Harold Merrypenny, 1862

Harold Merrypenny, 1862

From the piles of journals Harold left behind, it is impossible to miss the fact that he considered himself a bold and fearless explorer, one who charted new frontiers and uncovered unknown lands. It is also possible to glean from those same journals that Harold was most likely a little bit insane, seeing as he spent his entire life exploring just one London neighbourhood.

Born in Camden, Harold never left those few square kilometres of cobblestone, but from the age of 17 slowly worked his way from one end of the neighbourhood to the other, taking elaborate notes and sketching numerous streetscapes in his dogeared journals. The other inhabitants of Camden considered Harold entertainment, and passersby would often request suggestions for the best pub in the far southeast corner, or inquire as to his progress that day.

Lady Curnow, 1870

Lady Curnow, 1870

One of the most feared and respected matrons of London society, Lady Curnow reigned supreme over salons and tea houses alike with her scathing glares and impressive feathered hats. It is rumoured that a chance encounter with Oscar Wilde at a ball soon before he began writing The Importance of Being Earnest led to the creation of the majestic and terrifying Lady Bracknell, a story that Lady Curnow never stopped trying to quell, for she found theatre to have an immoral atmosphere not suited to women of her stature.

Quick Detour from Victorians

See? Told you I sometimes draw portraits of Frida.

Ofelia Ortiz, 1843

Ofelia Ortiz, 1843

Ofelia was born in Barcelona, but not long after her 17th birthday moved to Paris to be more fully immersed in the artistic community of Europe. A prolific author, she wrote over 50 novels and novellas during her lifetime and was regarded as a literary genius in certain circles.

During a visit to London in 1844, Ofelia caused quite a stir when she was invited to a swanky club and spent the evening canoodling with her host's female cousin. Though the authorities passed the incident off as an unusual outpouring of female friendliness (but nothing to be worried about), Ofelia was later revealed to be a lesbian when her letters were found in a box under her bed after her death. Those who read her novels today are seldom surprised to discover her sexual orientation, as she cleverly inserted references to erotic female love throughout nearly all of her books, references that were somehow not acknowledged by her contemporaries.