Which of the following historians admitted to the use of imaginary speeches in his historical writings?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is Thucydides, who openly acknowledged that he invented speeches in his historical work, particularly in his masterpiece "History of the Peloponnesian War". Thucydides explained that when recording speeches, it was often impossible to recollect the exact words. Hence, he composed speeches that were appropriate to the situation and true to the spirit of what must have been said, based on the historical context. This method highlights Thucydides’ attempt at a realistic portrayal of historical events while maintaining dramatic narrative techniques. His admission shows the blending of creative interpretation and historical fact, laying a foundation for critical historiography.