ARCHIVES
VOL. 11, ISSUE 6 (2025)
Reimagining historical fiction: Narrative innovation and thematic complexity in Lucy Steeds’ The Artist (2025)
Authors
Dr. Ruchi Thakar
Abstract
Lucy Steeds’ debut novel The Artist (2025) has
quickly emerged as one of the most significant contemporary works of English
literature, garnering major literary accolades including the Waterstones Debut
Fiction Prize and being named Waterstones Book of the Year. This paper examines
The Artist as a representative of innovative historical fiction that blends
immersive narrative techniques with deep thematic inquiry into creativity,
identity, and the socio‑cultural conditions of artistic life. Through a close
reading of the novel’s narrative structure, character dynamics, and thematic
concerns, supported by a review of critical reception and scholarly discourse
on contemporary historical fiction, this study argues that Steeds’ work
exemplifies broader trends in early 21st‑century literary practice. The
analysis further demonstrates how The Artist challenges and expands genre
conventions by foregrounding the psychological realities of its characters
while engaging with the cultural legacy of art and historical memory.
Download
Pages:167-169
How to cite this article:
Dr. Ruchi Thakar "Reimagining historical fiction: Narrative innovation and thematic complexity in Lucy Steeds’ The Artist (2025)". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 11, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 167-169
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.