An interesting topic was batted about on one of MuseItUp Publishing’s regular Sunday Musings slots, to do with whether authors are influenced by current events in world news. Since it provides a socio-political context it can’t really be avoided if a writer wants to put across an authentic setting for whatever time period they write in. But fiction is just that, not a historical or current affairs text book. I rather enjoy playing around with actual historical events by imagining “what if…?”
For example, in my historical novel ‘Fair Play and Foul’ I include my version of the famous Tranby Croft scandal of 1890, when a man was accused of cheating at baccarat at a house party attended by the Prince of Wales. The man sued his host for libel but lost and scurried off to America. In my version, while accurately portraying the fact that gambling was illegal so happened at private houses, I ask…what if the man was guilty but all the witnesses decided to say he wasn’t so he won his suit and the host paid him damages? It would be something they felt more strongly against the host than their objections to the other man’s dishonesty. Hence I created an event at the house party to have that effect (read the book to find out more!).
For example, in my historical novel ‘Fair Play and Foul’ I include my version of the famous Tranby Croft scandal of 1890, when a man was accused of cheating at baccarat at a house party attended by the Prince of Wales. The man sued his host for libel but lost and scurried off to America. In my version, while accurately portraying the fact that gambling was illegal so happened at private houses, I ask…what if the man was guilty but all the witnesses decided to say he wasn’t so he won his suit and the host paid him damages? It would be something they felt more strongly against the host than their objections to the other man’s dishonesty. Hence I created an event at the house party to have that effect (read the book to find out more!).
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