Historical novel writing An analytical study with special refernce to Tarjuman Al Malik of Omar Fadlalallalla

Abstract

Historical fiction is regarded as one of the most significant narrative genres capable of reshaping the past within an artistic framework that brings together documentation and imagination. It does not merely transmit historical events; rather, it reinterprets them through an intellectual and cultural vision that reflects the concerns and questions of the present. The more successfully a historical novel balances factual credibility with narrative freedom, the deeper its impact and the greater its ability to revive collective memory and foster awareness of identity. This dissertation examines the art of writing the historical novel through an analytical and critical study of Tarjuman al-Malik (The King’s Interpreter) by the Sudanese writer Omar Fadlalla, considering it a narrative model that seeks to reconstruct and fictionalize historical events within a distinctly Sudanese cultural context. The study investigates the narrative mechanisms and artistic techniques employed by the author in representing history, revealing the interplay between the real and the imagined, and exploring how historical facts are integrated into a novelistic plot that transcends mere documentation to achieve a coherent artistic vision. The research also addresses the thematic structure of the novel, the development of its characters, and its narrative style, with particular attention to the role of these elements in reviving cultural memory and affirming identity. In addition, it analyses the social and political implications of historical representation, the use of language, and the incorporation of oral traditions and local narratives as fundamental components in shaping the novel’s discourse. Furthermore, the study situates Tarjuman al-Malik within the broader context of the historical novel in Arabic literature in general, and Sudanese fiction in particular, highlighting its contribution to the development of historical narration in contemporary Sudanese literature and its role in interrogating history and rereading it from cultural and aesthetic perspectives. Methodologically, the dissertation draws on a range of critical approaches, primarily the historical method, the descriptive-analytical method, and the artistic/structural method, while also benefiting from modern narratological approaches. This combination enables a comprehensive reading of the text in terms of its structure, meanings, and cultural context. The dissertation is organized into four main chapters: Chapter One: Writing the Historical Novel in Arabic Literature—Concept and Characteristics. Chapter Two: The Arabic Novel in Sudan—Revisiting Its Literary History. Chapter Three: Omar Fadlalla and His Contributions to the Historical Novel. Chapter Four: An Analytical Reading of Tarjuman al-Malik by Omar Fadlalla Narrative Structure and Historical Significations. The study concludes that Tarjuman al-Malik represents a narrative experiment deeply aware of the dialectical relationship between history and fiction. It demonstrates the capacity of the historical novel to function as a space for dialogue with the past, a means of preserving culture, and a tool for constructing national identity, while rearticulating fundamental questions concerning power, memory, and the human condition.