I have decided the most confusing thing about writing an historical novel based in England is trying to keep straight who gets called what as far as their addresses go. It seems everyone has six different names. Take my main character, for instance: Devlin Kane, Duke of Avinguard. He gets called Your Grace, referred to as His Grace, announced as something else, called Avinguard by his friends, I'm sure someone is allowed to call him Kane, though I haven't figured out who as yet, but only his most close personal friends can call him Devlin, and even that is uncommon. And apparently no one is to refer to him as my lord, or Lord Avinguard. At least near as I can tell. It makes my brain hurt just trying to keep it all straight, especially since he and his best friend from childhood refer to each other by their given names, which meant I had to come up with a plausible reason for this. Thankfully, the close relationship between the two is pertinent to the story and I was able to work it in, but Geez Louise. It's enough to give a girl a nosebleed.
4 comments:
You and me BOTH!!!!! I find the whole thing so confusing. Even when it's explained to me, I still find it confusing. Guess cause it all seems so unnatural these days. Jo Beverley has a good explanation on her website - I use it every time I check my ms for those kinds of problems.
The medieval period was waaaaaaay easier when it came to forms of address - they were far less strict, though the king was also addressed as Your Grace, which does confuse a lot of people.
I am right there with ya! I don't know why they made it so confusing. I mean, really. What is the plausible explanation for creating rules on how to address someone?
I can't ever keep them straight...and when I read an historical I keep thinking "who are they talking too" when they address a character by a different title.
Nikki you know I have a roving eye. Rufus just happens to bear a striking resemblence to Devlin is all. I swear that's it.
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