Victorian Science Through the Female Lens
August 23, 2026 • No Comments
Mary Somerville (1780 – 1872) was a prominent mathematician and the author of several books on science that were important in their day. She was born in Scotland, largely self-educated, and rose from very modest means to play a leading role among the literati. Her writings examined everything from astronomy to the microscopic, and were aimed to synthesize and illuminate the leading concepts of the day for like-minded peers.
I had never heard of her before picking up the biography, Mary Somerville: Science, Illumination, and the Female Mind by Kathryn A. Neeley (Cambridge University Press, 2001). Somerville’s name is attached to a college in Oxford, but not to any “great discovery” that perpetuates her memory, such as Fahrenheit or Edmond Halley of comet fame.
At the height of her influence, science had not yet professionalized to the degree it would later in the Victorian period. Disciplines were not yet in silos—one could be a generalist and know a great deal about the cosmos as well as microscopy, calculus, ferns, and geology. A broad knowledge was considered best for detecting patterns in the universe and the natural laws that guided them. Science was something to discuss in salons and in correspondence, and Somerville was an outstanding networker. Many of her achievements can be traced to her skill with personal connections.
As well as a very broad acquaintance, including the Herschels of astronomy fame, Ada Lovelace, Walter Scott, and countless other notables among science and literature. In 1840, she was honored with a bust in the Royal Academy of Science for her translation and interpretation of Pierre-Simon Laplace’s mathematical tome, The Mechanism of the Heavens. It was the very first representation of a woman on the Royal Society’s premises. Not that she was admitted as a member, of course.
And there is the interesting path that Mary Somerville trod. She had as fine a mind as many of her male peers, which earned her their respect, but what is frequently mentioned in tandem with her intellect is that she did not present as a bluestocking. Instead, she was a very skilled and feminine navigator of societal norms, further blessed by a marvellously supportive husband in Dr. William Somerville (of her first spouse, Samuel Greig, little is said). However, the social delicacy that brought her freedom in life may well have contributed to the ease with which she was crowded from the stage of history. While she was far from self-effacing, she was just too normal.
I looked into Mary Somerville as research for Queen’s Tide since my protagonist, Olivia Fletcher, is also a student of mathematics. There are parallels between their lives—both Olivia and Mary balance between family obligations and the studies they love. Their worlds, however, are very different. As a result, Olivia has far more exciting adventures, while Mary Somerville led a reasonably sane life, free of ravening monsters. I’m fairly sure Mary would not mind, outside of a lingering sorrow that she never had the chance to study the Unseen.
Price of Admission
July 14, 2025 • No Comments
(From the story universe of Hellion House)
To prospective students at the University of Londria:
Thank you so much for expressing interest in attending our institution. We are more than delighted to escort you on a guided tour of the campus on Tuesday next.
Please note: since the fall of the Citadel and withdrawal of protection by the Conclave, there are changes in campus policy and practice. The tour will begin at three o’clock sharp. Please be punctual so that the tour, which is expected to take two hours, may commence and therefore conclude well before sunset. Those more than ten minutes late will be dropped from the guest list.
All college gates are closed and locked at dusk for security. Visitors are advised to clear the grounds before that time. Furthermore, visitors are encouraged to plan for emergencies, specifically defense against the Unseen. The University of Londria is not responsible for incidents of a predatory nature, so please arm accordingly.
This tour will be conducted on foot. Ladies are encouraged to dress in footwear suitable for running.
Yours most sincerely,
Bertram Miles, Esq.
Assistant Dean of Admissions
The Univeristy
The existence of Londria’s university arose organically out of the earliest books. As soon as Olivia Fletcher existed, so did her academic aspirations and therefore an institution where she could realize them.
This is a departure from the typical Victorian milieu, where the female of the species exists to cast a warm, fuzzy glow at the heart of the home and occasionally die of consumption (artistically, of course). Londria is under siege by monsters, and therefore women share in the work of survival, regardless of class.
That said, there is still pressure, in the uppermost income bracket, to devote oneself to the role of society wife. This may include promoting familial advancement through marriage, arranging salons, and designing witty canapes, which does constitute a full-time occupation even without the demands of social media. Nevertheless, everyone starts out with an education aimed toward a paid occupation. An individual with sufficient means and intelligence would attend university. For those without means but with outstanding brains, scholarships are available.
As humans rely on technology (and magic) to keep the Unseen from devouring all and sundry, the study of science and engineering receives the most attention. After all, someone has to design all those clever ray guns. Yes, there are faculties of literature and fine art, although they enjoy less emphasis. Humanity differentiates itself by the stories it tells itself and the beauty it creates, but not getting eaten is still top of the to-do list.
Campus
The university’s original buildings are old, built before the Great Disaster that occurred in late Tudor times. Clever observers recorded that was the moment everything went dreadfully awry, mostly due to dragons and other hungry monsters, and building programs were diverted to making a great big wall. Civic buildings took a back seat. Ergo, the core of the campus is medieval, much like Oxford or Cambridge, but smaller.
As Londria is a walled city, real estate is at a premium and the university aims to support itself with kitchen and rooftop gardens wherever they can be accommodated. There are limited open lawns and playing fields, and what exists is multi-purpose and carefully scheduled to maximize access. However, the span of the river safely within the city walls is popular for boating, and there is a very popular rowing club dedicated to mayhem and occasional water sports.
Buildings adjacent to the university were absorbed as the student population expanded, but with resources at a premium very little was torn down and rebuilt. One exception is purpose-built residences on site for students. In addition, faculty might reside in town or have rooms on campus. Olivia’s professors reside in Starling Hall, with their personal quarters attached to the study where they tutor students.
There is, of course, a main library as well as faculty-specific collections. However, given the cost of producing and shipping books in general, the libraries do not lend out their treasures freely. Most required reading happens on-site.
Student Life
University is (in general) the time for many young people to find mentors, lovers, and their first defining pratfalls and victories. For Olivia, the highly competitive Faculty of Mathematics offers her the environment she likes best – structured, rational, and with clear markers of achievement and hierarchy. She knows where she fits in. For the first time, she has a serious suitor and a set of friends that is uniquely her own. She exists beyond her siblings and her home.
Sadly, in Queen’s Tide, that precious structure is shattered and her inner resources are tested because, well, the plot requires blood. Authors are horrible. Readers are ravening beasts demanding trial and tribulation in the name of entertainment.
There will be a fictional characters’ union meeting shortly after the university tour, assuming anyone survives.