The Edwardian Era: The Setting of "A Castle in the Sky"

A Castle in the Sky begins in 1915 and ends in 1916. I don't think I intentionally chose this era, even though I do admire this time period. I don't know if I was thinking about Downton Abbey, since that is one of my favorite shows, which is entirely possible. I can just remember that I wanted to write a story about someone who spontaneously left the only home they had ever known, and I knew I wanted it to be historical. Whatever the reason for choosing the Edwardian era, it was a blessing, and I'm very glad I wrote about the 1910s.

The 1910s were a very elegant time. I love the clothing styles for both men and women, the cars were nice to look at. There was just a different sort of air about the 1910s that you don't get from modern time periods. But there were also some serious things going on in the Edwardian era. In 1912, the Titanic sank, shaking the whole world. People were terrified of travel after a ship once thought to be unsinkable crashed into a glacier and killed hundreds of people. Then, four years later, World War I broke out. Millions lost their lives and loved ones all across the world. This era caused quite a bit of sadness for the people living in it, but there were also many great things taking place in the 1910s. The suffragette movement had been going for quite a while, yet it was gaining more speed in the 1910s. Women were gaining more rights. Though they weren't allowed to vote during the years that A Castle in the Sky takes place, they were not far from it. In 1919, the 19th amendment was instated. And aside from social changes, more modern conveniences were becoming more common. Wealthier families were buying automobiles and putting electricity in their homes. Telephones were much more common than they had been previously. A lot of progress took place in the 1910s.

I wanted to take a little time to talk about the clothes. Abi is definitely not a girl who fixes her mind on fashion, though I do feel that the dress of the time was very elegant. Evening gowns had a more square shape and higher neckline than the infamous Victorian frocks, though they weren't as straight as the dresses of the twenties. Tiny waists were the fashion, and tight corsets were key in achieving this look. During the day women wore blouses and skirts, and when going out for walks and errands they wore day suits. Men usually wore dinner jackets with tails and trousers for dinners and waistcoats with button down shirts and trousers during the day.

I love the 1910s. It's just a neat period in time. I hope you enjoyed this post about the Edwardian era. Come back tomorrow to read about the message of A Castle in the Sky.

-Miranda Atchley