I'm not talking about historical fiction, I'm talking about stories written in the past, set in our world, where the characters are supposed to live a "happily ever after" ending at the end, but historical events that happened after the story was written mean that the characters probably either died horribly, or suffered massive tragedy afterwards. Such as during war, revolution, famine, civil war, plague, natural disasters, etc.
The one that comes to mind for me is the original Beauty and the Beast, which was set in mid-18th century France, meaning that Belle and the Prince might have lived long enough to be executed during the French Revolution or flee the country (though probably not, since they were out-of-the-way provincial nobility, but still…) You get the point right? Are there any examples of books or stories like this existing?
Thanks!
by TerranGames