Four-legged characters

As historical authors we pride ourselves on the accuracy of our research from clothes to carriages and everything in between. And not only should our characters walk, talk, dress, ride, and converse as they might have done in our chosen era, but we like their furry companions to be period-accurate as well.

For those who’ve known me for a while, or who have visited my web site, it’s no secret that I have a passion for Cavalier King Charles spaniels—although the way the breed looks today is not exactly the way it did back in the 17th century.

For a detailed history of the Cavalier King Charles, visit this link: http://www.barkbytes.com/history/cavking.htm

Charles II as a pre-breeched toddler; with Tricolor Cavalier

Cavaliers were named for England’s Charles I and II; the first half of the 17th century was sometimes known as the Cavalier era in England and France (think the Three Musketeers in thigh-high boots, wide collars, and lage-edged turned back cuffs).

Cavaliers were companion dogs, and at the time were also known as flea-catchers—attracting the icky critters themselves to spare their owners (and their bed linens, bolsters, testers, etc.) Over the ensuing centuries they became one of the breeds favored by royals as a lapdog. The aspiring classes as well were fond of Cavaliers.

In the first portrait George Romney ever painted of the teenage Emma Hamilton, she is posing as “Nature” with a Blenheim (maple brown and white markings) Cavalier. The original hangs in the Frick Museum in New York City; and for many people is their first encounter with Emma—who had a Cavalier sort of personality herself: utterly devoted, warm, cuddly, and prepared to stick like glue to her “master.”

If you've read TOO GREAT A LADY, my historical novel about Emma, you might sense that I’m as much of an Emma Hamilton devotée as I am of Cavaliers.

I even have a fairly good copy of that painting in my home office. And on my web site, I sought to recreate Romney’s “Nature” in one of the photographs. Austin, the Blenheim Cavalier in the photograph was borrowed for the photo shoot, though it remained my dream to own my very own Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I knew exactly what I’d name her, too.

During my research for ROYAL AFFAIRS, which covers several of Charles II’s dalliances, I came to admire Nell Gwyn even more than I had before I began writing about her relationship with King Charles.

Perhaps the fact that she was petite, if bosomy, redheaded actress with a huge heart and a bawdy sense of humor had something to do with it. So of course my Cavalier would be called Nell.

Here’s my Nell herself, a Tricolor Cavalier puppy. We’ll be picking her up from the breeder at the end of May. She has the same coloring as a famous royal Tricolor—the young Queen Victoria’s “Dash.” If you’ve seen the recent movie “The Young Victoria,” the dog trots away with every scene.

And in another month or so, sweet Nell will be sitting at my feet as I write.

Do any of your characters have dogs, and did you research their breed and temperament while you were writing (or already have that information) so you could suit your four-legged character (or not) to its fictional owner?

Do you like reading about, or writing about, dog-owning characters? And what depth or nuance, or even perspective, do you think it adds to a character to make them a pet owner?