JamesandJon33
Nonspaghetti Can you explain that.?
Yes, history is largely factual, an objective record of the past. It might be quite wide - covering a lifetime or era or illness for example. It's generally linear (in my mind).
To me, backstory implies a narrative which is likely to be selective in detail - usually in order to point to something else or suggest something or clarify something. It's more subjective and not necessarily "true". It's something that could be considered a narrative tool - referring to a "prologue" or "pre-story" which casts light or shade on something more recent. It could even be a myth - or a "cover story" (if uou were a spy gor example).
So, I would use history to be formal, broad, or talk about undisputed facts over a period.
I'd use backstory when explaining specific motivations of a person or character or the events leading up to a specific incident, from a specific viewpoint.
Hope that makes a kindness sense.
