London Writers' Salon

#047: Rebecca Stott — Balancing Writing & Researching Historical Fiction, Chasing Your Curiosity, Accuracy In Historical Fiction, The 'History Of Emotions'

Feb 20, 2023

Rebecca Stott, an award-winning writer and historian, discusses her latest book set in 6th-century Londinium. She shares insights on balancing researching and writing in historical fiction, the importance of accuracy, and the 'history of emotions'.

58:39

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Episode guests

Rebecca Stott

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Quick takeaways

Rebecca Stott immerses herself in extensive research to bring historical settings to life in her novels.

The history of emotions and religion are important tools for exploring character experiences in Rebecca Stott's historical fiction.

Maintaining accuracy in historical fiction while allowing room for creativity and storytelling is a challenge Rebecca Stott faces in her writing process.

Deep dives

Rebecca Stott's latest book, Dark Earth, is a historical novel set in Londonium in the sixth century.

Rebecca Stott discusses her latest book, Dark Earth, which is set in Londonium in the sixth century. She talks about the five years she spent researching and writing, and the challenges she faced in bringing the historical setting to life. Stott also explores the importance of accuracy in historical fiction and how she uses facts as scaffolding and constraints in her writing. Additionally, she delves into the history of emotions and religion as tools for exploring the characters' experiences in her novels. Overall, Stott shares her insights and experiences as a writer of historical fiction.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Historical Fiction and the Challenges of Limited Historical Information

16min

The Challenges of Writing Historical Fiction

28min

Transitioning from Academia to Freelance Work

5min

Chasing Curiosity and Unfinished Books

2min

Writing Habits and Routines

4min

Staying Connected with Rebecca Stott and London Writers Salon

2min

Award-winning writer and historian Rebecca Stott @rebeccastott64 on how she immersed herself in 6th-century history for five years for her latest book Dark Earth, a historical story set in Londinium. We talk about how she balances researching and writing, accuracy in historical fiction and the importance of the 'history of emotions'.

ABOUT REBECCA STOTT

Rebecca Stott is the author of fifteen books, including works of literary criticism, fiction, and nonfiction. Her nonfiction books include Darwin and the Barnacle (Faber, 2003), Darwin’s Ghosts: In Search of the First Evolutionists (Bloomsbury, 2012), and Oyster in Reaktion’s Animal series (2003). Her first novel, the historical thriller Ghostwalk (2007), was a New York Times bestseller, translated into fourteen languages and shortlisted for several prizes, including the Society of Authors First Novel Award. Her second novel, the historical novel The Coral Thief (2012), was a BBC Book at Bedtime. Her memoir, In the Days of Rain (2017), won the Costa Biography Prize. Her third novel, Dark Earth, set in the sixth century, is published in the UK by Fourth Estate and in the US by Penguin Random House.

QUOTES

“We can’t assume that people in the 17th Century grieved the same way that we grieve.”
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