Fictionalization the History in Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels

Abstract

This research casts light on how history is the matter of discursive knowledge and fiction in the Michael Sharaa''s novel The Killer Angels. This research probes into the constructed nature of truth probes into the American Civil War from the perspective of New Historicism. The narrator of the novel Harrison narrates the Battle of Gettysburg which was fought between Union and Confederacy sides. Harrison narrates about historical events, people, places and time but he himself is not sure about accuracy of narrated events. Despite the use of the main narrator there is also use of multiple narrators in the novel whose narratives contradict to each other. Historical narrative, in this novel seems to be more constructed, generalized and fictitious in nature despite relying upon accurate evidences.