Filling in the Gaps in the Lives of the Gwynedd Royal Family
Nunn’s latest title: “The Bards Sing of Love and War”
Historical fiction is a delicate balance between rigorous research and creative storytelling. As an author, I dedicate myself to staying true to the characters from history while weaving authenticity and creativity into the narrative. This is the balance I strive to achieve in my series about Gruffydd ap Cynan and his family, a significant dynasty in Welsh history—a balance that is both challenging and rewarding.
Embarking on the research for my latest book, ‘Bards Sing of Love and War,’ was a thrilling journey. The pivotal moment of Gruffydd ap Cynan's visit to the English court to meet with Henry I was a puzzle I was determined to solve. My research involved diving into scholarly articles, books, historical archives, and primary documents. However, the challenge was real-there was a limited amount of information, and some of it conflicted with other sources. Understanding the politics of both the Welsh and Norman nobility, social norms, economic conditions, and cultural aspects of the era was paramount. If I did not do my research well, then there would be little authenticity to my writing or credibility to the narrative.
As an author, I am deeply respectful of the responsibility that comes with filling historical gaps. No matter how thorough my research is, aspects of history always remain unrecorded or lost to time. This is why I approach these gaps with caution, reading the clues and creating situations that are plausible within the historical context. I believe that these gaps, when filled with care and respect, can bring a new dimension to the narrative, but we must always be wary of leaping too far from the historical truth. In ‘Bards Sing of Love and War’, for example, there were questions about Gruffydd’s attitude towards his daughter, Gwenllian’s love for Griffith ap Rhys, and this is one of the places where there was conflicting information once the surface was scratched.
Characters breathe life into any historical setting, and there is a delicate balance between historical figures and fictional characters who fill in emotional and societal gaps. Fictional characters must be true to the time period, reflecting the values and constraints of the age but they also need to resonate with modern readers. Balancing historical accuracy in behaviour, dialogue and thought with relatability is a real challenge for an author. The majority of main characters in the series I have written about the life and times of Gruffydd ap Cynan are historical but some, such as Hywel, are fictional. Hywel allowed me to fill gaps and to explain some of the events and situations which arose.
Writing about Welsh events in the early twelfth century has been enjoyable. As a Welsh author, I feel a deep connection to this history and a responsibility to bring it to life in a way that is both accurate and engaging. I have tried to find a delicate balance between factual accuracy and creative storytelling. Hopefully, by researching and discussing the historical events with experts, I have filled the gaps as believably as possible and brought an exciting time to life.