I first had the idea for this book many years ago when, on my way to visit my English publisher, Barry Cunningham, my family and I stopped for a few days in Salisbury.
When I stepped into the cathedral, I immediately knew I’d come to the kind of place that is unforgettable and that immediately tells you many stories. We took a tour with a German guide, and I heard about William Longspee for the first time. And the seed was sown.
I returned later to visit the Salisbury Cathedral School, for I knew that the boy who was going to be the hero of my story went to school there. I spoke with the students about their ghost stories, and they gave me a tour of the school and their favorite places. I learned about the “island,” and I saw the painting of the chorister whose ghost we meet in the school chapel. The students’ helpfulness was unbelievable, and I very much hope that the teachers and pupils of the Cathedral School won’t be upset that I took some liberties with my story. Their daily school life is definitely very different from the way I describe it here. I don’t think students keep sneaking off, as Jon has to at some point, and there is no Bonapart, only very nice teachers like Peter Smith, who helped me in every possible way.
Of course, I also visited the boardinghouse. No Popplewells there—they are my invention. There are also no ghosts standing under the windows. But should you ever visit Salisbury, I hope you’ll still find a lot of the things I’ve described.
Even the dean of the cathedral—the only woman in Britain who runs a medieval cathedral—was always ready to help, and I had the privilege of witnessing her admirable work when I attended an evensong and Easter service with my children.
I encountered the same friendliness and helpfulness in Kilmington and Lacock Abbey. I climbed the tower in which William Hartgill found refuge from Lord Stourton. I saw the cellar where the Hartgills were probably kept prisoners, and I followed Ela to Lacock Abbey.
A few words about the other Ella, who helps Jon call Longspee: After my British publisher read the manuscript for this book the first time, he called me and asked how I had come up with that wonderful girl character. I answered, “I stole her!” For Ella Littlejohn is actually Ella Wigram, the eldest daughter of Lionel Wigram, with whom I worked on the book Reckless for many years. When I found out that William Longspee had a very famous wife by the name of Ela, I thought: “Hold on, Cornelia! Why don’t you put a girl named Ella in the story, who reminds the knight of his wife?” It was, of course, a perfect coincidence that Lionel’s daughter was also called Ella, and I couldn’t have wished for a better inspiration for my character. Ella has read several versions of this story, and of course I asked for her permission before I put her into the book.
And there is another real-life inspiration for a character in this story: Wellington, the dog who distracts the guards at Stonehenge. He is based on the faithful dog companion of my friend Elinor Bagenal, and he was also asked for his permission before he was turned into a character.
And one final point: There really are ghost tours in Salisbury! How else would I have come up with the idea that that’s what Ella’s grandmother does?
So… this is my most heartfelt THANK YOU to all the lovely people in Salisbury, Kilmington, and Lacock who helped me with the story. My special thanks go to Peter Smith, Tim Tatten Brown, and June Osborne, the dean of the cathedral. I also want to thank Elinor for all the research and for introducing me to the real Wellington. Thank you again to Ella, for being such a great model for my character. And as far as Jon is concerned, my American editor told me he reminds her of a youthful version of my British agent, Andrew Nurnberg. That was not intentional, but the more I think about it… yes, there are some obvious similarities!
Warmest greetings from Los Angeles,
Cornelia