Art, Murder and Science—Regency Style!

Andrea/Cara here, MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE, the second book in my Wrexford & Sloane Regency-set mystery series, releases on March 27th, (it's available for pre-order) and I thought I give you all a little backstory on what inspired the series, and on the specific theme in this upcoming book.

The series is inspired by two fascinating developments in the Regency. First is the birth of modern science in Britain—the spirit of curiosity, analytical observation and creativity. (I confess there is a certain irony about me writing about science, as the last formal class I had in the subject was ninth grade biology.) I now really regret not realizing how fascinating science is, but better late than never!

The second was the sense of camaraderie between scientists and artists during the flowering of the Romantic movement. They saw each as kindred souls, exploring the nature of life and the world around them. The Lake Poets attended scientific lectures at the Royal Institution and Percy Shelley was captivated by astronomy. In turn, Humphry Davy, the great chemist, wrote poetry. They cross-pollinated each other and helped each other see things from different perspective. I thinks it’s part of the reason for the great energy and excitement in both disciplines.

So, I’ve created two main protagonists in the series. Lord Wrexford is a bored, irascible aristocrat, but a brilliant man of science (Note that I don’t use the word scientist as that wasn’t invented until 1834.) Charlotte Sloane is a streetwise young widow who has secretly assumed the identity of her late husband and pens the most popular satirical cartoons fin London.

The pairing of Reason and Intuition has been really interesting to develop. Lord Wrexford analyses everything. Charlotte Sloane trusts her intuition. They both are very careful observers, but see things in different ways. In the first book, circumstances force them into an unwilling partnership to solve the crime. To their surprise, they come to have a grudging friendship.

In each of the books, the plot—in other words the mystery—revolves around a certain aspect of science. In MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE, it’s around how new technology is disrupting society—and how frightening it was to people.

I chose steam engines, and how they were revolutionizing mills. It starts with the murder of a genius inventor in the slums of London. The authorities dismiss it as a random robbery, but the inventor’s wife asks my hero to investigate, as she’s convinced the drawings to his latest innovation have been stolen. As the mystery unfolds, there’s a question of whether it was fringe group of Luddites (an invention on my part) trying to stop progress or a scheming rival who’s aware that a patent on a new innovation would be worth a fortune.

My use of the Luddite revolts is taken from actual history. The Luddite Movement caused great unrest in the north of England from 1811 through 1816. According to legend, Ned Ludd was a weaver who in 1779 had smashed stocking frames in protest over the new technology stealing his livelihood. Whether the story was true or not, his name became byword for the weavers and textile workers who engaged in violent protest against the machinery taking away some of their skilled jobs. It broke out in Nottingham and spread over the next few years. Workers organized in militia-like bands, drilling at night to practice well-coordinated attacks on their targets. Some mills were burned, while in others machinery and looms were smashed. The violence then began to escalate and a mill owner was killed by three Luddites.

The British government, fearful of the riots spreading, dispatched troops to quell the violence—at one point there were more soldiers fighting the Luddites than there were in the Peninsula campaign. A mass trial in 1813, which dealt out harsh punishments of death and transportation, cooled the fervor, but the unrest continued for several more years.

Lord Byron spoke out in favor of the workers, denouncing their plight in the House of Lords in 1812. “I have been in some of the most oppressed provinces of Turkey, but never, under the most despotic of infidel governments, did I behold such squalid wretchedness as I have seen since my return, in the very heart of a Christian country.”
Apparently his eloquence fell on deaf ears for Parliament passed an Act in 1812 making “machine breaking” a capital offense.

Though the Luddites are commonly thought to have been against all machines, for the most part they actually weren’t protesting “progress, but the fact that owners could hire less skilled workers (and pay them less) to run the machines. However, in time, “Luddite” has come to mean someone opposed to all progress/technology.

There are times in today’s world when I feel like a Luddites and would like to rid of some of modern technology—like cellphones on crowded trains! What about you? What piece of today’s technology would you like to see fall victim to a Luddite sledge hammer? I’ll be giving away an e-book copy of MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE to one lucky winner chosen at random from those who leave a comment here between today and Sunday evening.

Comments

[Quantum]

Back in the days of Humphrey Davey, I guess that an educated person could keep abreast of major developments in many fields. Nowadays professionals in both science and the arts, confronted by the explosion in knowledge, are forced to specialize more and more so that research teams tend to have members from a range of relevant specialisms.However as an application of Occam's razor, I think that many now look for beauty and elegance in their ideas ... an ugly theory is probably wrong whereas an elegant attractive theory may be wrong but has a much better chance of being right! So an interest in beauty pervades both science and the arts. I know several scientists with musical interests and at least one romance author with an interest in science.😉

I don't want to ban development of any technology .... it all adds to the knowledge base. I would however like to ban the application of certain technologies, especially in the weapons field. Thinking of Putin's latest pronouncement on nuclear cruise missiles or nerve agents in the Syrian war.

[Mary T]

I don't think that there is anything that I would want to take a hammer to, but I do worry about the use of some of the technology out there. Most things are a two edged sword aren't they? Just look at atomic energy. What a blessing that has been - and what a curse.

I love my computer. So much knowledge and convenience available at my fingertips. What a blessing that is to someone like me who now has a hard time getting around. Then again, there are other times when I think the computer and internet were just made for criminals and perverts. I worry especially for young people who are still gullible and haven't fully developed their socials skills yet.

[Misti]

I'm so excited for this book. I loved the first one. Sometimes I ban myself from my cell phone/ipad. It feels so good to disconnect once in a while.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Andrea, what a timely choice of your scientific theme for this book! Smashing with a hammer--the devices used by idiots who actually think that driving and texting at the same time is SANE?!!!

[Andrea Penrose]

Quantum, You're right that it's pretty much impossible to have the same breadth of scientific knowledge today as was possible in the Regency. That we know so much more is good in so many ways. But as you point out, it's also frightening. The various agents of destruction are truly terrifying, as is the fact that we depend on basic human sanity to keep from using them.

I find the gene-editing technologies like CRISPR equally frightening. Apparently it's fairly easy to alter genetic material and create new variations. It boggles the mind as to where that could lead.

On a more positive note, that's fascinating about beautiful, elegant solutions. I know mathematicians are very focused on elegant solutions, too. So interesting! And yes, it doesn't show the core commonality of creativity, whatever the disciple.

[Andrea Penrose]

So true, Mary. When used wisely, technology is a wonderful tool, and the way the internet connects us to friends and knowledge is quite wonderful. But there are of course people who use all that for ill. And young people are vulnerable because, as you say, they haven't yet learned how to be as careful as they should be in various interactions.

[Andrea Penrose]

Thanks so much, Misti!

Yes, I'm careful not to let email and the internet be too distracting, and yet there are still times when I catch myself being too compulsive. Turning off is a good reminder to not let the technology take over your life.

[Sue McCormick]

I don't object to any technology, just the uses of it that others have mentioned.

I took more science than you did (my teacher's course required it), but it didn't take. I think science is fascinating, but for some reason I have no hooks. So what I do remember from my courses, my reading (both expository and fiction) never hangs together.

[Andrea Penrose]

Ha, ha! Yes, a flying Thor-hammer to smash all cellphones of people who are texting while driving would be a Good Thing. It's really beyond comprehension that anyone would do something that insane.

[Anne Gracie]

A good friend of mine with a science bent, looking for a humanities subject to take at university (for "balance") was convinced by her student advisor to take "The History and Philosophy of Science." She loved it. "The first part is all about drains," she would rave enthusiastically, and we'd all look at her in bemusement. But it was in fact about all the innovations that happened in England in the 19th century, when they were working out ways to ensure clean water for all, and the removal of sewage, etc -- which had a HUGE impact on public health, and involved some pretty amazing engineering as well.

[Andrea Penrose]

Sue, I know what you mean. Reading about science doesn't come naturally to me—I really have too concentrate to understand even basic concepts. But I have a good friend who finds it exciting and creativity, and I've come to see it in a different perspective than when I was in school. So it's fun and challenging to try to grasp some of ideas.

[Andrea Penrose]

That's a wonderful story, Anne. The practical application of science—problem solving and making life better for many people—really can be fascinating. The history of science and medicine is becoming increasingly popular at universities here. One of the reason I love using the science themes in Regency mysteries is because there was such a flowering of science and discovery, along with a heady excitement about using it for the common good.

[Teresa Broderick]

I enjoy the technology we have today and how inventions made things easier for people, especially housewives!, but the excitement of discovering these things must have been amazing. I think that is lost today even when they do invent something new. We're so advantaged now that new inventions just seem to be accepted as the norm.
I've just finished Half Moon Gate Andrea and will be reviewing it later. Even better than the first one. Long wait now for number three:-)

[Annette N]

I am not against technology. I believe that my using a computer has made my life an adventure. Learned stuff - met people - generally love it.

But, I am against people who misuse technology. I believe people who want to interact with a phone rather than other humans are hurting themselves. And I think about hackers who have made lives absolutely horrendous.

So, technology, good, some people mis-using technology, bad. I would transport them as it used to be done, but can't think of anywhere to send them.

[Kareni]

Thanks for a fascinating post, Andrea. Like others above, I'm not ready to do away with a new development (though I do like that idea of the Thor-hammer mentioned above). Can we instead do away with the phrase "Have a good rest of your day"?

[Karin]

This post immediately made me think of Albert Einstein, who played the violin as a hobby. I wonder how many other scientists were also musicians.
Like you, Andrea, I am very leery of genetic engineering and cloning. I am also thinking of a certain Hollywood celebrity who just spent $6 million cloning her dog!

[Andrea Penrose]

Teresa, that such a good point about how used we are to amazing innovations. Advances happen so frequently now that we take them for granted—which takes some of the magic away!

Thanks SO much for your nice words on the new mystery. Am so glad you enjoyed it. Hmm, I really have to start writing faster on the third one!

[Andrea Penrose]

Ha, ha, I would love a penal colony for abusers of technology. Maybe Mars!

[Andrea Penrose]

Such an interesting point about science and music! Maybe because there's such a mathematical base to music, it has an elemental appeal.

The dog story—sigh. A lot of craziness out there.

[Nancy]

When my computer acts up or I have trouble with the internet or can't send my email, I will sometimes declare myself on the side of the Luddites. When all is going smoothly, I am grateful for the inventions that allow me to correspond with friends across the country and across the world and bring me various blogs.