The article discusses the story "The Queen of Bad Influences," focusing on Constance, a young woman navigating adulthood in 1913 Gloucestershire. The author expresses interest in the era's strong cultural norms and examines how these reflect on individual behaviors, particularly self-censorship. Inspired by Margaret Haig Thomas' memoir, the character's journey reflects themes of overcoming social anxiety and finding one's voice. The author’s attraction to Edwardian England stems from a nostalgia for a time when societal agreements defined personal conduct, even as they imposed restrictions.
"As our sense of norms and national unity have disintegrated, I've become more fascinated with those historical cultures in which both were strong, if not so strong as to often seem oppressive."
"Margaret's life became an inspiration for many aspects of my protagonist's, especially when it came to the notion of a paralyzing shyness that someone of sufficient inner resources might overcome to succeed as a social being."
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