well we can be 100% accurate and all the scholars will be pleased,  
but the kids will flee in droves. Considering the appalling ignorance  
of history among kids these days [kids, heck, college students who  
don't know what century the Civil War was fought in], every little  
bit helps, IMHO. Every nation's history is flecked with myths, half- 
truths, and outright errors, but it doesn't change the overall  
importance. Of course, avoid the outright howlers, but if someone has  
their character doing something a year before the prevailing evidence  
says it was done, I think historians should be tolerant and try not  
to lose sight of the big picture.

Just my 2 cents.

Nancy

-------
I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.

--Daniel Boone



On Feb 12, 2007, at 5:09 AM, Clara Callahan wrote:

> If you're trying to get children to read and learn, why on earth  
> would you run the risk of losing credibility by teaching them  
> something that is 10% inaccurate?  Why not 20% or even 50%?  I  
> would think that the goal should be to get it right, not just get  
> it published.  Perfect example is Eckert's description of how Blue  
> Jacket killed his white brother in battle.  That inaccuracy has  
> tainted ALL of his work.
>
> Sunshine49 <[log in to unmask]> wrote:  My view [and I've had two  
> novels of historical fiction published, one
> of which attracted the attention of the BBC] is that getting people,
> and esp. children, to read and learn something about history in this
> day and age is important, even if it might be only 90% accurate.
> Better they learn that 90%, than nothing at all. And who knows, it
> might open the door for a few young minds to investigate history
> more. I like the concepts for your books, that's a great idea, and
> would engage kids' imaginations, which is wonderful.
>
> Nancy
>
> -------
> I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.
>
> --Daniel Boone
>
>
>
> On Feb 11, 2007, at 10:14 PM, Douglas Deal wrote:
>
>> Anne:
>>
>> I see your point... I had misunderstood the basic "format" of the
>> book. But there is still the question of verisimilitude. What is it
>> that you want readers of your book to discover or understand about
>> early Jamestown and the native inhabitants of the area? What sort
>> of historical accuracy is necessary? What sort is unimportant?
>>
>> Doug
>>
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