This encompasses various aspects:
* Historical accuracy: The story should be grounded in the historical period it depicts. This includes details about:
* Social customs and norms: How people lived, interacted, and thought in that time.
* Technology and infrastructure: The tools, transportation, and buildings of the era.
* Political and cultural landscape: The major events, ideologies, and societal structures of the period.
* Realistic portrayal of characters: Characters should behave and think in ways consistent with the historical context, avoiding anachronisms.
* Immersive setting: The reader should feel transported to the historical period through vivid descriptions of places, sights, sounds, and smells.
While historical fiction can take creative liberties, it's crucial to maintain a balance between authenticity and storytelling. A lack of authenticity can break the reader's immersion and undermine the credibility of the narrative.