I’ve only found one exception, done so beautifully and brilliantly that I wish all directors would do it that way. In the movie Ben Hur, the face of the actor portraying Christ never appeared on camera. It was a lovely way to acknowledge the limits of what human beings can re-create.

P.S.

If you’ve seen the movie, and the silent confrontation with the slave caravan at Nazareth, you may agree that there’s a “centurion” out there who deserved an Oscar for his performance.

Similarly, I’ve been working on a manuscript that involves a chador and have not been able to buy one here in the San Francisco Bay area. (And for a variety of reasons do not want to purchase one on line.) But the concept of actually putting something on to get the “feel” for it is very strong and necessary to write “what you know.”

Thanks for sharing, all.

I write mostly Western history, Civil War through Depression era. You brougt up such excellent points about being true to the spirit of the age. You can’t just take a modern-thinking woman, stick a bonnet on her head and plop her in a buggy! To get the right feel, I like to read original source documents such as diaries and letters. I also enjoy talking to older people who are closer to that time and its people. I have also had the privilege of working as a costumed historical interpreter for a local museum. I can tell you firsthand how to sit or climb stairs in a hoop skirt (and it’s a trick, let me tell you)!

One thing that really bothers me is to pick up 21st century attitudes in characters living far in the past. We have to provide strong women, but they shouldn’t be American feminists. Certainly, feisty women make the history, but they did so within the constraints of their time and society.

And language certainly is party of it, Bonnie. I’m reading a first century manuscript right now, and the author references reading the Scriptures, when I’m sure boys at the time would have called them the Torah. It’s minor, but it trips me up every single time.

My historicals start with my own family tree. I look at my lineage, speak with my grandparents, then move on to reading about the language and customs of a certain place.

I’ve also used old letters, even trial transcripts for a big court scene. If you can, going to the location is a great option. There are often historical societies with very knowledgeable folk who love to teach what they know.