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Why do Authors change historical events

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Drew Busby Legend (U1763617) on Tuesday, 24th July 2007

  Currently reading Conn Iggulden's Emperor and he protrays Ceasar's Uncle, Marius as his mothers brother but in his historical notes he states that Marius was in fact Ceasars uncle on his fathers side. It made no difference to the story to change this.
  
  And also in the book Octavian is between 25-30 years old around the time of Ceasars death whereas in the TV series Rome, Octavian was only 17-19 at the same time.
  
  Im just wondering why writers change details such as these when they dont really have an integral part on the over all story.
  
  Other parts like Ceasar defeating Mithradites instead of Pompey in the rebelion in Greece make for a better story from Ceasars POV

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• Message 2

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  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Tuesday, 24th July 2007

  Historically, Octavian was 18 at the time of the assassination, so 'Rome' got it right (for once - they made a complete hash of Phillipi)
  
  The workings of authors' and scriptwriters' minds are a mystery to me. Presumably the author felt it did affect the story in some way. I haven't read the book in question myself, but perhaps the author believed Octavian's reaction or actions would be more believable in an older man?

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  Posted by scamander (U870981) on Thursday, 26th July 2007

  I've been reading his series and whilst they are very entertaining they are highly innacurate. Conn does well in fleshing out the aspects we didn't know about but wanders far from reality on the subjects we did. The idea that a small bunch of friends end up becoming the leading figures in Rome is patently wrong. I did cringe a bit at yet another street urchin who ends up in the senate!
  
  that said they are entertaining.

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  Posted by Flying_Arf-RIP_scrum_V_MB (U1505179) on Thursday, 26th July 2007

  I think sometimes its simple lazyness, when they can't be bothered to check the facts & trust to memory or when they think that the distortion will improve the story. The recent film about Vikings in Newfoundland had helmets with horns, the director said he knew it was wrong but that people (Americans? would expect it.
  
  I find it difficult watching films that get it obviously wrong, cowboys sheltering behind half inch thick tables & being protected from bullets is a pet hate, especially when two minutes later the table gets smashed over someones head in the saloon brawl.

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  Posted by SafricanAndy (U7173046) on Friday, 27th July 2007

  I read Conn Iggulden's Field of Swords, right...I was quite surprised when Caesar produced a "spyglass" in order to survey the enemy positions. Can anyone tell me what the hell that is all about???

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  Posted by Flying_Arf-RIP_scrum_V_MB (U1505179) on Friday, 27th July 2007

  Caeser obviously wanted to check with the clock on the church tower to make sure that his watch was showing the right time.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Anglo-Norman (U1965016) on Friday, 27th July 2007

  Nonsense, is what it is. A spyglass (i.e. telescope, perspective glass or monocular) has a history dating back in primitive form) to the 11th century Middle East at the very earliest, although telescopes as we understand them seem to have first appeared in England in the 16th century.

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  Posted by jacobitematt (U3577576) on Saturday, 28th July 2007

  Hi Drew Busby Legend,
  
  "Currently reading Conn Iggulden's Emperor and he protrays Ceasar's Uncle, Marius as his mothers brother but in his historical notes he states that Marius was in fact Ceasars uncle on his fathers side. It made no difference to the story to change this".
  
  Marius was Caesar's uncle on his father's side, but only by marriage. Marius' wife Julia was the sister of Caesar's father Gaius Julius Caesar.
  
  At the time of Caesar's death Octavian was indeed a young man of 18, although 44BC would have been the year in which he turned 19.
  
  Cheers

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