European Historical Fiction writing prompts

Imagine a scenario during the Black Death in a small English village around 1348. Tell the story of one family deciding whether to flee or stay as the plague arrives, and what the choice costs them.

Write a story centered around a secret romance during the Spanish Inquisition. Two lovers from different faiths face perilous consequences if their relationship were to be discovered. Explore the tension of forbidden romance, the danger of the Inquisition, and the culturally rich setting of 15th-century Spain.

Set in Paris during the French Revolution, tell the tale of a young aristocrat who has disguised themselves as a commoner. Delve into their life in the heart of the city, their struggles with their identity, and the complex relationships they develop amidst the turmoil of the revolt.

Set in the heart of the Renaissance, craft a tale around a fictitious artist who rivals Michelangelo. The artist receives a potentially career-making commission in a major city-state but is embroiled in its dangerous politics and the competitive art scene. Mix in historical figures, complex alliances, and rich descriptions of art and architecture.

A Scottish soldier returns to his village after surviving the Napoleonic Wars, only to find it on the brink of industrial change. Craft a story exploring his adjustment to a new way of life, the transformation of landscape and society, and his role in an emerging workers' uprising against mill owners.

Your protagonist is a midwife who not only has to battle the plague but also the superstitions and fears of the villagers who believe her medicines could be witchcraft. Dive into the dynamics of the village, medieval medicine, and human emotion in times of crisis.

Set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy, a young female artist poses as a man to apprentice with a famous painter. Explore her journey, filled with art, forbidden love, and the quest for personal identity amidst the restrictive social norms of the time.

Write a story set during the Black Death in medieval Europe. Your protagonist is a young apothecary’s apprentice who believes they have discovered a cure, but they must travel across the continent, through towns filled with fear and superstition, to prove it.

Write a story set during the building of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (1887-1889). Your main character is a young apprentice who discovers a plot which could endanger the completion of the landmark. Explore the bustling streets of Paris, the public opinion about the tower, and the underground world of the city.

Set during the tumultuous times of the French Revolution, your main character is a young aristocrat who decides to join the peasants' fight for equality. Caught between their loyalty to their family heritage and their new revolutionary ideals, your protagonist must navigate a world of espionage, betrayal, and radical ideologies. Paint a vivid picture of Paris during the revolution and depict the transformation of your character.