Now that I’ve
changed the title of my book and this blog it seems appropriate to focus on Clara
a little.
I’ve met her before,
of course. She built the house on Schellberg Street and offered sanctuary to
the “Hilfsklasse” roughly translated, “Special Class” in The House on Schellberg Street. In the strand about this in that novel
she appears as a feisty young-at-heart old lady and we have some anecdotal
evidence that that she was an optimistic, glass-half-full type of person. I’ve
painted her thus and also given her a wicked sense of humour.
The more I work on
these stories, the more I am convinced that the Loewenthal-Lehrs-Edler women
were truly remarkable. In Clara’s Story I’m
having to provide a few reasons why Clara becomes the remarkable woman that she
appears to me. She was a Jewish girl in the late 19th century. She
marries and has her first two children before the 20th century
begins. She brings up three children. Her
husband dies too early, at the age of 56. She starts a career five years later at
the age of 54. Ah! Now then, there’s something I can relate to. I too had a massive career change at the age
of 55.
At the moment she
still feels a little elusive to me. She needs some more work. Is this because for
the first time I have an adult protagonist? Shouldn’t it be easier because we’re
roughly the same age? Or is it because she is from so long ago? The House on Schellberg Street made me
understand the 1940s quite well. Now I’m having to learn the years between 1871
and 1939 as well. The main story takes place between 1918 and 1942 but I’m
finding I need more and more back story. I’m 22,000 words in and have just reached
1923 but realise I must add in at least a couple of World War 1 scenes.
The research is
fascinating though it’s important not to let it interfere with the writing. It must
be a supplementary activity. I still find actually writing uncovers some detail
about Clara’s psyche and motivations.
I am so glad to
have permission to work on this fascinating subject.
No comments:
Post a Comment