How is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Contest" a work of historical fiction?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Contest" is a work of historical fiction because it is a novel that intertwines an imaginative story with real historical events and settings. Historical fiction is a literary genre where the plot takes place in a setting located in the past, and the author often incorporates actual historical events or figures into the story, embellishing or reinterpreting them for dramatic effect.

In "The Contest," Doyle introduces his readers to characters and settings that reflect a historically accurate backdrop of the ancient Olympic Games. He brings to life the ancient Greek world by setting his narrative during the time when the Olympic Games were a significant event. The story revolves around the Olympic Games of 460 BC, where a wrestler from Rhodes is competing for the championship, and it involves real historical elements such as the Olympic truce, which was an actual agreement respected during the period of the Games.

Moreover, Doyle imbues the story with the cultural, social, and political aspects of the ancient Greek civilization, which helps to create an authentic historical atmosphere. By combining these factual elements with fictional characters and events, Doyle effectively creates a narrative that allows readers to immerse themselves in a bygone era.