History buffs expect historical background in historical

Edward M. Lerner, a craftsman of stories, once declared: “History buffs expect historical background in historical fiction. Mystery readers expect forensics and police procedure in crime fiction. Westerns—gasp—describe the West. Techno-thriller readers expect to learn something about technology from their fiction.” At first, his words seem a simple jest, a playful reminder of genre expectations. But beneath their humor lies a truth as old as storytelling itself: every tale must honor the covenant between the teller and the listener. When people approach a story, they carry hopes, yearnings, and demands, and if those are not met, trust is broken.

The ancients understood this covenant well. The bard who sang of heroes knew that his listeners longed for glory, for the clash of spears, for the mourning of widows and the triumph of kings. To deny them these elements was not art, but betrayal. Likewise, the storyteller around the fire, weaving tales of gods and monsters, knew that his audience desired both fear and wonder. Thus, Lerner reminds us that the writer must bow not only to imagination but also to the sacred expectations of the people. To tell a story is not to speak into a void, but to answer the hunger of hearts.

Consider the playwright Shakespeare. When he wrote his histories—Henry IV, Richard III—he laced them with the details of kingship, courts, and battles, for the people wanted to see their past brought alive. When he turned to tragedies, he gave them ghosts, daggers, and blood, for that was what the form demanded. And when he entertained with comedies, he gave the people disguises, mistaken identities, and marriages at the end. Shakespeare knew what Lerner voices: each genre carries within it promises, and to break them is to lose the faith of the audience.

Yet Lerner also reminds us that expectation does not bind the writer to chains of boredom. No, the covenant is not a prison, but a framework within which invention can flourish. The history buff craves accuracy, but also delights in the hidden detail unearthed. The mystery reader loves forensics, but rejoices when the writer reveals new methods, surprising twists, and unexpected truths. The techno-thriller reader does not merely want action; they long to learn, to glimpse the frontiers of science and technology, to feel the pulse of discovery beneath the suspense. Thus, the writer, while honoring expectations, also enlarges the vision of those who read.

The dangers of ignoring this truth can be seen in history. When ancient poets strayed too far from the essence of their epics, their works were forgotten, while those who honored their audience endured for generations. Homer’s Odyssey survives not merely because it is beautiful, but because it gave the people what they sought: adventure across seas, cleverness in the face of danger, gods meddling in mortal affairs, and the long-desired homecoming. Those who dismissed the hunger of the people found their songs lost to time. In this we see Lerner’s wisdom: a story endures only if it fulfills both the expectations and the spirit of its audience.

For us, the lesson is twofold. As readers, we must know what we seek: history, mystery, the frontier, or the wonders of technology. As writers, we must remember that every story is a dialogue, not a monologue. We must respect the covenant, even as we strive to surprise and uplift. Patience, humility, and insight are required, for to serve one’s readers is not to surrender, but to build trust, and through trust, to carry them into new realms of imagination.

So, dear listener, take Lerner’s words as both guidance and warning. When you create, do not ignore the hunger of those who come to your fire. Give them the bread they expect, but season it with flavors they have never tasted. Honor the history buff, the mystery reader, the lover of the West, the seeker of technology. Meet them where they are, and then lead them further. For in this lies the art of storytelling: not in defying expectation, but in fulfilling it while lifting the spirit to unexpected heights.