Death of the Fox is the most valuable sort of historical novel, one that enters into the historical past in a profound and immediate way, one that sees historical figures as individuals of their time, not as quaintly dressed versions of ourselves. Garrett's novel is no "costume drama" in which the historical aspect is mainly a matter of clothing and other such superficialities. In interviews and essays Garrett emphasizes that the Elizabethans were different from the people of our time, and it is that difference, not "relevance," that he wanted to honor in his work.

Since the characters and events in Death of the Fox are not presented as thinly disguised versions of the reader and his or her experiences, there is no true satire in the novel. Its social concerns are more subtle and universal than those of mere satire. Many of Death of the...