Romancing the Genres: Victorian Attitudes

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Other-Abled Characters: Depression

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My personal comprehension of physical and mental "disabilities" is limited to severe chronic pain. And, understandably, the depression walking hand-in-hand with pain. Like white and milk, pain and depression are inseparable.

To compensate, I seek joy and light and laughter everywhere, including my writing. Most of my titles have a significant dollop of humor, along with essential story components like conflict.

While pain and depression are my only personal disabilities, I know a little more from close family bonds.

One beloved brother was born with a cleft lip and palate. One nephew has Down Syndrome. A sister-in-law suffered from Cystic Fibrosis (a genetic condition), as does one nephew. A former boyfriend was diabetic and required insulin by injection.

Are these defects? Are they disabilities? Is my constant state of severe pain a disability? Is it more politically correct to say conditions? Circumstances?


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I've read many well-written books with "Other-Abled Characters" that have stuck with me for years. Pamela Morsi's Simple Jess, and many "combat-modified" heroes in contemporary military romantic suspense by a handful of truly gifted writers. I still remember poignant details from Cheryl St. John's Sweet Annie--(a fictional romantic tale of a young woman in a Victorian rolling chair)...and I read the book for the first time many years ago.

I've never attempted to write a character who rivaled Morsi's unforgettable Jess--a "simple" man. "Slow", some might say. Nor have I attempted a character like Annie who many referred to as "crippled". Or worse. In today's P.C. world, numerous descriptions are inappropriate, unkind, unnecessary, limiting, and frankly--cruel. I'm grateful my mother taught me better, expected better, insisted upon better.

While researching primary sources such as Victorian American newspapers and books, I consistently encounter terms, descriptions, and word choices inappropriate in today's world.

Mower County Transcript of Lansing, Minnesota on March 1, 1877.

The realm of mental illness in Victorian America was dangerous. The condition was rife with misunderstanding, frightening and abusive "treatments", asylums that once entered became a death sentence. I've read Nellie Bly (a daredevil reporter)'s historic account of an undercover incarceration in Blackwell's Island prison/hospital for prostitutes--who must be insane, otherwise, why would they choose prostitution? (Attitudes of Victorian America--not my own.)

As an author, including a character with physical or mental challenges, conditions, or limitations in a nineteenth century setting makes for a significant challenge. How can I write an historically accurate book that includes a special needs individual, remains true to history (vocabulary, word etymology, social viewpoints), and yet is suitable for today's readers? And most importantly, embodies my personal respect for all individuals.

Precisely like the Huntsman Disability Campaign (of about 2006), I refuse to 'dis' ability.

Image: Courtesy of Pinterest.

I wrote my first "disabled" Point of View character in my new release, The Gunsmith's Bride (available only within the anthology Gunsmoke & Gingham.

The story contains a double romance as the fifty-ish couple, George Hudson and Zylphia Speare, brought together by a correspondence courtship, and the youthful would-be step-siblings Morgan Hudson and Elizabeth Louise Speare. Reviewers have indicated they like the double-romance, and the difficult (yet unsteady) Mother (and stepmother-to-be) Zylphia Speare. By today's definition, Zylphia suffers from depression and emotional instability. In addition to suffering the recent death of her beloved husband, she has yet to recover from emotional wounds sustained in childhood. Zee isn't the primary heroine and though seriously flawed, the scenes in her point of view were designed mostly to explain her reasoning, motivation, behavior, and choices that otherwise would be seen as unsympathetic.

This a nthology has been well received by readers, currently with 57 customer reviews on Amazon and an average of 4.9 stars out of 5. I'm grateful to have been included with four outstanding and highly rated authors. All titles in this set are Sweet ("Clean and Wholesome") Western Historical Romance novellas.

At the top, I shared my two most memorable reads of "other-abled" characters. Who are yours?

Hi! I'm Kristin Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author.

I write frequent articles (or view recent posts easily on my Home Page, scroll down) about the nineteenth century American West–every subject of possible interest to readers, amateur historians, authors…as all of these tidbits surfaced while researching for my books. I also blog monthly at Sweet Romance Reads, Sweet Americana Sweethearts, and Romancing the Genres.

I love to hear from readers! Please drop me a note. Or find me on Facebook.

Sweet Romance Appropriate for All Audiences

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Masks and Victorian Attitudes

by Kristin Holt

All month, Genre-istas have written about masks: insights, motivations, purposes, self-disclosures, cultural elements, and so much more. I've enjoyed broadening my horizons through the eyes of each contributor.

Several of my fellow Genre-istas mentioned masks as a self-protection of an emotional kind. Masks that safeguard and protect, hide the emotional and internal upheavals that are too private to announce. After all, so many of us have been trained from childhood to politely ask "How are you?"--and also taught that 99%+ of those who ask don't really want to know.

As I considered what, if anything, I might add to this well-developed conversation, I looked at the subject of masks through my own ever-present lens: Victorian Era. I'm forever researching nineteenth century attitudes, prevailing societal norms, etc. to ensure my fiction set in the Victorian American West is accurate. Because I write sweet romance, nineteenth century (American) courtship expectations are an ideal focus. I wasn't all that surprised to see human nature really hasn't changed--nor has the American outlook on proper length of getting-to-know-you before tying the knot. Most of all, we recognize dating/courting couples have a mask of sorts--the "dating face", "putting our best foot forward", on our best behavior and all that good stuff, to ensure we don't sabotage a new relationship before it begins.

The following true-to-history excerpt comes from Marriage and the Duties of the Marriage relations, in a Series of Six Lectures, addressed to Youth, and the Young in Married Life by George W. Quinby, published in 1852.

Beware of hasty engagements and hasty marriages... Many a young man and young woman may appear well outwardly; yea, exceedingly beautiful and captivating--especially on a slight acquaintance--while inwardly they are all rottenness and deception.

When young persons--utter strangers--are thrown together as I have described--fall in love--are hastily engaged and hastily married--how can they reasonably expect to know any thing concerning the real character and disposition of each other? Instead of this, every thing is unfavorable to such knowledge. Their courtship is brief and quite all deception. They present only the favorable side in each other's presence. They listen only to the most captivating tones--to "sweet words of undying affection;" for these only are spoken. Every look and every movement is artificial. Thus is the real character of each hidden from the other--not designedly, perhaps--and the parties are deceived.

...in nearly every instance of marriage under similar circumstances, the match proves unfortunate and very unhappy. The parties become sensible they were deceived--criminations and recriminations pass between them--quarrels ensue, and alienation and wretchedness are the consequences.

Another precaution which must be exercised by both parties, in the choice of a companion, that a correct judgement be formed, is not to rely on ball room and other deceptive appearances.

...A prettily painted "piece of artificial workmanship," elegantly dressed and moving with the grace of a sylph in the merry dance, is very fascinating... but let him be cautious. When he marries he should connect himself with a wife; this is what he needs--not a ball room automaton.

Could he follow this charming creature to the place of her abode, hear her coarse words of complaint if vexed, and witness her in the morning with disheveled hair, disordered dress, and pale, haggard, dissatisfied countenance, the golden hues of his thoughts would vanish, the palpitations of his heart cease, and every idea of matrimony be driven from his head.

The entire text is available online:

Hi! I'm Kristin Holt.

I write frequent articles (or view recent posts easily on my Home Page, scroll down) about the nineteenth century American west–every subject of possible interest to readers, amateur historians, authors…as all of these tidbits surfaced while researching for my books. I also blog monthly at Sweet Americana Sweethearts (first Friday of each month) and Romancing the Genres (third Tuesday of each Month).

I love to hear from readers! Please drop me a note. Or find me on Facebook.

Sweet Romance Appropriate for All Audiences