I few years ago I walked around the coast of Cornwall in search of the buildings that inspired Daphne Du Maurier when she wrote Rebecca. I found what might be the boat house, but the large manor that inspired Manderley was surrounded by trees and well back from any roads, very much out of sight. I have been thinking about my own use of real places in my books.
In Under A Gilded Sky I had a clear picture in my head of various locations. But I wanted to anchor as many scenes as possible in real places.
Ginny, my heroine, has a rich aunt who lives in Jefferson City, Missouri. There is a series of illustrations of Midwest towns, drawn in the 1860s and this was a fabulous starting point. The resolution of the image below is low because I’ve zoomed in but the full image is on Wikipedia’s Jefferson City page. Maybe you can see the steamboats on the Missouri River, the railroad running along the shore. On the left is the State Penitentiary – an enormous building of its time. On the right is the State Capitol.
Next, I thought about Aunt Josephine’s house. I wanted something showy and ornate to reflect the family’s fortune and character. The building below seemed perfect and is the newly built house I describe when Ginny and Mary Lou come to stay.
It’s actually a house just outside Hannibal, Missouri built in 1871 (perfect for my novel) by Colonel John Garth, a tobacco and lumber tycoon. According to WCAS Northwestern University, Mark Twain was a friend of the Garths and stayed at this house several times. Today it is a bed and breakfast.
I looked at architectural drawings to help me describe the house. (This wonky image is from Pinterest and I haven’t found a source but it might be Dean Robert Camlin.) I then realised that as I am looking at buildings from Ginny’s point of view, I should only use language she would know. Would she know the term ‘mansard roof’? Perhaps, but unlikely.
A climactic scene happens at a ball in Jefferson City and I hit gold with the Missouri Governor’s Mansion. Built in 1871 – in less than one year and using prisoners from that massive penitentiary I mentioned – it cost $75,000 and has been home to every Governor since. I mean, if I were Governor, I’d definitely want to live there. It has 13 bedrooms but originally no bathrooms or closets (ok, I’m re-thinking my move). The website is a treasure trove: it even has a video tour.
If you read this part of my book, you will find that I have followed the layout and interior design of the building very closely, right down to the grand piano in The Nook – the area by the famous ‘floating’ Grand Stairway carved of walnut.
I found an early photograph of the mansion, before it became surrounded by trees, and it looks quite isolated but very impressive – although in the novel I suggest the building is even more spacious than in reality.
Historical fiction writers work in different ways. My preference is to write the story first, exploring the characters and how they relate to each other. I then try to find authentic settings in order to deepen the experience for the reader. This second stage of research frequently brings new plot and character possibilities which make the writing process even more fun.
Do you have a favorite place which has been used in a novel? Did it help or hinder your enjoyment of what you were reading? Let me know through my Contact page. I’d love to know what you think.
Fellow historical fiction writer here! Even though Bonny Boy focuses on two female Caribbean pirates, one of them, Mary Read, was documented as having served alongside the Dutch in the War of Spanish Succession. I have never had the pleasure of visiting Europe, so I definitely had my work cut out for me in researching the timeline of the war and the places Mary may have been. A maybe surprising source I used–just to add to what you have here–was actually Google Maps! It gave me an idea of what the travel between places would have realistically looked like, what was nearby, and any potential obstacles or threats, like mountains, rivers, and oceans. Thanks for sharing your process with other writers and readers, Imogen! 🙂
Yes, Google Maps is a great source of information. I used it a lot in Street View mode. Another thing was a real estate agent who sold farms in the area where my book opens. The website had lots of drone footage. Good luck with your book Bonny Boy – sounds fascinating and I hope it sells by the shelf-full!
Very interesting. I love history. My books are 17th century adventure romances that require a lot of research, too. I’ve never been to Europe, but I have wonderful books to use, plus google. I think you have done a great job with your research.
Research is such fun, isn’t it? Thank you for your kind comments.