The history of the British in India noted in this novel comes from a variety of sources, however, a book that stood out is An Era of Darkness by Shashi Tharoor. I also recommend the novel These Days, by Sunil Gangopadhyay, set in the 1857 Uprising.
Minor changes to history—The betting scam is based on the Trodmore Hunt Scam which occurred on the Monday Bank Holiday at the start of September in 1889. My fictional Swainright scheme occurs one year prior. The murder of Annie Chapman on the 8th of September 1888 was the second murder attributed to Jack the Ripper. Technically, he wasn’t named the Ripper until September 27 when the first of his letters arrived, but for the sake of drama, I’ve included the name earlier to line up with the gambling scam. He would next strike on 30th September, killing two women in less than an hour. This occurs slightly after the timeline of this book concludes, with the final Whitechapel victim on 9 November. Many other murders were also attributed to him, and a multitude of theories abound.
The coffee analogy I’ve used is based on the Australian First Nations proverb ‘Aboriginality is like tea—no matter how much milk and sugar you add, it’s still tea.’
Dalhinge’s ‘unusual household’ is not unusual because it includes a diverse range of people. London has always been a melting pot of cultures during its long history. Dalhinge’s household is unusual because it is a safe place where people are not judged for qualities they can’t help such as skin colour, religion, and sexuality. I’ve based it on my local community which is an amazing inclusive place. I’d love to think that this inclusive environment will provide the leaders of the next generation—people who see that we have more in common with each other than our differences.
The books in Woodleyville’s legal offices are real. I found them on a rare book website, and the Criminal History one was published in three volumes in 1883 and written by James Fitzjames Stephen.
The Pinnard Horn, originally called the fetoscope, is a type of stethoscope used to listen to a foetus. It was invented in 1895, too late for Claire to use during Harriet’s twin birth. She would have had to rely on touch alone, and Pinnard published an important paper on this issue (abdominal palpation in pregnancy) in 1878, which Claire would have read and understood.
Letterhead, or billhead as it was originally called, started to be popular when printing presses improved in the 1860s. Some great examples are here: https://www.saxoprint.co.uk/blog/history-of-stationery/
Lord Dalhinge’s estate Belfington in Lincolnshire is loosely based on Belton House. The train station in the book, Kirkstead, was a real place but is further north than Grantham (the closest train station to Belton House). Kirkstead was re-named Woodhall Junction in 1922, and the station was closed in 1971, and demolished in 1980.
Until 1911, the House of Lords had the power to veto any law passed in the House of Commons. After this, the Lords could only delay most bills by two years, not veto them. This was reduced to one year in 1949.
Margaret Oliphant was a prolific writer in the Victoria era, producing 120 works (including short stories and non-fiction). http://victorianfictionresearchguides.org/vfrgs/margaret-oliphant/
Arsenic poisoning was often called ‘inheritance powder’ because it gained a reputation as the poison of choice for heirs needing to gain quicker access to their inheritance. In large doses, the symptoms are very similar to cholera, and in smaller doses, symptoms are confusion, headaches, drowsiness, and skin and breath that smells like garlic.
Sanjay means victorious or triumphant. It is the name of a royal official in the Hindu epic the ‘Mahabharata’. Ravichandran has the meaning noted in the book. Another name with a similar meaning is Aadityakumar (nickname Aadi) which was the second choice for Ravi. It means Lord of the Sun and was often given to members of the Royal families.
Hai bhagwan! Mujhe rok lo translates to ‘Oh God please stop me or stop these thoughts’. Jaaneman means ‘my lady, the love of my life’.