I Need Some Historical Background Help...

[windstormy]

I have written a series of novels on a group of vampires. I won't tell the story, but I would like to elicit some help. Especially from those of you living in England.

It all begins in 1592. What did London look like then? The layout of the city? Travel, etc, etc., etc..oh, what are some of the historical events that took place then?

Also, Russia in that day and time.

Canada today. I know there are caverns and catacombs in canada that span along the west coast. Please tell me they are on the east coast too. lol Um... Oh, mountain ranges along the east coast of Canada. Are there any that are inhabitable? Could someone possibly build a huge mansion atop one to live with this group and all of their slaves and servants?

Is there possibly a large area, of about 100 acres at least with a forest and so on, that another mansion could be built? Bears, cougars, so on reside there?

Where could I go to find some of my answers to these questions? online or offline?

This series is well underway. The first two books are completed. However, I'd like to make it as real as possible for my readers. And I am willing to make as many changes as needed to make that so.

Can anyone help me? Direct me where to go? Specific sites? Books? So on? Please?

 

[silversword]

As far as London goes your date 1592 pre dates the Great Fire of London in 1666 which burnt down most of the old city. So in 1592 London was very much a medeival city with very tight norrow streets made up of mostly timber buildings, hence why the fire did so much damage.

The main city itself had very poor sanitation etc. so was not a very pleasant place to live. I'm sure someone would correct me if i'm wrong but was the plauge a problem at this point in history or had it not yet arrived.

As for the rest for Russia and Canada I can't really help.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Ahem. Well, I just did a quick Google on "London sixteenth century" and turned up 620,000 hits. I'll bet if you added "map" or "description" to the search you'd focus it down a bit tighter.

"Canada east caves" might be another search. Or "Canada mountain lions bears". You get the idea.

 

[silversword]

Maps of London

This link might help with London. Shows maps before and after the fire.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Here's a description:

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/journals/EH/EH36/browner1.html

Also, you're right in Shakespeare's time and city. There's a whole shitload of resources on Willie's London. Here's one:

http://www.pbs.org/shakespeare/locations/location154.html

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Medevil Russia is pretty easy to google up. unfortuneatly, you will do a lot better if you try to narrow your search to a particular part of the country. What went in Muscovy, might not be remotely close to what it was like in the east or within the city limits of say, Kiev.

 

[windstormy]

Wow! You guys are just so awesome...

I am seriously on the verge of tears right now. I did NOT expect such a response already. And y'all are so kind to leave me so much help. And that's a Georgia term, by the way.lol 'y'all'.

I'm looking at some of it right now, thinking how in the hell will I absorb all of this? lol. But I'll do it or die, by god! I mean to do this right the first time if at all possible.

Every critic that has read this series so far said it is awesome and captivating work, just needs a little improvement in grammar and puctuation. But if I add the details, it would make it even more believable. That's my aim, too.

Thanks so much guys. I can't express my gratitude at the moment. I wouldn't know where to begin. Except to just say thanks. And any futher help, I welcome with open arms. You guys are just so great!

 

[windstormy]

Ok, I gotta nuther q...

How do I go about putting a link to my written work in my siggy? Anyone? Please?

 

[windstormy]

This is a test... lol

Just testing to see if it works.

 

[windstormy]

Hey, it worked!!!

But how do I change it to say what I want it to say? Total illiterate here... grrr....

 

[patrick1]

www.questia.com is a good source. Enter London history and you'll see some books. Add '1590's' and you'll get some very focused articles available online.

Patrick

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . Canada today. I know there are caverns and catacombs in canada that span along the west coast. Please tell me they are on the east coast too. lol Um... Oh, mountain ranges along the east coast of Canada. Are there any that are inhabitable? Could someone possibly build a huge mansion atop one to live with this group and all of their slaves and servants?. . .

About the caverns on the east coast of Canada. I believe that most of the east coast is comprised of the Canadian Shield, (aka the Laurentian Shield) and are of Pre-Cambrian rock.

http://www.sturgeon.ab.ca/tlc/regions/shield/shield3.GIF
Canadian Shield in red.​

I am not so certain about whether it is cavernous, but perhaps you are unaware — New World Vampires would chew caverns out of granite and igneous rock formations partially to produce habitable underground hideaways, and partially as a nervous gesture. That is why most vampire's teeth are pointy — erosion.





Kidding aside, There are some locally famous caverns further west (Ontario) in the Niagara Escarpment — namely, The Bruce Caves (Public Land), and Greig’s Caves (Private land, where – incidentally – the early and late cavern scenes in Quest for Fire were filmed.)

http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/cabana/3953/99/intolafleche.jpg

Click on image of Lafleche Caves about a half-hour drive north of Ottawa, to learn more about this Eastern Canadian Cave complex.​

 

[windstormy]

www.questia.com is a good source. Enter London history and you'll see some books. Add '1590's' and you'll get some very focused articles available online.

Patrick

Thanks, Patrick.... That's a big help to me. I even found stuff for Russia and Greece there. Thanks so very much.

 

[windstormy]

Burlesque, that is just awesome. That pic is gorgeous. Where did you find it? Please tell me so I can research some more. You're a doll. You know that?

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . That pic is gorgeous. Where did you find it?. . .

Click on the picture, and you are there.

Like Dorothy, and the ruby slippers.

 

[windstormy]

Burlesque, that is just awesome. That pic is gorgeous. Where did you find it? Please tell me so I can research some more. You're a doll. You know that?

Never Mind... I found it... Thanks so much...

 

[windstormy]

As far as London goes your date 1592 pre dates the Great Fire of London in 1666 which burnt down most of the old city. So in 1592 London was very much a medeival city with very tight norrow streets made up of mostly timber buildings, hence why the fire did so much damage.

The main city itself had very poor sanitation etc. so was not a very pleasant place to live. I'm sure someone would correct me if i'm wrong but was the plauge a problem at this point in history or had it not yet arrived.

As for the rest for Russia and Canada I can't really help.

And this helps with the prequil to the two books that are finished. It will actually introduce three of the main charaters telling how and when they were made, met, so on, so forth. And, I will have to go back some in the Chapters already written to edit this in. But that's fine. I love this work anyway. It's my "baby", I could say.