Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel

[henrikegerman]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel#1

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:23pm

I've seen this many times and have never understood why it was a practice. Does anyone happen to know?

Today I came across an example in this passage from The Brothers Karamazov:

"I have an old friend, a lawyer in K. province, and I heard through a trustworthy man that if I were to go he'd give me a place as clerk in his office, so, who knows, maybe he would."

It appears to be some conventional usage and I've never been able to understand why. Here it's used in a quote, but it usually is not. It might appear to be a legal formality, but it's difficult to see how naming a locality in an innocuous context could have resulted in any exposure to legal action. Especially since I've seen it used by authors from very different countries.

In any event, I thought given the erudite folks here on bww, someone might have an explanation.

I've tried googling using various germane search terms to no avail.

Updated On: 3/15/12 at 04:23 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #2

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:42pm

I think it's a practice adopted from memoirs and the like, where it was the custom to obscure acutal names and places by using the initial (often followed by a dash), to lend verismilitude to works of fiction.








Updated On: 3/15/12 at 04:42 PM

[Mister Matt]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #2

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:46pm

I also wondered if it was a style favored during a specific period by the English that would be a result of the particular translation. For instance, in this case, perhaps it doesn't occur in the original Russian text, but only in that particular English translation as opposed to another later translation.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[Reginald Tresilian]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #3

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:48pm

English writers used it in their own books, though; Dickens and Mary Shelley, to take two examples.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #4

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:49pm

Or did you mean did only English writers do it?

I don't think so. I think it's a convention of the period more than of a particular country. I'm pretty sure French writers did it as well.

[Mister Matt]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #5

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:54pm

Yeah, I was wondering if it was a particular English style. It is interesting, however.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[henrikegerman]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #6

Posted: 3/15/12 at 4:55pm

I'm sure I've seen it used by French writers as well.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #7

Posted: 3/15/12 at 5:41pm

Here's a little article on it

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Literature-697/Dashed-Names.htm

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[henrikegerman]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #8

Posted: 3/15/12 at 5:58pm

Thanks to everyone. And thanks, Mysterious, for the informative link.

[PalJoey]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #9

Posted: 3/15/12 at 11:49pm

Perhaps it's for the same reason you call yourself henrikegerman and I call myself PalJoey. We all need a little mysteriousgrowl.

Updated On: 3/16/12 at 11:49 PM

[henrikegerman]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #10

Posted: 3/16/12 at 8:10am

^huh?

[PalJoey]

Indicating a place by an initial in 19th century novel #11

Posted: 3/16/12 at 5:43pm

It's more mysterious and intriguing with the initial, like "Madame X" rather than "Madame Curie."

Madame Curie is always going to be Madame Curie, but Madame X could be anybody.