h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm sure he's mentioned Victorian London and 1920s New York as both being inspirations. I'd need to look that up. I *think* it's in The Art of Discworld, which I'll examine over the weekend.

TRiG.

'Vetinari' is, of course, a play on 'Medici',so there's definitely a hint of Italian city state there. The twin settlements of Ankh and Morpork echo Buda and Pest, although they could also be London and Southwark. Many of the street names definitely sound very much like London, too.

Come to think of it, Londoners have elected Mad Lord Snapcase as mayor...

I think Hide Park and Hyde Park are spookily similar.

>>'Vetinari' is, of course, a play on 'Medici'<<

It is nearly seven years since I first read a Discworld novel, and I have never made that connection. Thanks for enlightening me

AM streets that sound like London streets - I have often wondered about Treacle Mine street. Is there any pendant in London?

I tried to find out whether any real cities have a tower of art. Leeds was the only one. I don't know if it was an inspiration for the one in Ankh-Morpork.

But isn't it the Tower of London? Doesn't the Tower of Arts also have ravens or something?

I read somewhere that Ankh-Morpork is a mix of London, Prague and Budapest.

London, Prague, and Budapest? Somehow, I suddenly have a yen for some goulash.

Treacle Mine Street is surely a reference to the famous treacle mines of Knotty Ash?

Noggin

Whenever I read about Pseudopolis Yard, I have a feeling that it seems familiar. Is Persepolis Yard a real place in London?

It's Scotland Yard, that's why the police station is there.

Pseudopolis = Scotland

Klatsch = France

Überwald = Germany

There's probably loads I haven't worked out.

Klatch is somewhere in the Middle East, possibly the whole region. Quirm is France.

It's the mountain regions that get confusing.

Some are like the dark black forests of Bavaria

and Transylvania

and some more remindful of Tibet.

The topography described in the Tiffany Achiing books is more
readily identified as the chalk hills of southeast England in spite
of its resident WeeFreeMen who are more Highlandish.



~jwf~

there's Four Ecks isn't there?

And Howonderland (sp?) - where is that supposed to be?

Howondaland makes me think of Heart of Darkness Congo.

Yes, the Howonderland is Africa.

Klatsch = France [TC]

Quirm is France. [Fords]

I assumed that Lancre was France. The Ephebians seem to resemble the Greeks, while the Djelibehbis seem to be Egypt. I have a detailed map of Discworld, but have never been able to locate Quirm on it. Also, if Quirm is supposed to be France, then what was Leonard of Quirm doing there? He seems the equivalent of Leonardo da Vince, who was clearly Italian.

If you have the same map that I have Quirm has number 24. It's a bit north of A-M, at the Circle Sea.

Alright then, Quirm is France/Italy

I always thought Lancre was the West Country of England, especially as they all have oo arr gerroff moi laaaaaand accents in the Wyrd Sisters animation.