As it's National Poetry Day, I thought I'd share a few thoughts on Byron. The celebrity cult of Lord Byron began while he was still alive, boomed when he died, and still continues today. He remains an object of fascination, scandal, and appeal. I've been interested in him since I first read about him in a "Famous People" encyclopaedia. It was a children's book, so it did not explore the more infamous aspects of his life. But it was enough to inspire me to delve further into research on the man and the myth - including the puzzle of the mirror . Ultimately, Byron went on to become a major inspiration for my first published book Day's Dying Glory , right down to its title. His early poems (generally my favourite ones) feature heavily in the book, and I enjoyed weaving in lines and references which Byron-fans would spot where others might not even notice them. Poets and poetry have inspired hundreds of writers. It is fascinating that language can be so power...
It's true that the title of this blog does not look like anything to do with historical fiction, but the equilibrium between wildlife and humanity was not always so precarious as it is now. Finding the balance which existed at the time you're writing can be a very useful tool to setting a believable background for your writing.
So here are a few mammal considerations...
Wild mammals were everywhere - they still are, in fact! Whether you're writing about the middle of a city or the middle of nowhere, it should be a given that these animals will influence life. As well as the obvious and frequently maligned rats and mice, other mammals have cohabited our cities with us. Foxes have always had a partially urban existence, and the building of cities on waterways also often lead to otters and (depending on how far inland they were) seals being resident.
Mankind knew how to find wild mammals - there is a continuous development in the scientific study of our wild mammals and this has left us under the misconception that people knew nothing about these animals before. This is misfounded. I remain somewhat horrified by the story of my granddad's gardener who knew exactly how and when to drop a spade so that it would kill a mole underground. I don't know if this worked every time, but it is worth remembering alongside this that molecatching was a legitimate occupation, just as ratcatching was.
Animal skins - if there is one thing for certain, it is that natural products such as wool and leather are exceptionally good at keeping you warm. In the past, before synthetic fabrics became an option, animal pelts were sought after for their warmth and pliability. Moleskin fabric today is not made from moles, but in the past when moles were viewed as pests, their pelts were very desirable. Deerskin was regularly used in garments, outnumbering bovine leather and topped only in number by sheepskin for clothing. The pelts of larger animals were also used in the creation of temporary shelters and for soft furnishings and bedding. Here in Scotland, we also have a long tradition of using badger pelts for sporrans. And let's not forget that early musical instruments with often created from animal products.
Superstitions and beliefs - of course, when you have creatures which are at once akin to us and also totally alien, there are bound to be stories. It may be familiars to witches or deities (such as hares or cats), or it may be as a symbol of a virtue or a vice (dare I mention the pivotal role of the White Hart in this?). Today, we may belittle these beliefs - though we do so through creative ignorance as greatly as scientific fact - but it is important to remember that they were firmly rooted in society at certain times during history.
This blog does not even scratch the surface of these topics, but hopefully it has given you a few things to consider so you can research them for your own settings. It will be, no doubt, one of those occasions when there are nine books and fifteen journal articles read for one throwaway remark. But let me tell you: that remark will draw readers even further into your book, making it all worthwhile.
Happy writing!
Postscript: you can find out more about National Mammal Week here, and take part on the Mammal Mapper app.
Some wild mammals from Crowvus HQ (older video footage can be found here)
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