"The Tiffany problem" Topic

The "Tiffany Problem" is an expression coined by the fantasy writer Jo Walton.

It describes "the tension between historical fact and the popular perception of history". In other words, it's when a writer who has done painstaking research puts historically correct information into a novel, and readers complain that they've got it wrong, just because it looks wrong, when it's actually right.

The titular example is the female name Tiffany which is an attested C12th name: a foreshortening of Theophania. However, if you wrote early medieval historical fiction & named a character Tiffany, your readership would either howl with laughter or rage.

Can you think of other examples?

One example might be the Greek Heron's discovery & construction of the bladeless radial steam turbine the C1st AD. No, surely not…..

Had an excellent show on the discovery channel about Heron's works using water and steam. My favorite was a set of doors in a temple that would open when a fire was started in a fire box and would close when the fire was put out.

If you have the facts I would not worry if someone disputes you. Quote the facts and your sources and if they dispute you then ask them what is their source.

That's why many authors now put notes at the end of the book to explain these inclusions. Often a great source of unexpected information.

I'd still query actually using 'Tiffany' in a novel though. True or not, it would still jar, and isn't actually necessary. Now having an unlikely invention as a plot point is another matter.

The only thing I can add is through the magic of Google. The modern spelling of Tiffany did not occur until 1600. The medieval spelling would be Old French Tifinie, which would probably raise less eyebrows than using the present spelling several centuries out of time. The Greek shortening of the name was Phani.

Encountered a similar attitude from two editors about my Civil War historical fantasy. It was based on an ancillary Union raid of a small town near a battle in Alabama. My editors "didn't believe" that no Confederate troops would have been present to guard the town. I told my agent to tell them to take it up with Nathan Bedford Forrest, because he hadn't sent any troops there.

+1 for Parzival!
Jim

Recent use of the term "Me109'. It's true that Bf109 is correct however if you have Allied pilots talking about it they would call them Mes. You'll see wargamers refer to Wolverines and Jacksons when their crews would call the M10s and M36s.

I myself dont't have the talent, but I would like to see an alternate history novel based on the Romans putting Heron's work to practical use. Ancient steampunk! Maybe GASLIGHT could do a supplement.