to the stories.
In the words of the panelists, historical fiction does not merely recreate the past accurately, but reimagines it, humanizes it and makes it accessible to the contemporary reader.
The value of historical fiction
The discussion concluded with a reflection on the role of historical fiction today. For the authors, the historical novel is a tool that invites us to question, reinterpret and better understand the past.
Through their works, writers not only entertain, but also create a space for dialogue with history, offering new perspectives that enrich both literature and the reader's understanding of humanity.
In short, The Dialogue of Literature with History made it clear that in the intersection of these two disciplines lies a fertile field for intellectual exploration and learning.
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