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

I've finished the 'special author study' of my Creative Writing Programme and completed my assignment. (My son thinks it very funny that Mum is having to do assignments.) So what did I learn from Rose Tremain's Trespass?

Firstly, that the book has a plot and a sub-plot, and they both form triangles. The book actually starts with a minor character, a young girl, who wanders off from a school picnic and finds a stream. She follows the stream until she finds a pool, but in the pool, she finds something that so alarms her that she screams. This scene belongs, chronologically, late in the story, but it's obviously put here to create suspense.

It's in the second chapter that we meet the protagonist, Anthony Verey, who is a disillusioned London antique dealer. The sub-plot opens when he decides to visit his sister, Veronica, who lives in the south of France. Veronica has a friend, Kitty, who doesn't like Anthony and tensions develop between the three.

The main plot involves an old house, the Mas Lunel, which belongs to Aramon, who is an alcoholic. He has decided to sell the house, and Anthony wants to buy it. However, Aramon's sister, Audrun has deep-seated reasons for hating her brother, and for wanting to stop the sale.

I was interested in the way Rose Tremain introduces her characters. The second chapter opens with a description of a tapestry in Anthony's shop, which is his favourite object. We learn that he has come to love furnishings more than people, but his business is failing.

The tapestry depicts a group of aristocrats sitting in an idyllic landscape, and servants bringing them food. However, in the bushes, an old woman is leering at them. She is a reminder of death, a link to Audrun, and one of many images of corruption and damage.

In the third chapter, we meet Audrun, who is walking in her wood. We learn that this is her special place and that she places great value on the land and her place in it.

Rose Tremain follows up these introductions to her characters with detailed back story. However, I think I would find this impossible to replicate. Although I have written little biographies of my characters, detailed back story seems to involve an amount of research and invention that I haven't attempted before.

Hullo mvp!

Worlds within worlds, here presented! All new worlds for me. Awesome in fact. Thanks for the insights into the world of the writer.

Detailed back stories of characters???? What?? And then of course these back stories have to be convincing and consistent. Are you not going to give it a go? Bet you do. heheh. Go on, give it a go. I will send you coffee. . .

How long did it take Rose Tremain to write Trespass, I wonder? Like, including all the research and preparation and everything.

Awesome.

Hello, cactuscafe. Nice to see you . I thought you'd gone off to regather your energies.

I haven't discovered how long it took Rose Tremain to write 'Trespass'. However, she does know France. Although she was born in England, she was educated at the Sorbonne.

Thanks for the . I shall keep plodding on with my story for the time being, doing bits of research as best I can.