How historical fiction changes the future through history
Alli Sinclair’s books explore history, culture, love and grief, and relationships between family, friends and lovers. Her latest book, Burning Fields, is a historical novel set in 1948 in northern Queensland.
When I wrote Burning Fields, set in 1948 northern Queensland, I wanted to tell a story that would resonate with readers today and inspire conversations about what has or hasn’t changed in the past seventy years in Australia. My main character Rosie represents a generation of women who had gone to work as a part of the war effort, experiencing independence and learning non-traditional skills.
With her brothers lost in the war and her father in ill health, Rosie desperately wants to run the family’s sugarcane farm, but the conventions of the day and her own father won’t allow her to do something she’s more than capable of. Rosie’s battle for her voice to be heard, coupled with the immigration story of Tomas from Italy, highlights aspects of Australian history that are still relevant to today—racism, sexism, and the roles of women and men in society.
When I was a kid in high school, one of my favourite subjects was history. I loved learning about ancient civilisations and people who had changed the world, so it was no surprise that when I started writing stories, I delved into different time periods and cultures for inspiration.
What I didn’t realise in high school was that most of the historical figures we studied were men. We learnt about history from a male perspective, the effect men had on the world, the wars they fought, but rarely did we learn about women’s history, or from the viewpoint of a woman. Even up until early last century, most women had had little voice. For example, women weren’t allowed to vote or work in politics, weren’t allowed to make decisions about their own body, couldn’t marry who they wanted or own property. Sadly, this is still the case in some parts of the world but, like throughout history, there are people working quietly, and sometimes secretly, creating networks, gaining strength and finding ways to change destiny.
If you’ve seen the movie or read the book Hidden Figures, you’ll understand how this historical narrative has had a profound impact on many people. Hidden Figures is about a group of amazing women who worked for NASA in the 1960s. They suffered racism and sexism, but rose to become some of the most influential women of their generation. Until recently, their story had fallen between the gaps of history but now we know about their experiences, we can learn and be inspired. The Hidden Figures story is not just about individual achievements, it’s a beautiful example of humans bonding and gaining strength as a group while they help each other realise their dreams.
These days more women can vote and enjoy other freedoms, but there is still a long way to go before this is universal. It is an ongoing struggle and, luckily, there are many individuals and organisations learning from history and trying to change the path of the future. To name just a few organisations, there’s the Country Women’s Association, Equality Rights Alliance, Human Rights Council of Australia, International Women’s Development agency, UN Women, The Global Women’s Project, Refugee Council of Australia and the Australian Red Cross. It’s still not a perfect world but the wheels are turning, and the voices are growing louder.
It’s heartwarming to see how much historical fiction is focused on women, and its popularity proves there is a need and desire to know more. Through these books we can celebrate achievements of those who’ve come before us, as well as learn from mistakes made. In a topsy-turvy world, it’s up to us—men and women—to encourage younger generations to learn about, and discuss, the past so we can create a more balanced future.
Alli Sinclair’s latest book, Burning Fields, is a historical novel set in 1948 in northern Queensland (MIRA, Harlequin Books, a division of HarperCollins). Alli’s website is, www.allisinclair.com.