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I recently started reading Dreamers and Deceivers, a book I picked out from a pop-up bookstore ($10 per book). The book was written - apparently - by someone called Glenn Beck.

So who is this guy? I'm confused. I know he's a host of a right-wing radio and TV show, but that doesn't matter to me (much). I'm just curious: is there any merit to what he's writing? I mean, is he qualified to write about American history?

I've read about 4 chapters. The book itself tells stories like the Ponzi Scheme of the 1920s, or that in the mid-1910s Woodrow Wilson's wife and doctor "conspired to cover up" the fact that Wilson suffered a massive stroke in order to allow him to stay in office. *shrug* I'm also struck by the fact that at the end, Beck says that his book is "historical fiction". Does that mean he's writing things that aren't true? I wouldn't be surprised if he was, or if he were skewing things one way or the other because of his political leanings. I'm just surprised that this is marketed as "history". Any ideas what's going on?

Just curious ...

Historical fiction is fiction that takes place during historical events. Totally made up, but during real events in history.

Well, yes. I know what historical fiction is; I write it myself, but I try to make sure that the made-up bits are plausible. For instance, if I wrote a historical fiction about MLK, I'd never get him to make a speech supporting the KKK. 'Cos that'd be, well, stupid. What I'm wondering about are less blatant things.

I'm also concerned that historical fiction is being marketed as "history". *shrug* Yes, the overarching events are real, but the fiction isn't. So isn't it a problem when someone - anyone - can just make up what real people said to each other, and market that as "history"?

Yeah I don't know why it's marketed as history.

*shrug* Well, I finished reading the book. Frankly, I wouldn't recommend it; it's very partisan, especially when it comes to recent history.

Then again, I only have myself to blame. I didn't look up who Mr Beck was before I bought it; I just dipped casually here and there and thought it might be interesting.

Oh, well. It was only five bucks, so I reckon I got my money's worth. Next time, I might go for a proper historian.