Each semester, the BGSU Department of History highlights the extraordinary work of our senior students. This spring, Erika Putnam was recognized with the Donna M. Nieman Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence in History for her capstone project. This study, developed in The French Revolution (HIST 3420) with Prof. Kara Barr and polished in Professional Practices in History (HIST 4001) with Prof. Douglas Forsyth, explores how fiction has shaped public understanding of one of the most violent and misunderstood periods in revolutionary history.
Her paper, titled “Evolving Narratives: A Historiographical Review of the Reign of Terror in Historical Fiction Since the Mid-Nineteenth Century,” examines how storytelling influences historical memory and interpretation.
We invite you to take a deeper look at this work in Erika’s own words, and to watch the public presentation of her project. https://youtu.be/SPOQrUOpo_s?si=j1gDZw4uaD7E_nIm
Interview
What inspired you to explore the Reign of Terror through the lens of fiction?
I’ve always been fascinated by the power stories have to shape how we view history. The Reign of Terror is often portrayed as pure chaos and brutality, especially in fiction. I wanted to understand where those images came from and how accurate they really are.
Which works of fiction did you study?
I focused on three major novels: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859), The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (1905), and A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel (1992). Each author approaches the Reign of Terror from a different cultural and historical perspective, which gave me a great lens through which to examine evolving narratives.
What stood out to you as you compared these books?
It was fascinating to see how earlier works relied on drama and ideology, while more recent historical fiction, like Mantel’s, emphasizes accuracy. She even incorporates primary sources into her characters’ dialogue. It shows a shift in how fiction writers engage with the past.
Do you think fiction can be a useful tool for historians or the public?
Definitely. While fiction isn’t always factually perfect, it can draw people into history and get them thinking about the bigger picture. It helps make complex topics more accessible. At the same time, it’s important to be aware of the ways fiction can simplify or distort historical realities. Why This Work Matters
Why This Work Matters
Erika’s paper bridges literary analysis with historical inquiry, examining not just what stories are told about the Reign of Terror, but how and why they are told that way. Her work contributes to a growing conversation about the value of narrative in shaping public memory and historical understanding. By contrasting older, more ideological portrayals with modern works rooted in research, she demonstrates how fiction reflects the changing priorities and perspectives of each generation. Historical fiction has its flaws, but it also has the power to inspire curiosity, empathy, and deeper engagement with the past.
About the Donna M. Nieman Award
The Donna M. Nieman Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence in History honors Donna Nieman’s love of and support for learning history. It is the department’s most prestigious award for a paper and public presentation based on original research on primary sources.
Congratulations, Erika!
We are delighted to showcase Erika Putnam’s research as an example of the excellence we foster at BGSU. Her project deepens our understanding of revolutionary France and demonstrates the meaningful role storytelling plays in historical scholarship.
We look forward to following Erika’s continued academic journey and the impact she will make in the field of history.
Blog post by Ashley Davis
Department of History | Bowling Green State University
📍 www.bgsu.edu/history