hahahaha ~ self aware is maybe a good way to categorize it.

i can certainly appreciate that some people like a more didactic approach to their historical fiction ~ and there's nothing at all wrong with that! i just like the adventure of discovering what stuff is for myself (insert a long story about Zola's Nana which i must tell you at some point ~ it maybe will clarify some things ~ hahahaha).

as for Jakesian, sorry: a la John Jakes, who is renowned for his historical fiction, though i have never been able to stomach his work at all (it's just soap opera against the backdrop of big history events ~ very very pedestrian for my tastes).

yes, once again, i fully admit i am a snob.

: D