Is fact blended with fiction in such a way that the background is subordinate to the story?
Is the story as accurate and authentic as possible?
Does the author provide background information in an afterword or author's note that will help readers distinguish between what is fact and what has been fictionalized?
Does the story accurately reflect the values and norms of the culture depicted?
Does the author avoid any contradiction or distortion of the known events of history?
Are background details authentic, in keeping with accurate information about the period?
Does the story accurately reflect the values and spirit of the time?
Are different points of view on the issues of the time presented or acknowledged?
Does the dialogue convey a feeling of the period without seeming artificial? Does it reflect character as well as setting?
Is the language of the narrative appropriate to the time, drawing figures of speech from the setting?
Does the theme provide insight and understanding for today's problems as well as those of the past?
