In general, for many reasons that directors and accountants can explain, films tend to be both uncaring and careless, but some great exceptions do demonstrate the advantages of conscientious research. However, we do not wish to begin a regular series of recommendations for cinema-goers, and apart from occasional comment on the Cinema Notes pages we intend to leave the question of cinematic integrity alone.
Books are different.
Authors do not have to observe the same budget disciplines that corrupt the authenticity of movies, and thus we need not be quite so hesitant about noting historical inaccuracy. Well, actually, we have quite a long list of titles, but many of them were written a long time ago and may not be easily obtained. There are two historical novelists whose books are currently selling well, and deservedly so, with whom we should like to start this BookPost column. She leaves her readers with the impression that unless she is a time-traveller, and was actually there in the middle of the action, then she must have spent so many years undertaking the research she can scarce have had the time to write. Her story is of the beginnings of modern America in the last decade of the eighteenth century.