The Dawning of the Tudors - interview with novelist Barbara Gaskell Danvil

Morning, commies!

Say hello to Barbara Gaskell Danvil, an avid world traveller and fellow historical novelist with a focus on the late Middle Ages.  Today she joins us to discuss her cross-genre mystery novels set in 15^th century England.

MJN: You were born in England and have lived in various parts of Europe before settling in Australia, and yet your novels are set in your native England. You speak Italian as well.  Here's something I lifted from your site, "You cannot be a minimalist in Italian."  My creative writing professor kept saying "English is the diction of fiction. Use harsh, terse Anglo-Saxon words as much as you can. Avoid words with Latin root."

BGD: It is a hot Australian afternoon and the cicadas are calling so loudly, that I cannot hear the music CD I’m playing. The warm breeze through the open window carries a gentle waft of perfume from the garden; lilac blossom, rich jasmine scents, and the first sweet aroma from the rose bushes. And yet, snuggled warm in my head are the smells of medieval London, the harsh echo of footsteps across the wet cobbles, the flickering suggestion of an oil lamp from behind a casement window, and the sound of the last bell tolling from St. Martin-le-Grand, announcing the closure of the city gates for the night.

So my imagination is firmly glued to old London, and I can see those streets in my head. I dream of them, I walk them, I smell them. It is instinctive for me to set my novels there, against a background I know just as well as the rolling country scenery through my big bright Australian window.

I agree with your professor. The English language combines the fluid beauty of Latin-based emotion, with the opposing beauty of stark Anglo-Saxon practicality. That suits me just fine. I can use both, and appreciate those diverse extremes, for that, to me, is how the history of the British people came into being.

MJN: I personally separate the Late Middle Ages into before the discovery of the New World and after. Blessop's Wife is set in 1480s, at the tail end of that "before 1492" era. It was a time of technological and ideological turnover, with the introduction and popularization of the printing press. Can you tell us about some of the revolutionary movements that were happening in Europe at that time?

BGD: The true Renaissance of great art and the adoption of realism and perspective in panting, was taking place in Italy at that time, whereas France was fairly stuck in the business of international intrigue and domestic dominance, and Spain was getting rid of the Moors and developing the religious intolerance of the Inquisition. England was expanding her international trade, the swell of prosperity and the rising comfort of the new middle classes. Elements of the Renaissance brought waves of enlightened thinking into England at that same time, with a new recognition of justice, moving ever further and further away from the old outworn system of medieval feudalism. It was an exciting and inspirational time worldwide, but I believe your own example of the printing press was the most exciting of all. It changed everything. That influence spread far and wide. Personal education became possible, mass availability of knowledge was born, and the striking beauty of the book became a widely accepted delight. Previously books had been principally (although not exclusively) religious, and extremely expensive. Only the titled wealthy could afford such luxuries. But Caxton’s invention gradually brought books within the reach of many, and fiction such as King Arthur, the Green Knight, and Chaucer, could be enjoyed by ordinary folk. The growth which sprang from this was huge and exciting.

MJN:  It's no secret that English in the 15th century was different from contemporary English, but not to the point of being unrecognizable.  This is not the English of Chaucer, but it's not Elizabethean either.  When you write dialogue, do you ever face the dilemma of whether make the language historically accurate or translate the content into something more contemporary?

BGD: This is an interesting question – but a little hard to answer without becoming too dull and detailed. The fact is – although (exactly as you’ve pointed out) the language of the late 15^th century was not as different from our own as Chaucer’s delicious follies, – if I truly wrote dialogue as it would actually have been spoken, then very few readers would find it an easy or entertaining read. A major translation into understandable modern English is essential for simple comprehension.

Some nod to the era should be included, but I dislike the artificial ignorance of unnecessary ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ usage so I make every attempt to avoid any ‘historical pretence’ in dialogue. My characters therefore speak basic English – but there’s a ‘but’! I also very strictly omit any modern slang, Americanisms, references to modern jargon concerning scientific knowledge, psychology or other subjects which would certainly not have existed back then, and even avoid words which sound particularly out of place with this era of history. It’s a personal choice. I do sometimes include 15^th century words when they seem appropriate. Like most authors of historical fiction, I have my favourites. Yet my dialogue may seem too modern to some readers, even though they wouldn’t understand it if I wrote in accurate 15^th century English.

So the question is whether to modernise entirely – partially – just a little – or go all the way!

In the end my choice is to concentrate on characterisation itself and therefore the dialogue is a way of individualising each one, and that actually rules my writing far more than the historical era.

MJN: Your novels can be described as cross-genre. They contain elements of adventure/action as well as romance. Some publishers are looking for manuscripts in which one element prevails, which makes them easier to market. Personally, I think that the elements feed from each other.  Wherever you have adventure, you are going to have romance.

BGD: Thanks, Marina, and I agree. When my novels were published in Australia by the major publishing house Simon & Schuster, they were marketed as historical fiction, but the covers were somewhat over-romantic. I had no complaints, but I do wonder if avid readers of romance might find my books somewhat more adventurous than expected. I am fascinated by history and I sink myself into the past as I write. Romance is an important theme in every novel, but it cannot stand alone. My characters lead varied and dangerous lives, they interact with the tumultuous historical events of the period, and they overcome many obstacles before they can pursue the romance of their choice. My books tend to be longer than most, covering this multi-faceted genre, and I keep a fast pace. That means more than simple sweet romance alone. I think you are quite correct to say that adventure and romance feed from each other. After all, even in my own life I have found that romance is the greatest adventure of all.

MJN: Let's talk about the covers.  All three novels feature the same background image and the same branch in the foreground. Based on the varying condition of the foliage, I assume you meant to indicate various seasons? Do you intend to have your novels perceived as a series?

BGD: What an interesting idea. Thanks, Marina. Actually although my covers follow a similar theme, it is not the seasons that inspires them, but my own belief in the great family tree of humanity. One small branch combines my covers, but this represents the tiniest limb of our combined inheritance from the past. I see history as the foundation of all our lives. Hence the reaching fingers of the tree.

My novels all tend to be set in England during the latter half of the 15^th century during the reigns of Edward IV, Richard III, and on into the dawning of the Tudor dynasty. However, the stories and characters are entirely separate and only references to the genuine historical characters occur in more than one book. My fictional characters are all quite different.

Not a series then. But certainly there are sufficient similarities of background and genre, and so I hope anyone reading and enjoying one of my books would also enjoy the others.

I have a new historical fiction due to be published early in December and I’ll follow the same basic cover design with that too – I love getting into the details of those designs.

Thanks for talking to me about my work, Marina. It’s been most interesting. My inspiration continues uninterrupted and as long as it does, I shall continue to write. My three published novels are now available worldwide in both printed paperbacks and digital ebooks, all on Amazon, and my next book will be out soon.