by Paula Gail Benson
This summer, I’ve been very much enjoying all the
Facebook photos of my friends’ summer travel. I’ve been fortunate to take
virtual journeys to New England, Michigan (it was lovely to watch folks picking
beautiful red cherries from fruit trees instead of what I so often have to do: analyze research to determine if it is based on “cherry-picked facts”), and literary
Great Britain (including Platform 9 and 3/4s at Kings Cross Station, the
departure point from London for Hogwarts).
My own physical travel this summer has been limited to
several trips to Charleston, South Carolina, which, while beautiful, charming,
historical, and fascinating for many reasons, is best viewed in cooler seasons.
Writing a short story has given me another opportunity to make a vicarious
journey in time and location.
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The original university library, now known as the Palace Green Library and the School of Music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_University
I knew my story would take place in 1880s England, at
a college town. The protagonist, a 19-year-old female seeking to find her way
in the world, realizes she has reached a decision point in her life. Her mother
died shortly after her birth. Her father, a noted professor of Natural History
and Darwin enthusiast, has allowed her to serve as his secretary and assistant.
Their housekeeper despairs that the protagonist has no prospects for marriage.
After consulting with the headmistress of the
finishing school she attended, the protagonist decides to take on the position
of nanny in a wealthy, but distinctly unique household. In fact, she soon
learns that her charge is a baby vampire.
The situation, in and of itself, was a bit of a
journey, but I wanted the setting to be factually based. The town needed to be
smaller and less well known than Oxford or Cambridge. After some internet
searching, I decided Durham suited my purposes.
My next question became, did Durham have town houses,
like the one I imagined where my protagonist would work? I quickly learned that
the phrase “town houses” referred to residences in London and later became a
single word when used by realtors to sell urban homes in other locations.
Durham did in fact have such places that existed in the 1880s.
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| Saddler Street Photo by Trevor Littlewood https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=117699100 |
The amazing thing about the internet is how intricate
the photos and descriptions are, both of current and historical aspects. I
learned about the courses and professors at Durham University, the other
colleges in the city, and some of the housing arrangements for the students. I
also was able to research dress and medical practices, which played an
important role in my story.
River Wear Photo by Edward McMaihin
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119650435
Unfortunately, my first submission resulted in a
rejection, but I don’t mind. Now, I have a chance to explore historic Durham
further and make some corrections. I discovered the university did not teach
natural history in the 1880s, so I’ll need to make it a fascination the
Professor has rather than courses he teaches. That’s okay. I can make that
work.
