A New Historical novel: traditions, evolution and specifics of the genre by the example of Barry Unsworth's novel "Morality Play"

Abstract

Despite the large number of literary works written, there are still debates in determining the genre structure of the historical novel and the features of its poetics. This is apparently due to the fact that for most experts the focus should traditionally be on history, and not on genre theory. Authors of historical novels help recreate historical images of the past, allowing readers to see the world through the eyes of people who lived in other eras. The historical novel can be both an entertaining genre and a tool for the study of history, stimulating interest in the past and raising important questions about how people lived and acted in different times. Different points of view allow us to better understand the versatility of the genre and its influence both on literature and on the understanding of history and life. The author used the technique of “new historicism” literature. Along with the canons of the historical novel of the 19th century, B. Unsworth resorts to the traditional techniques of the historiographical meta-novel of the postmodern era. This novel represents a new approach to the genre of historical fiction, different from the traditional Walterscottian one. The new historical novel and metaphysical mystery can be viewed through the lens of the new historical novel, which focuses on the historical aspects of the story, accurately recreating the setting of a specific era with each fictional character and event, and taking the reader back to the reality of the 14th century. The murder investigation is an important element of the novel's plot, but it only makes sense if the setting of the era in which everything takes place is recreated. Medieval drama plays an important role here, especially the author's transformation from religious to secular drama. Transformation of genre form is a characteristic feature of modern literature. Barry Unsworth's novels are interesting in that they synthesize several genre combinations and at the same time reproduce aspects of the formation of a new genre for its time – morality tales.