But that's what differentiates her real world from the world of the romantic historical novel, isn't it? Women of her class were completely unable to do anything much about their situation. The thought of running off to sea would no more enter their heads than joining the army.
I admit there were women who ended up at sea, or actually put on breeches and joined the army, but they weren't the type of women who would write novels!
The mind set that makes us feel "I couldn't have lived in that time" is because we are modern women in the 21st century. Take us through time and dump us in muslim and a poke bonnet and bung needlework in our hands then we'd last about five minutes. But if you were raised as a gentlewoman, born in 1803, then you would be a completely different person.
To her, writing about Elizabeth's "exploits" were to her, as much fantasy as it would be to me writing about going to the moon. I COULD go to the moon, but it's very unlikely.
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I admit there were women who ended up at sea, or actually put on breeches and joined the army, but they weren't the type of women who would write novels!
The mind set that makes us feel "I couldn't have lived in that time" is because we are modern women in the 21st century. Take us through time and dump us in muslim and a poke bonnet and bung needlework in our hands then we'd last about five minutes. But if you were raised as a gentlewoman, born in 1803, then you would be a completely different person.
To her, writing about Elizabeth's "exploits" were to her, as much fantasy as it would be to me writing about going to the moon. I COULD go to the moon, but it's very unlikely.