Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a story based on real life events is set in a chosen period in history, imagining events as they may have happened at the time of significant events in history. They combine real and fictional events, the characters speak in the language of the era, and detailed descriptions create a rich picture of the period, requiring authors to do extensive research. Homer's "The Iliad" was set during the Trojan war.  English author Sir Walter Scott set "Ivanhoe" in 1194 and the Waverley novels in 1745. Mildred Taylor's "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry", is set in the Great Depression, "Inside Out" and "Back Again" by Thanhha Lai is set during the Vietnam War, and Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief" is set in Nazi Germany. Historical fiction illuminates the past, giving the reader an emotional connection to historical events.