Colleen
asked
P.J. Fitzsimmons:
How much research do you do to keep these books in their historical period? I really enjoy that Anty is definitely a 1920's British person and I even have to look up some of the references as I am an American and not familiar with some sayings. After reading the first 3 books, I am looking forward to the 4th and hope for many more.
P.J. Fitzsimmons
I really appreciate this question, because a few reviews have (very gently) pointed out cases where I got it wrong — butlers do not wear spats, particularly indoors, and Anty Boisjoly would almost certainly have referred to his favourite tipple as a whisky-and-soda, not a whisky-soda — and I was hoping for a way to acknowledge my mistakes.
I try to verify every detail that could possibly be inappropriate for the time — ideally using sources from the era — but more usefully the research itself tends to lead down fascinating rabbit holes that suggest other details that feed back into the story. The research, in a manner of speaking, does itself.
This morning I was trying to verify a line about pawnbrokers — something about pawning an abstract concept, like liberty or love or how puppies make you feel when they cock their heads, if memory serves. This lead, eventually, to Hansard (a positively limitless goldmine of anecdote and argot) from March 4, 1927, and discussion of a private member's bill with respect to the regulation of moneylenders, which included this delightful excerpt:
‘The hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Wells), with tears in his voice, spoke about suicides and the despair of the victims of moneylenders… How about those who commit suicide through drink and gambling and through excessive dancing to jazz music! I believe the Charleston has been known to kill people.’
I doubt very much I’ll directly use the fact that Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy (member for Kingston upon Hull Central, March 29, 1919 — October 27, 1931) contended, in parliament, that dancing the Charleston can be fatal, but isn’t it just a satisfying thing to know? More intriguing still, it’s apparently true — some forty people were killed in Boston in 1925 while doing the Charleston when the dance floor collapsed.
I’m always trying to improve my research skills, but I’m also working on organically contextualising some of the more obscure references. I like them (and Anty Boisjoly adores them) but I need to get better at remembering that not everyone has read the same volume of Hansard that I just did.
Again, thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss this.
I try to verify every detail that could possibly be inappropriate for the time — ideally using sources from the era — but more usefully the research itself tends to lead down fascinating rabbit holes that suggest other details that feed back into the story. The research, in a manner of speaking, does itself.
This morning I was trying to verify a line about pawnbrokers — something about pawning an abstract concept, like liberty or love or how puppies make you feel when they cock their heads, if memory serves. This lead, eventually, to Hansard (a positively limitless goldmine of anecdote and argot) from March 4, 1927, and discussion of a private member's bill with respect to the regulation of moneylenders, which included this delightful excerpt:
‘The hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Wells), with tears in his voice, spoke about suicides and the despair of the victims of moneylenders… How about those who commit suicide through drink and gambling and through excessive dancing to jazz music! I believe the Charleston has been known to kill people.’
I doubt very much I’ll directly use the fact that Commander Hon. Joseph Kenworthy (member for Kingston upon Hull Central, March 29, 1919 — October 27, 1931) contended, in parliament, that dancing the Charleston can be fatal, but isn’t it just a satisfying thing to know? More intriguing still, it’s apparently true — some forty people were killed in Boston in 1925 while doing the Charleston when the dance floor collapsed.
I’m always trying to improve my research skills, but I’m also working on organically contextualising some of the more obscure references. I like them (and Anty Boisjoly adores them) but I need to get better at remembering that not everyone has read the same volume of Hansard that I just did.
Again, thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss this.
More Answered Questions
Monica Price
asked
P.J. Fitzsimmons:
I remain a wholeheartedly devoted fan. I’ve just finished Hardy Haul at Hardy Hall. Your humor is delightful. Anty is my favorite because he reminds me of Lord Peter Whimsey before Harriet, (I love post-Harriet Peter too but they aren’t the same character) but Teddy is growing on me. When will the next novel be?
ShanDizzy
asked
P.J. Fitzsimmons:
More please? It is common practice for me to binge read PD Wodehouse after surviving tax season. Now, it's Anty Boisjoly to the rescue! Thank you SO MUCH for writing these entertaining and absolutely HILARIOUS stories. I made the mistake of taking The Case of the Case of Kilcladdich to read at a doctor's appointment. Every other paragraph was laugh-out-loud funny. I received many dramatic stares. Well worth it though.
David Lemon
asked
P.J. Fitzsimmons:
Hi. I greatly enjoyed the audiobook of “The Case of the Canterfell Codicil”, particularly as Tim Bruce brought the book to life - what a great choice for narrator! However, I was in a state of confusion for the first couple of chapters as to its historical setting. After checking the ebook, I found this was because the book gives the date for the postmark as 1928 whereas the audiobook gives it as 1828?
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