Why am I taking the extra work of going back nearly 200 Years in time? Believe me, I have asked myself that question a multitude of times. Is it worth the effort of research to go back when I could transport the characters and storylines to my modern day and write in known spheres? Why go back in time?
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| Why Historical Fiction? |
The primary reason the Victorian Era is so important must be the real Christianity that still existed in culture at large. Though England at the time was solidly Anglican and violently anti-Catholic, there was still the firm foundation of Christianity to support morality. There were still nasty, monstrous people in the world, and horrible things still happened, but with solid morals still upheld and defended there was more support for anyone trying to lead a moral life. As previous posts have highlighted, even the monarch of the era was an upright, moral character.
Our modern world is not so moral as it once was. To bring Miss Lucian's story into our modern day, there would be a greater disbelief that such good people and communities could exist, and the bad men and women among my characters would seem almost normal.
My Favourite Attribute
The most formative aspect of the Victorian Era for me and my writing is the image of woman. Though the backlash against Victorian propriety and decorum in recent years has been quite violent, the truth of woman's position in Nineteenth Century society was not restraining and demeaning. Though the Victorian Era saw the beginning of feminism, the central, ideal image of woman was as the 'Angel in the Home' and the pinnacle of morality.
My entire novel is oriented toward the question of how women can achieve exemplary, feminine virtue in a real, organic fashion. And when women strive to be great, moral figures, what becomes of men and the family?
Now dancing, music, ballgowns, drawing-rooms, and British accents are really wonderful too, but they are only secondary to the real drive of a moral nation as my story's background.
Concluding
No one can deny that horrible, dark aspects of society have existed since the Fall of Man. There is no absolutely perfect society in this world throughout the course of history. I hope my portrayal of Victorian England may not prove to be overly sentimental and fantastically perfect, though I must say the green, lush countryside is far more appealing to me than the real, gritty streets of London.
Whatever I write, wherever it takes place, I must try to make an honest story if I can. Here's hoping that readers will find truth in the pages of my novel.
This post concludes my preliminary, historical/moral concentration. In future, my posts will focus upon the actual formation of my story in itself. I will muse upon character and plot development and bring you along on the amusing ride.
I hope you have found some interesting bits in my musings thus far and are up to following my writing further along this journey.
Warm wishes,
M. R.
