Why is American History Shunned in HF novels?

LCW · Post by **LCW** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 5:47 pm

[quote=""donroc""]We are indeed a nation of immigrants and may tend to idealize the awful places our blessed forebears wisely left.[/quote]

Well that's a xenophobic statement if I ever heard one! Seeing as how there are many citizens of these "awful places" who frequent this board, a little sensitivity is called for, IMO.

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 6:03 pm

Ilia, get off your high horse.

You had better reread the definition of xenophobia.

The European variation is what drove my ancestors to this country because they were not Russian or Christian or of the privileged castes. Perhaps yours may have been "on the other side"? Good. Defend the indefensible.

This is a HF site. I would like to think you have a less emotional approach to history. You cannot argue against the Europe of reliigous massacres and ethnic cleansing that went on for centuries. Personally, I am grateful every day that the USA was the haven for the oppressed of my grandparents' generation.

That is not xenophobic. That is fact.

Is Europe a better place today. Yes, for the most part, although there are places that still may become ethnic tinderboxes, as happened in Yugoslavia.

LCW · Post by **LCW** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 6:22 pm

[quote=""donroc""] This is a HF site. I would like to think you have a less emotional approach to history. [/quote]

So very condescending!!

[quote=""donroc""]
You cannot argue against the Europe of religious massacres and ethnic cleansing that went on for centuries. Personally, I am grateful every day that the USA was the haven for the oppressed of my grandparents' generation.
[/quote]

Are you willing to argue that America has never had problems with oppression, racism, or inequality of it's own? What about racism against the Irish, Italians, and of course, blacks? What about religious fanaticism against Catholics, anti-semitism, or the blatant intolerance if the Puritans who founded this country?

Yes, many people came to America to escape problems in their native country...only to be faced with new problems here! My point is that to refer to other countries as "awful places" shows a lack of tolerance for other cultures and is one of the main reason's Americans have such an image problem abroad.

I'm sure your next move will be to attack my patriotism but I assure you that I love this country and am proud to be an American. I don't think that denigrating other countries or cultures while white washing my country's less than pristine past is required of a patriot, however!

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 6:25 pm

Back on topic, I think some of the publishers are lazy and frugal. It is easier to print a book about the Tudors and such that has had success in the UK and Commonwealth than to risk publishing a novel about the USA.

Early when I was seeking an agent for my HF in the mid 1990s, I contacted Dunnett's "editor" at Knopf for advice, and she told me she was new and had "inherited" Dunnett and they were simply reprinting her.

nona · Post by **nona** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 6:28 pm

I do agree with you whole heartedly 1lila1, by the way hows The Horse Goddess, it's on my TBR stack.

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Sat September 20th, 2008, 6:43 pm

[quote=""1lila1""]So very condescending!!

Are you willing to argue that America has never had problems with oppression, racism, or inequality of it's own? What about racism against the Irish, Italians, and of course, blacks? What about religious fanaticism against Catholics, anti-semitism, or the blatant intolerance if the Puritans who founded this country?

Yes, many people came to America to escape problems in their native country...only to be faced with new problems here! My point is that to refer to other countries as "awful places" shows a lack of tolerance for other cultures and is one of the main reason's Americans have such an image problem abroad.

I'm sure your next move will be to attack my patriotism but I assure you that I love this country and am proud to be an American. I don't think that denigrating other countries or cultures while white washing my country's less than pristine past is required of a patriot, however![/quote]

Truly, what have I said to earn so much venom from you?

You are bulding a large city of straw men with words I never said. Cite where I denigrated any culture please.

Do not lecture this Jew regrading anti-Semitism relative to Europe and the USA. My life has never been in danger here because I am a Jew. My grandparents could not have said that in the old country, nor their relations who stayed and died as Jews in the camps during WWII.

Can you argue that Russia was not an awful place for Jews in the 19th-20th centuries under the Tsars? And that the USA was not better?

My grandparents said they cried when they saw the Statue of Liberty.

Why would I attack your patriotism? I do not know you. I do not do that sort of thing.

Our flaws are still in the aggregate less murderous than what has happened in Europe.

Yes, yes, I know about racism, country-club prejudice, what happened to the native Americans, etc, but I was simply stating on topic my family's origins and reasons why they came here.

You can continue to rant and reveal yourself. You truly missed the mark with me.

I will not answer you further.

eclecticreader10 · Post by **eclecticreader10** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 4:11 am

<<And maybe there are book buyers who dismiss our American history,which I find so exciting and dynamic, as boring - but so far, with a little more than a month on the shelves <knock on wood> I am happy to report MIDWIFE OF THE BLUE RIDGE is doing very well.>>

I do not find American HF boring. In fact 4 of my all time favorite books are: The Winthrop Woman, Gone With the Wind, Roots, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Right now i'm reading The Heretic's Daughter.

I think the problem is that the timeframe for American HF is only about the last 500 years, whereas for the rest of the world the timeframe is thousands of years. Much more opportunity and subject material available.

And, by the way, I'm adding MIDWIFE OF THE BLUE RIDGE to my TBR/WL. I've seen it on Amazon before and I love stories about midwives.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 6:58 am

If ou enjoy books about midwives, Eclectic, have you read The Birth House by Ami McKay? I thought it was excellent.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 11:16 am

Just got MIDWIFE OF THE BLUE RIDGE and HERETIC"S DAUGHTER from the lib. I am so excited.

Another thing I thought about. Unless you are a student of American history and really know it. You would be unaware of the people who have shaped this country..the lesser knowns who get overshadowed by the big movers and shakers. for instance M. Gage was pushed from the suffrage movement fro her radical ideas and history has almost forgotten about her. Its only recently that she is making a comeback. And it seems that even the lesser knows in European history are still known because of their ranking.

eclecticreader10 · Post by **eclecticreader10** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 7:29 pm

[quote=""Vanessa""]If ou enjoy books about midwives, Eclectic, have you read The Birth House by Ami McKay? I thought it was excellent.[/quote]

Yes, I have it at home, but haven't read it yet. I'll take a closer look. Thank you.