The Beauty of Learning Through Historical Fiction

As homeschooling parents, we come from a huge variety of backgrounds and educational approaches—and I absolutely love that about us! The ability to shape our children’s education to match their unique needs, strengths, and even weaknesses is one of the most beautiful aspects of homeschooling. But there’s one soapbox I refuse to step down from, no matter the approach or philosophy: the transformative power of storytelling. Many times we experience that power through reading great books. But there are other ways to experience historical fiction and spark children’s curiosity to learn more! 

In my experience, the best way to ignite a love of reading and learning is by introducing children to great stories and moving characters that will become a part of who they are. The power of story is one of mankind’s oldest teaching tools. It is unmatched in its ability to instill deep lessons, to inspire us, and to transform the way we think. 

When we experience powerful stories, we consciously put ourselves into the protagonist’s shoes. This gives us the opportunity to learn about other perspectives, concepts, and historical events in a way that we can’t otherwise. And that’s why the stories that children read and listen to are so important. At young ages, children are becoming who they will be. The stories they consume have the power to stick with them for the rest of their lives.

As a teacher, tutor, and homeschool mom who holds an M.A. in English, this is a hill I will gladly die on. Great stories immerse us in entire worlds, making them deeply effective and resonant teachers—not just of timeless truths, but also of the events and lessons of history. Today, I want to talk about the beauty of learning through historical fiction. 

Using Historical Fiction in Your Homeschool

Using historical fiction as a learning tool in your homeschool is about so much more than teaching dates and events. It’s a way to bring history to life for our kids and share positive experiences with reading at the same time! Reading historical fiction together is also a seamless way to give your kids something to ground your more formal history studies in and make it “stick.”

In my family, we do a lot of our reading together via audiobook (yes, it counts!) We love to listen to stories while folding laundry or doing errands in the car. We call it “car school,” and – frankly- we all love car school. 

Therefore, I was so excited to recently discover Heirloom Audio and their mission to bring history to life through immersive audio dramas based on The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty. For those unfamiliar with them, G.A. Henty’s novels are a series of classic historical stories, written in the late 1800s, which transport readers to important moments in history, from ancient Egypt to Civil War America. Not only do they provide vivid historical details, but they also highlight protagonists who model Christian values and virtues like bravery, honor, and faith. 

Heirloom Audio’s adaptations of Henty’s works are amazing! They use cinematic soundscapes and renowned actors like John Rhys-Davies and Brian Blessed. The stories themselves are deeply educational while still capturing children’s interest. 

Since launching in 2013 with their first production, Under Drake’s Flag, Heirloom Audio has produced eleven “audio adventures,” all designed to engage the listener’s imagination by taking them back in time and immersing them in the story. Their commitment to excellence is incredible. I could not believe the quality of the voice acting, the stories, and additional sound effects. My family felt like we were watching a movie. This company clearly has a mission to bring historical events to life while honoring God and sharing what He has done throughout history.

These stories are especially perfect for learning on the go. It has been a seamless addition to our “car school times” (and I foresee it being a fun and easy way to keep learning over the holiday months). The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty are a prime example of how historical fiction can transform the way children experience history.

By making the past come to life for young learners, resources like these remind us of the unique power stories hold—not just to teach, but to inspire and shape character. As we step back to look at the bigger picture, it’s clear that historical fiction offers countless benefits, far beyond what traditional methods can provide. Here are three reasons I believe historical fiction to be a beautiful tool for teaching:

1. Historical Fiction Builds Connections with the Past Through Empathy

One of the most powerful aspects of historical fiction is its ability to put readers directly into a character’s shoes. In fact, research supports that reading literary fiction, specifically, increases the reader’s empathy. In a study conducted by Kidd and Castano (2013), participants who read literary fiction performed better on tests measuring empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence compared to those who read non-fiction or popular fiction. While this is true of any and all fiction reading, it has special significance in terms of teaching history through historical fiction.

Connecting deeply with characters living through real historical events can allow children to more fully connect with the past. When taught alone, historical dates and facts can seem impersonal and feel like meaningless data to memorize. Historical fiction, however, makes these events real to young readers. Reading historical fiction can shape the way children think about the past and help them perceive these events as real and important. This, in turn, can foster a greater enthusiasm for history, in general! 

The Heirloom Audio productions of G.A. Henty’s works are masterful at creating these connections with the past. Henty’s vivid storytelling, in conjunction with the production quality of “audio theater,” brings history to life through characters who navigate challenges that children can relate to, even in settings from the past. Through these protagonists, young readers and listeners step into the shoes of people who lived during pivotal historical moments.

For instance, in Under Drake’s Flag, listeners follow the journey of young Ned as he faces life-or-death challenges during his adventures with Sir Francis Drake. Through Ned’s eyes, we experience the thrill of exploration and the weight of moral decisions during a time of intense, worldwide change. This connection with Ned allows children to emotionally connect with the realities of the Elizabethan era. By immersing themselves in these stories, children don’t just learn history—they develop a deeper connection with those who shaped it. 

Historical fiction can help children build a deeper relationship with history as they put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes and feel as though they are experiencing historical events, personally!

2. Stories Give Context and Coherence to Historical Learning

Historical fiction provides a “peg” to hang both past and future learning on. That’s because a compelling story makes events and time periods stand out. Stories can also seamlessly include historical details that are interesting to children, highlighting the unique ways people lived long ago. For children, history can often feel like a fragmented timeline of disconnected events, but stories have the power to weave in tons of information in a way that is effortlessly absorbed as part of the story. 

Speaking personally, my formal history education was a little all over the place as a child. However, many of the fiction books I loved happened to be set in the medieval period and the Victorian era. Today, I know a good bit about those particular time periods—not from history books—but from the wealth of historical fiction that I absorbed in my childhood. I only wish I had had a more well-rounded interest in stories set in different times; then I would have a much more balanced history education!

And to that end, The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty offers a really diverse range of historical fiction tales that span many different places and times. These historical fiction audio works transport readers to crucial moments throughout history, grounding the events in character-driven narratives. By following the protagonists’ adventures in these stories, children can start to build a broader context of history while learning interesting details about each setting.

Using historical fiction as a frequent resource in your homeschool can help your children create a rich, inner library of memorable historical insights to draw from as they continue to build historical knowledge in these formative years. This can create a greater depth and breadth of historical understanding that will last for life.

3. Stories Teach Morals and Virtues

From Aesop’s Fables to Christ’s parables, stories have withstood the tests of time when it comes to teaching moral lessons.  Historical fiction can be an especially effective way to teach lessons and create opportunities for moral discussions in the homeschool setting. Some of the most pivotal times in history place characters in uniquely challenging situations, in which a character’s values and moral priorities are given the chance to make a strong stand. Likewise, a wrong decision in these kinds of hypothetical situations can have drastic consequences to the plot that children, in particular, are sure to remember! 

This makes works of historical fiction excellent tools for teaching virtues like courage, perseverance, wisdom, and integrity—all while learning about historical events.

G.A. Henty’s works are particularly rich in moral lessons, offering readers protagonists who embody the virtues we hope to instill in our children. His stories place characters in challenging situations that require them to demonstrate bravery, loyalty, and faith in action. In fact, with this audio series of Henty’s works, Heirloom Audio states that their mission is to build “character in the next generation by bringing the lessons of history to life.”  

So far, the characters in these stories have prompted some discussions about loyalty and honor in my home. For example,  In the Reign of Terror, Harry Sandwith, a British boy living in France during the French Revolution, is caught up in the chaos and violence of one of history’s darkest times. Through Harry’s story, listeners are prompted to think about the roles of  bravery, loyalty, and compassion during divisive times. Harry’s decision to protect the aristocratic family he serves—even when it puts his own life at risk—teaches children the value of selflessness and standing by those who rely on you in a memorable historical context.

Most recently, we listened to The Dragon and the Raven on a road trip. My husband, children and I greatly enjoyed listening to this story together (particularly as my husband’s family is of Viking descent!). It led to some great conversations about the importance of mercy and faith, as the main character, Edmund, demonstrated his faith by showing compassion to a group of Vikings, which ultimately resulted in greater peace between the two peoples. I know that these concepts will be more memorable because of the engaging way that they were highlighted by the exceptional storytelling.

Historical fiction is a powerful way to teach children about important values and pave the way for discussions on character and morality while also teaching about events from the past!

One of the greatest joys of homeschooling is the freedom to teach in ways that spark curiosity and connect deeply with our children. Historical fiction does just that, bringing history to life while teaching empathy, providing context, and instilling important virtues. I love the way historical fiction transforms history from dry facts into something vibrant and meaningful—stories that stay with our kids and shape the way they see the world. (And as an adult, I still find myself learning from historical fiction, too!)

In our homeschool, The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty series by Heirloom Audio has been such a gift! These beautifully crafted audio dramas immerse us in unforgettable stories while making history exciting, educational, and full of valuable lessons. I know we will continue to enjoy them, especially during the holiday season and even outside of regular “school” time.

If you’re looking for an engaging and simple way to teach history, I can’t recommend Heirloom Audio’s productions enough. They’ve been such a meaningful addition to our homeschool routine, especially during “car school” and quiet family time at home.

In their efforts to produce meaningful and engaging audio works, Bill Heid and the Heirloom Audio team have traveled across the world to places where Christian heroes have walked. In this way, they capture not only the action but also the essence of the remarkable stories they are telling.

About the Audio Books

Heirloom Audio Productions specializes in creating Christian-themed audio dramas that bring historical events to life, aiming to inspire and educate listeners of all ages. Their productions are designed to cultivate a Christian worldview, providing wholesome entertainment that imparts valuable life lessons and Christian history. These audio adventures are like “movies for the ears,” engaging the imagination and enhancing cognitive development. Here are some ideas about how you can use them:

• Education through Entertainment: Use these audio dramas as a fun way to teach history. They can replace or supplement traditional history textbooks, making learning more engaging, especially for auditory learners or children who might find conventional history lessons less appealing.
• Character Education: Each story is steeped in themes of bravery, honor, faith, and perseverance. These can be used to discuss character traits and moral lessons, integrating value-based education into your homeschool curriculum.
• Family Listening Time: These audios can be a great way to spend family time, listening together during car trips, chores, or as part of a family learning session.
• Cross-Curricular Activities: You can create projects, essays, or discussions based on the stories, covering subjects like history, geography, literature, and even science (if the story has relevant content like navigation or medicine of the time).
• Study Guides: Heirloom Audio offers study guides with their productions, which include comprehension questions, thinking prompts, vocabulary, and biblical reflections. These can be used to structure lessons, quizzes, or discussion sessions that go beyond the story into deeper analysis.
• Field Trips: After listening to an adventure set in a particular era or location, plan a visit to a relevant historical site, museum, or even a virtual tour if a physical visit isn’t possible.
• Creative Writing: Encourage children to write their own historical fiction or alternate endings to the stories they’ve heard, which can help with writing skills, creativity, and understanding narrative structure.
• Art Projects: Draw scenes, create dioramas, or make costumes from the era described in the stories.
• Role-Playing: Perform parts of the drama, which can enhance public speaking, acting, and memorization skills.
• Research Projects: Use the stories as the basis for more in-depth research projects on figures, events, or themes from the story.

If something like this sounds like it would be a great way to bring more quality, historical fiction into your home, this holiday season is the perfect time to try them out! Heirloom audio has special pricing available for Christmas! This makes it possible for you to join in on history’s most daring expeditions and greatest adventures. Visit Heirloom Audio today to see how their extraordinary adaptations of G.A. Henty’s works can inspire a love of history in your home.