Another reason why I drew inspiration from the Enlightenment Era, particularly the years 1780 – 1800, is because the story is about the conflict between tradition and reinvention, and few periods of history are better examples of that. The rapidly changing fashion of the late 18th century is aesthetically pleasing to me (who doesn’t like a nice waistcoat, seriously?) and also makes for memorable visual clues to relate the period of the story. Just as the chapters telling the characters’ past adventures are written in past tense, readers will also note the presence of tricorne or “cocked” hats and breeches, where characters in the “present era” dress in top hats, cravats and trousers. These details serve the themes, guide the reader… and make the escape (for me) just a little more fun.
