Chevron Left
Back to Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction by University of Virginia

4.6
stars
573 ratings

About the Course

A unique and exciting introduction to the genre and craft of historical fiction, for curious students, aspiring authors--anyone with a passion for the past. Read classics of the genre, encounter bestselling writers of historical fiction, and discover your own historical archive while interacting with a global community of interested readers....

Top reviews

JC

Sep 16, 2020

I'm not sure why I took this course. I'm glad I did. I enjoyed all the books and the interaction with authors. This was a way to experience literature without writting 5 papers on a book.

AB

Oct 4, 2020

Too good! The instructor was way too awesome. I am not from Arts or Literature background yet understood everything easily. The author interactions were a really good learning experience

Filter by:

101 - 125 of 135 Reviews for Plagues, Witches, and War: The Worlds of Historical Fiction

By Dr. R E M

Oct 25, 2020

Nice course

By Andrea P

Feb 12, 2024

Loved it!

By Luiggy A

Nov 16, 2016

Amazing!

By Lê D T L

Nov 10, 2021

Awesome

By Grace C

Sep 3, 2016

很好很有意思

By Susan O

Sep 16, 2022

!

By deboleena k

Sep 9, 2021

l

By Christophe v

Apr 28, 2016

c

By Judy C

May 2, 2020

An excellent course with some valuable insight into writing, and reading historical fiction. Several of the videos with visiting authors provide excellent insight to the development and use of character, the use of research and personal experience, and how to bring them together to make an enjoyable reading experience, and one which may lead the reader to further delve into history, or to pursue writing in the genre. The course provides excellent clarification on the definition of historical fiction; and examples, through author interview and definition by literary critics, of good, and not as good ,historical fiction. In the end, like all reading and study, it presents the student with a new, and more intellectual scope of choice for future academic and literary choices. The discussion forums, while many are older, offer a wide 'library' of resource for further reading of the genre.

By Tatiana B C

Apr 6, 2016

I personally enjoyed the course. However I was disappointed when I was told after week (3 or 5?) that I'd completed the course, when I in fact hadn't gotten to the end and had not done the final two assignments...? Regardless, I went ahead and finished the course, but I was also disturbed to see that some of the students did their assignments in a mockery fashion e.g. wrote song lyrics, or stated "I don't know what else to say so I will tell you about my day..." That was very irritating. The class wasn't described clearly in the catalog, I thought it would be more of a history of the periods plus literature, but it wasn't exactly that... Instead it was a discussion of techniques and prose, and exhibiting truly talented authors. I liked the class, just not what I expected.

By andrew m

Sep 24, 2021

Excellent resources, and the lectures are interesting. As a review and introduction to the genre it would be difficult to fault. The quizzes are easy and are best done as you go watching the videos. To get the certificate you only need complete these. As the course is an archived one few people do it at any point in time so doing the assignments is questionable in terms of your time as there is little likelihood of (a) getting them marked quickly or (b) meeting the peer review hurdle. As a reading & resources course it is fine but if you are looking for interaction this aspect will be hit and miss.

By Joe K

May 20, 2020

This course is mostly fantastic. Prof Holsingers lectures with students are insightful and the visiting lecturers give many tips on how to write better historical fiction. Exactly as I hoping the course would give me. However, the primary source and writing assignment at the end to give closure to the course are not being peer reviewed and seems to be a falldown in what is otherwise a great course.

By Charlie S

Sep 15, 2023

Really enjoyed this free course - especially the flexibility & the variety of insights from different authors. It was great to see authors talk about their work on a human level, & I enjoyed listening to their perspectives on the purposes of historical fiction as a genre as well as their own experiences with the writing process.

By Arya V

Jul 11, 2020

Very informative. I really liked the course. It really helped to understand how the historical narrative is different from historical fiction and why is it important.

By Jose A L S G

Nov 1, 2020

This course has made me appreciate literary techniques in writing historical fiction. The dialogues and discussion were informative and the books are interesting.

By Meredith F

Aug 30, 2015

Great course. I loved the seminars with the different authors. The course was fun and interesting and the professor was knowledgeable and easy to listen to.

By Lindea Y

Sep 11, 2015

A very interesting course. Only negative thing is that some of the authors are not very good at leading a lecture, and seem to stumble in their words a lot.

By brianna k

Apr 30, 2023

I loved listening to all of the experienced authors but I wish there were assignments to go with the videos, or at least a test at the end of each week.

By Antonella C

Oct 23, 2015

I liked the curse a lot. However, I would consider some more gradings throughout the course, not just the few. Otherwise people lose their interest

By Maia J

Jan 21, 2021

This course was much longer than I anticipated, but is overall filled with great information about historical fiction and I learned a lot.

By Heather J B

Mar 21, 2021

An interesting survey of how history may be reflected in a fictional way to add to an understanding of the past.

By Paul

Dec 23, 2015

A good introductory course to historical fiction and the mechanics of writing it.

By Blanca I M R

Apr 18, 2016

I really enjoyed this course, I understand better the literature

By Lorenzo A

Feb 26, 2017

Excellent course for those taking the first steps into hi

By Joy S

Jan 7, 2017

Enjoyed this. Lots of lectures by guest authors.