In a couple of lectures on translation, Hilaire Belloc acknowledged the use of the historic present in French, but cautioned against it in English. I think that

In a couple of lectures on translation, Hilaire Belloc acknowledged the use of the historic present in French, but cautioned against it in English. I think that the historic present is fine in fiction. However, it sets my teeth on edge in history--though the only time I've ever encountered it was in Bill O'Reilly's Killing the Rising Sun. (It was a neighbor's pick for the local book club.)