Reading is one of the joys of life and can be done for free. You probably mix your reading options from entertainment to educational or research. At some point, you may have included historical fiction in your choice. That’s pretty much everything from eons ago to World War II, and includes stories from the Civil War and the Vietnam War era. There is never a shortage of stories about any period of time that captures your interest.

Some of the more popular historical authors tend to base their stories using a well-known historical figure in a strong leading role. Tudor and medieval times are as popular as almost any period from the Neanderthals to the 20th century.

There are some differences of opinion regarding the definition of historical fiction, but according to the Providence Public Library, it is generally accepted to be established 50 or more years before and written from research. There are as many categories and subgenres as there are authors, although probably the best known are the traditional historical novels that faithfully follow a historical fact. Sagas can follow specific groups of people through time, while Western historical novels involve the American West. Historical novels may also include mysteries, romances, or adventures with protagonists who travel with great odds.

Vietnam-era stories may fall into the historical realm at this point, and one of the notable and rising authors, a veteran himself, is Bob Mayer, which produces pseudo-autobiographical exploits. You may have also read a june collins novel called “Goodbye Junie Moon” roughly the same time period set in Vietnam and not quite fiction. Seniors may remember the scandal she stumbled upon and wrote about that led to congressional hearings.

The biography “Calvin Many Wolves Potter”, written by his great-great-granddaughter, elaine brooks. Held weaves the bittersweet story passed down to him about Calvin Potter, a twelve-year-old boy, who runs away in the night from an abusive father in Pennsylvania. She does an amazing job of putting you in his loafers when he is discovered near death and the Sisseton Sioux of Minnesota carefully and patiently nurse him back to health. Held weaves a fascinating story of Calvin as he integrates into the nation of Dakota by becoming many Wolves, learning the language, adopting their ways, and becoming a warrior. However, as the white man continues to encroach on his territory, he is forced to return to the town from which he was born; but he is no longer white, nor is he really Native American.

The biography, “Charlie Chaplin-A Brief Life”, written by Peter Acroyd. Ackroyd did a splendid job of painting a picture of Charlie the man (with all the warts on him), Charlie the actor, and Charlie the mighty innovator of cinema.

While most people over the age of 30 are familiar with the name, few of us are familiar with the impact his life had, not just in the US (his adopted nation), but around the world, in the early of 20th century film technology.

Born in the slums of London to a psychologically unstable, alcoholic mother, he discovers a natural talent as an impersonator and establishes an image as the “little tramp”. The timing was perfect for his character and he quickly finds a new home in silent movies in America.

Not a fan of the cast, crew, or directors, he quickly became the dominant personality, expanding the then-popular “reeler” (a roughly 13-minute reel) by two. Actually, it was Chaplin, along with Douglas Fairbanks, DW Griffith, and Mary Pickford who created United Artists. His fanatical attention to detail and the changing of the art of acting along with the differences in the use of the camera and filming initiated a volatile change in the film industry.

While the man himself, from what I could tell, was a despot, he actually started an evolution in the film industry. And, after all of his personal scandals, he was finally revered and awarded an honorary Academy Award.

Fortunately, in an age of digital and electronic books, you don’t even have to leave your home to ensure a good read, and many of these are offered free of charge. The popularity of bookstores and printed books is resurgent. Libraries and book clubs can still include them extensively. It’s time to curl up with a good biography.