I'm working on expanding a short story I wrote into a novel, and have decided to move the first part of the action to London. My main male character is American and I need a compelling reason for him to be in London in the first place.
He's with friends a doctor and his wife. Dr. Weiss' presence in London is easy enough to explain away (he's come to visit another doctor/one of the medical schools), but my MC, Francis, is a little harder. How plausible would it be for a late-twenties single man to travel with a 40-something doctor and his wife? If it's not very common, what are some convincing reasons he would be in London? I can be very flexible.
Also, while Francis is in London he's going to fall in love with and marry my main female character, Charlotte. Her father is solidly middle class (I was considering the position of a senior clerk at a bank for him). Would her parents allow her to marry and American and move so far away from home? Also, would a relatively short engagement/quick wedding before Francis and the Weiss are set to return to American be allowable, or would the Americans have to delay their return?
How quickly could tickets for boat passage across the Atlantic be purchased?
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51,859 / 50,000
Mar 17, 2008 - 10 01
Hmmm. As for travelling with the doctor and his wife, how about him being some kind of relative of either husband or wife? Wanting to visit some relatives of his in England and, upon hearing that they'll go, he decides to go along (it's nicer to have company during the passage)? He's a lawyer who needs to sort out some legal business for a client of his (inheritance matters for example)? A businessman who wants to expand his business / become acquainted with possible business partners?
The young woman's parents wouldn't be all that happy at first, maybe, not so much because he's American but because they don't really know him / his family and aren't likely to find out much about him. There might be some distrust because of that - "What if he's already got a wife? What if he's a criminal? What if..." etc. Of course he'd be able to convince them in the end. Especially if he's well to do (and I suppose he is or he wouldn't be able to travel to England and back) they might accept him in the end. A good (read: rich) husband was what every parent wanted for their daughters back then.
A relatively short engagement wouldn't be a problem, I think - especially considering their circumstances (the bridegroom having to go back to the States soon).
Maybe he bought his ticket for the boat passage in advance? No idea how long it would take him to get another one for his wife though; maybe not all that long.
50,588 / 50,000
Mar 18, 2008 - 14 50
It would be entirely commonplace for a well off young American to travel to London in the 19th century. This was part of the Grand Tour, without which no education was complete. You'd just have to explain away why he doesn't continue on to Paris, Venice, Rome... Maybe his infatuation with the FMC.
As for the young woman's parents, they would of course hire a private detective to do a background check on the prospective son-in-law. Also entirely commonplace for the time and place in society.