Blackadder The Third

Blackadder The Third

(and the art of chaotic chronology)

In her article Defining the Genre: What are the rules for historical fiction? Sarah Johnson writes:

"When you become involved with the field, you begin to learn that above all, historical fiction is a genre of controversy and contradiction.

She then offers her views on the rules of the historical novel.
"The setting should be convincing, yes, and anachronisms are still things to be avoided."

Notwithstanding the visual nature of Blackadder The Third, this particular season undermines the author's perspective on the paramount importance of sound chronology.

The main protagonists are the recurring fictional characters of the Blackadder saga:
Blackadder is a butler, Baldrick is his servant and they embody specific entities on the backdrop of late 18th - early 19th century Britain.
Hugh Laurie's character, however, is a genuine historical figure: Prince George IV who acts (in the series) as Prince Regent following his father King George III's descent into madness, and the Regency Act of 1811. Consequently, the events depicted in the episodes must take place between 1811 and 1820 (the end of the Regency).
Be that as it may, there are eminent historical characters in the season who could not have possibly been present at that time such as they are presented.
In the first episode, we learn that Pitt the Younger has assumed the role of his father as Prime Minister. In reality, William Pitt was succeeded by several other PMs after the end of his office in 1768. His son, Pitt the Younger was Prime Minister from 1783 to 1801 and then from 1804 to his death in 1806. The writers purposely shunned the inconvenience and years (even decades) of history evaporated into thin air.
They even went as far as including Dr Johnson and the publication of his Dictionary, an impressive feat, for it was published some 56 years before George became Prince Regent and 7 years before he was even born.

Such is the whimsical nature of Historical Fiction. The creators of the show toyed with the boundaries of the genre and orchestrated a ludicrous yet unbelievably witty and compelling piece. The costumes, the attitudes and the set feel so real that one almost forgets the abundance of anachronisms. Is that not the primary purpose of the historical fiction genre?, not so much as to be constrained by a comprehensive chronology as to create an authentic and vivid atmosphere.