Q: Can you give us more hints?
A: Look for: titles of books, famous people, literary or other and, my favourite bits… do you know what a tableau is?
Q: Explain… for the audience.
A: In Victorian times a group would get together and re-enact a painting.
Q: A Painting?
A: Like the Charge of the Light Brigade. With costumes and props they’d pose and recreate the art in 3D. Living 3D.
Q: No TV back in those days.
A: So, hint: Look for three times when the scene is a re-enactment of a famous piece of art. I feel that some readers would never notice them unless they knew there was something to look for.
Q: Look for a…
A: You’re reading along… I nude guy is described. He’s in a crouched position, fist to his chin and a deep expression on his face.
Q: The Thinker.
A: So now you know what to look for. That one’s not in the book, but I’ve seen it on TV many times. We all see them though sometimes only subliminally.
Q: Subliminally like the sex?
A: Yes, Victorian sex. No overt activity could be described. It’s all suggested. Except for that one time when…
Q: No spoilers.
A: No dirty language, either. I use the word bitch once, but in reference to a female dog. It’s all just suggested. If you hear it or see it, it’s from your own mind. Your own dirty mind.
Q: I must have a dirty mind ‘cause I swear I saw some... well you know.
A: Did you notice the opposites? Maybe I shouldn’t give that away.
Q: Oh, come on, give it.
A: It works on two levels. When Harker travels to
Then there is the deeper level… the Victorian concept of Topsy-Turvy. When up is down. When the sinners are virtuous and the virtuous, sinners. When the lunatics run the asylum.
