>>>An before a muted H as in An hourglass (the h is silent in hourglass)
>>>A before historical because the h is not silent.
>>>(Although you will see and hear it both ways and it is acceptable - and probably common which is what you asked - to always use "AN" before any word that begins with "H")
>>>
>>I agree. I'm checking my husband's manuscript (he is transalting his book in English) and when I saw "an historical" it stroke me as wrong. That's why I want a correct literary usage.
>
>Send him my expressions of solidarity. Been done, done that, and the translator often despised the author and vice versa.

Ha-ha. Here is what my husband wrote after my 5 or 6 e-mails on the topic:

Yes, this is a popular topic for spammers, there are zillions of web-forum discussions about it and nudnikim love this topic. The bottom line is that the both variants are fine.

LOL.