歴史小説を書く
直木三十五の「大衆文芸作法」を読んでいて頭をガーンと叩かれたような気になった。
彼は歴史小説を書く心得を次のように述べている。
「歴史小説を書かんとする大衆作家は、専門史家と同等するとの、或いは以上の専門的知識、換言すると、当時の時代思潮、現在と異なっている当時の地理的事実、風俗、習慣、言語、服装、食いもの飲みものの細末に至るまでの考証的知識が必要となる」
これには魂げた。虚構だからだいたいの雰囲気が出ておればいいと思っていたが、そうではないのだ。歴史家以上の専門的知識が必要なのだ。
まるで実況中継するが如く現場の状況を描かねば、読者をその世界に引き込めないのだ。
歴史小説家の中には大学で文化史学を専攻し、大学院で奈良仏教史を研究している歴史学者もいる。到底太刀打ちできないと思っていたが、歴史学者に負けていてはいけないのだ。
Writing Historical Novels
I was shocked when I read “Taishuu Bungei Saho” (Writing novels for
the general public) written by Sanjyugo Naoki, a famed Japanese writer (1891-1934).
He wrote some must-do’s about writing historical books:
“Historical novelists need to have as much or more professional knowledge
than historians. In other words, they should know the trends of the times, the geographical
features that are different from the current era, the manners and customs, the languages,
the clothes, and the food and drinks. They should be minute and based on the
facts.”
I was surprised. Up to that time, I had thought, “What I am writing
is a fiction. So I don’t have to put so much stress on historical facts.” I was
wrong. I have realized that I need more knowledge than a historian. I have to
write novels as if I am observing the scene. Otherwise, I cannot attract the
readers.
A famous female historical novelist named S majored in cultural
history in university and studied the Buddhism history in a graduate school. I
had thought I could never cope with her, but I should go neck and neck with
her.
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