Historical fiction?

[javasaurus]

From a conversation at work, the following questions:

What is the difference between "historical fiction" and fiction with a historical setting? And how far back in time do you need to go to be "historical" in this sense? Could fiction written with a modern setting be considered historical fiction in the future?

Comments

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

WWII is the only history worth writing about

No, it's the only history worth making a documentary about. There's a difference.

It costs the same to write a book about any time you want, but documentaries before WW2 are expensive because you have to re-enact the footage and that requires actors, costumes, etc. documentaries *after* WW2 are expensive because all of the source material is held by copyright in the hands of news organizations that charge more for the footage than the documentary would otherwise cost to make.