Posted by Peter H on May 20, 2005 at 20:09:19 from 81.151.73.41 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Did really meet 'Peggy'? posted by Jock on May 20, 2005 at 00:13:21:
No, not a '100% hit' - but I'd say an 90% one. The point about the Smith sisters is that as young girls they met AR quite often, they sailed on the lake and they were 'tomboyish'. Their brother Rawdon was a ringer for Dick Callum. Their cousin, Emma Holt, is accepted as the main part of the inspiration for the Great Aunt. I would have thought in the circumstances it was reasonable to assume that Pauline Marshall (nee Smith) and her sister were an ingredient in the 'Nancy and Peggy' confection.
Of course, if you are determined to find alternatives, there are ones to equal Iain Hobbs's rather unconvincing suggestion. What about Dorita Fairlie Bruce's characters 'Nancy Caird' and 'Desda Blackett' (yes, Blackett!) (see, if you are a TARS member, Mixed Moss, Winter 2000); or the real life Elisabeth and Anne Blackett (Mixed Moss, Summer 1998, p 41). I agree with the view that writers will combine real life characters or borrow characteristics from them to make up a fictional character which suits their stories. Perhaps there is no absoloutely definitive Amazon, but as far as I can see, Pauline Marshall has ample justification in claiming to be 'Peggy' and good luck to her.