I always wanted to reflect the very international take on the world common in 1910, so Anna has en English mother, Christian an Italian one – and his father’s family were huguenots fleeing France. Things happen in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, England, France, New York… and Australia. This destination is really due to Kerry Greenwood, who passed last year, but I wanted to send a nod to Melbourne and surrounds, creating characters ‘doing business’ in relation to jewels and gold mines.
This of course requires some travelling between Europe and Australia but that was not an issue. Like across the Atlantic fabulous ships were being built, and the ones from the Orient Steam Navigation Company were amazing. Large, fast, luxurious taking just 40 days. Which you’ll have to take into account planning the events. No airmail yet.
In this article, Australien ABC News writes about some of the amazing ships, one of them the R.M.S. Otranto, used by Mr. Stockton-Hayes of the Plenty Ranges and Ballarat Mining Co. in his trip to Europe in ‘Across the World’. Built in 1909 as thus spanking new. Now it – and it’s later namesake – has an avenue named after it in Shoalhaven. Very appropriate.
You can read more about the Otrantos here:
http://ssmaritime.com/RMS-Otranto-1925.htm
mostly about the second one, though. Imagine having to ‘endure’ 40 days of this.
I love this kind of research, poring over maps, ocean liners, old images…