The typewriter’s tale : re-exploring the historical figure of Henry James through fiction

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between historical fiction, history, and the portrayal of the character and identity of Henry James with specific reference to The Typewriter’s Tale (2005) by Michiel Heyns. Furthermore, it explores how Heyns proceeds to strike a historically responsible balance in his portrayal of the identities of Henry James, Morton Fullerton and Edith Wharton as characters in the novel and the identities of these personae as historical figures. It also explores how Heyns imaginatively bridges the gaps in the historical record or relies on creative licence to reinterpret events and characters. Lastly, the contribution that historical fiction can make to our understanding of the identity and character of historical figures is considered.

Hierdie artikel ondersoek die verhouding tussen historiese fiksie, die geskiedenis en die uitbeelding van die karakter en persoonlike identiteit van die roman skrywer Henry James in Michiel Heyns se historiese fiksie roman The Typewriter’s Tale (2005). Verder verken die artikel hoe Heyns te werk gaan om ’n histories verantwoordelike balans te verkry in sy uitbeelding van die identiteite van Henry James, Morton Fullerton en Edith Wharton as karakters in die roman en hul identiteite as historiese figure. Dit word ook verken hoe Heyns verbeelding gebruik om die gapings in die historiese rekord te oorbrug en kreatiewe vryheid gebruik om historiese gebeure en karakters te her-interpreteer. Laastens word die bydrae wat historiese fiksie kan maak tot die verstaan van die identiteit en karakter van historiese figure oorweeg.