A historical novel is A. a work in which dark thematic material plays a central role. B. a work that fictionalizes a real person or event. C. a Romantic novel that satirizes certain elements of society.

A historical novel is a novel that has as its setting a period of history and that attempts to convey the spirit, manners, and social conditions of a past age with realistic detail and fidelity (which is in some cases only apparent fidelity) to historical fact.