For years, I had a strong aversion to historical fiction. That aversion goes back to when I was a student in college. The aversion lasted for many years. I had no desire to read books that were a combination of history and the author’s imagination. I wanted facts that were not mixed with some author’s created ideas.
When I wanted history, I read history books; when I wanted fiction, I read novels. Not only did I see no reason to mix fact and fiction, but I thought the mixture could be confusing and that the product would be wanting as history and gain nothing by the fictional addition. I wanted the facts to be clearly presented as facts and the fiction clearly presented as fiction. My view changed last summer. That was when I had a conversion experience. My view of historical novels changed radically.
Last summer, at the urging of a friend, I read Leon Uris’ historical novel “Trinity.” I read the novel in the paperback edition, which has over 800 pages. Looking back on my decision to read it, I am surprised I tackled it on a vacation, but I am very glad I did. Before I read it, several friends had told me that “Trinity” was a great novel. I believe their judgment was correct. Looking back at the number of courses I have taken in literature and in history, I am surprised that the novel was never mentioned in any literature course or history course I took.
The following is written on the inside cover of the paperback version of “Trinity”:
“This is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity and are used fictitiously. All other names, characters, and places, and all dialogue and incidents portrayed in this book are the product of the author’s imagination.”
The following statement is from the back cover of the paperback:
“A sweeping and powerful epic adventure that captures the ‘terrible beauty’ of Ireland during its long and bloody struggle for freedom. It is the electrifying story of an idealistic young Catholic rebel and the valiant and beautiful Protestant girl who defied her heritage to join his cause. It is a tale of love and danger, of triumph at an unbelievable cost — a magnificent portrait of a people divided by class, faith, and prejudice — an unforgettable saga of the fires that devastated a majestic land … and the unquenchable flames that burn in the human heart.”
The story is told by one of the characters in the novel. Uris has captured, I think with enormous success, how an Irishman might tell the story. In fact, I think what Uris accomplishes is almost incredible. I cannot even guess how much research Uris did in order to write “Trinity.”
How many books on Irish history did he read? How many Irish men and women did he interview? How was he able to create a novel that can give the impression that its author was an eye witness observer of the events that happen in the novel?
I don’t qualify as a literary critic but I do not hesitate to call “Trinity” a masterpiece. I think a magnificent film could be made from the novel. Apparently at one time there was talk that a film would be made based on “Trinity.” Unfortunately this never happened.
Is it possible that in some way, at least occasionally, fiction might present more truth than history? I find that a fascinating question. A friend of mine and I in the past occasionally discussed this question. Reading “Trinity” has raised the question for me again. For me the question raises questions about the type of truth that history presents and the type of truth that fiction presents. For the sake of clarity, but at the risk of oversimplification, I would call historical truth “factual truth” and fictional or literary truth “essential truth.”
History tells us the facts, while literary or fictional truth tries to depict what the facts mean. I think the novel “Trinity” is filled with literary or essential truth. The emerging truths throughout the novel are a series of truths about what it means to be human.
My guess is that “Trinity” shares that characteristic with all literary masterpieces. In fact, I believe that what makes a novel a masterpiece is its view of human nature and how well that view is presented in the novel. “Trinity” succeeds with the depth of the view of human nature that it presents and in the beautiful way that it presents that view.
I think that Uris’ accomplishment is truly amazing!
Father Lauder is a philosophy professor at St. John’s University, Jamaica. He presents two 15-minute talks from his lecture series on the Catholic Novel, 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday on NET-TV.