History behind the story

Real historical characters within a paranormal romance novel

One of the questions I am often asked is how much of The Witch of Rose City is based on real history. The answer is: much more than most readers expect.

It was very important to me that real historical figures walked alongside my fictional characters. That, needless to say, required months of research. My education background is neuroscience, not history, so I had to do a lot of research before I could recreate eighteenth-century Rapperswil.

So, let’s talk about the real historical figures in The Witch of Rose City.

Sir Isaac Newton and his niece make a brief appearance through a letter Kathryn’s father sends home from Paris.

Of else, upon my arrival, I was surprised to see that Voltaire had another guest at his home, specifically the niece of one of our much-idolised scientists, who passed away three years ago, Sir Isaac Newton. His niece—your namesake, Miss Catherine Barton—proved to be a joyful character and a clever young lady, and we had a most entertaining discussion on the findings of Principles.

Did you know that Sir Newton’s idea of gravity he discusses in Principles first came to his mind when, sitting under an apple tree, an apple fell on his head? Miss Barton says it wasn’t actually on his head but next to him.

I would not think much of such an occurrence. Where else would it go?

But this is what makes extraordinary people extraordinary. They pose the obvious question.

Just like you, my Sunshine! You do the same. Pose questions about things everyone else takes for granted. I can tell you, you did not get this inquisitive mind from me.

I will stop now. It is late, and I am writing this in Café Procope (a famous place that existed in 1703 and in fact exists today!). Voltaire comes here often, but right now I am on my own. I think I am stopping them from closing. So I need to go.

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Just in case you wonder Café Procope really existed in 1730 and – it still exists today.

Other characters appear somewhat “off the pages” in a sense that we only read their letters. One of those is Voltaire, as he invites Kathryn’s father to visit him and help him devise a new lexicon.

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But the topic of my letter. The Pharmacists’ Guild. Since I long befriended Gilles-François Boulduc (a real person), I was invited to a guild gathering in Paris a fortnight ago. As my protégé Denis (Diderot, a real historical figure) and I listened to some of the presentations, I had an idea which I believe will interest you.

John Harris’s (also, a real historical figure) Lexicon Technicum, which I know you are familiar with and is of great value, focuses on terminology mainly, and the science it covers is principally mathematics. But what if one could make a lexicon—or Cyclopaedia like Chambers (again, a real historical figure) named his—to explain various descriptions from mechanics and physics, biology and chemistry, anatomy and medicine, poetry and theology?

I feel myself inadequate, both too young and yet too old to tackle such a task. Am I? In either case, none of it can be possibly made on my own. Denis advises (yes, you read correctly: my protégé is my adviser, as he is of a unique mind and will do much for the future) to gather many people who are versed in their unique knowledge, and collect the information in such a way.

Readers familiar with French history might notice another famous name in the letter (among historical figures like Gilles-François Boulduc, John Harris and Ephraim Chambers) and this is: Denis Diderot.

At the time my novel takes place he was only seventeen years old and had not yet become the driving force behind the famous Encyclopédie. Historically, he really was associated with Voltaire, although much later.

I borrowed history just a little here. Giving Diderot an earlier scientific curiosity allowed me to send Kathryn’s father to Paris—an absence that becomes crucial for the story.

Whether or not he at that time had the idea of encyclopedia - no, probably not - but to move the plot forward, I had to take Kathryn’s father away from her, so that she loses the protection she needs. And on top of that, I wanted this reason to be scientific, as it explains Kathryn’s inclination to science.

She is, after all, one of the first STEMinists :)

My second favourite historical figures were Charles the Sixth and his daughter, one to become one of the most famous queens in the history, Maria Theresia. But of course, we are dealing with 1730, and at the time Maria was 13 years old. That, actually was quite an advantage, because I needed to place some foreshadowing, not so much for the plot, but for the general concept.

You see, I wanted readers to accept the idea that a girl can disguise as a boy. In the first few chapters, Charles the Sixth with his crew of hunters is traveling incognito in what is now known as Switzerland, and with him is Maria. But a girl cannot possibly go into a hunt, so what does Charles do? He disguises her a boy, so that she can see the world from a male point of view.

Because at the time, patriarchy was strong, and women did not have many rights (and the whole situation got a lot worse before it got better!). For Charles the Sixth, knowing his daughter will most likely take over the crown as he had no male heirs, he needed to show her the word through men’s POV.

Whether he really did disguise Maria, I highly doubt it, but it fits with the continuation of my story, and it also fits with who Maria Theresa actually was in real life.

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“Father! Father!” A boy, no older than thirteen, rushes through the room, almost knocking me over as I carry the old bandages out on a tray.

Wearing hunting breeches, boots and a waistcoat, he drops his cap on the floor as he jumps onto the side of the bed and hugs the patient. The boy has a fair face, delicate features, beautiful eyes, and short but wild curly hair.

“Careful, young master, your father is recovering,” says Theodor, standing next to Charles. He’s been up all night, and I can tell he is barely awake. “His stitches might break if you—”

“Don’t scare him off like that,” Charles growls.

“Master Moser is right,” I interject. “And you too, Mr Charles. You yourself need to be careful.”

“Did you save my father?” The boy sits at the edge of the bed, but keeps his hand on his father’s rounded belly.

“I stitched the wounds, yes, but healing is something he needs to do himself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Physicians, pharmacists, we can only assist, but it’s the body itself that does the healing.”

“Hmm…” The boy puts a finger on his lips, looking away. “What an interesting concept, Father. I need to give it some thought.”

I have to smile. I would assume he is too young to conceive certain topics, but it seems he’s quite bright. Also, based on his mannerisms, his upbringing must be of high standing, which then makes me wonder about Charles. His hair is cut short, thin and flat. It’s the type I have seen on both women and men who wear wigs frequently. That too would suggest his standing is high. But the only thing his group of hunters gave me was his first name, as if he is just one of my neighbours I see each day.

“I’d say Miss Kathryn—may I call you Kathryn?—did much more than just stitch me up. Right, Tess?” says Charles, placing a hand on his son’s back and looking at him with utter adoration.

“What do you mean, Father?”

I tighten my grip on the tray. What does he mean?

“I would say there were some divine forces in action last night.”

I swallow. “Well, Mr Charles, we were all praying for your well-being. Of course there were divine forces in action. The Lord helped you. That is why you are so much better.”

He regards me with one eyebrow raised. Then after a moment, he looks back at Tess. “God indeed helped me. But I think you, Miss Kathryn, have a way to—how should I say—bring God closer to a mortal man than many clergy can.”

“I really don’t think I did anything special…”

“You, Miss Kathryn, have healing hands.”

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Before I talk about the last one of my historical figures, here are some honourable mentions:

Johann Heinrich Ulrich was the deacon of the Fraumünster in Zürich, well-educated and open-minded, he was the kind of person Johann Jäger, our main protagonist, would trust to leave Kathryn in his care.

However.

Ulrich died only a few months prior (September 1730), but Johann never found out, so when he left Kathryn in Fraumunster thinking she was safe, he in fact left her in care of another, not so well-meaning and open-minded new deacon.

I am sorry deacon Ulrich died, but it turned out perfect for my story, because Kathryn was now back in peril!

The Bailiff of the Castle Lenzburg was a person called Daniel Stürler. He indeed held the position of a Castle’s bailiff from 1728 to 1732. But his appearance, his life story and in fact, whole of his demeanor, was made up. He was one of the characters I did not expect and he literally jumped into my book. And I loved him for it, because, he spoke and behaved unlike any character I would write consciously. He was my Muse character.

And now, the last spot on the real historical figures list is actually not a nice guy at all. Sir Isaac Newton described him as a “a villain and rascal” and “a very tricking fellow”,which was perfect because what I wanted him to show and to embody was the deeply patriarchal attitudes of the time.

In the beginning of the book, Kathryn writes a letter to the Royal Society of London with application to publish her scientific article in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Her premises is about pathogenic bacteria and the scientific points she mentions are her observations (which are basically copy/paste of those Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, bring to public awareness some 100 years later).

To Kathryn’s letter Dr Hans Sloane replies the following:

Dear Miss Kathryn Walder,

Thank you for contacting the Royal Society of London.

We much appreciate that the work of our associated scientists brings you more insight. We have looked closely into your suggestions, but unfortunately see no clear evidence in your premise. The existence of animalcules has already been shown by Mr Leeuwenhoek. The potential possibility that the animalcules are the cause of sepsis or gangrene, and are somehow present in surgery and operating rooms, lacks any scientific proof. Furthermore, it contradicts with practices of hundreds of physicians who have performed surgery, who regularly ventilate their wards to expel bad air.

Additionally, your suggestion of treating surgical materials with boiling water which would prevent sepsis as you claim, has never been described by our associated scientists and lacks all reasoning.

We appreciate that you took time away from your womanly duties to think about this complicated subject. May I suggest, Miss Walder, to leave the pharmacy and particularly surgery to educated men, and entertain yourself with embroidery and drawing, as I can tell you have mastered the pen very well. You might also find that raising children could resonate well with your person.

On behalf of the Royal Society of London

Doctor Hans Sloane

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The reply Hans Sloane wrote to Kathryn was amazing fun to write! And with Isaac Newton’s blessing, I don’t think I was too far off, either.

Next time, instead of people, we’ll talk about places, because those were very different from what we see today, though Rapperswil – the real Rose City - preserved that old city charm beautifully.