What Did Bob Know, and When Did He Know It?

[dr_pretentious]

Yes, the new Rugosa Coven story is still coming along. Alas, it won't still be called "Bob and the Black Head of Atho" when it's done. Atho's more than a McGuffin, but it would be misleading to put him in the title.

I have this exposition quandary. There are some things I read too much about when I was working on the dissertation, and now I can't tell anymore where the line is between common knowledge and esoterica. And all exposition problems are that much more embarrassing when your protagonist actually is named Bob. So, two questions:

Have you ever heard of Madame Blavatsky?

If you've heard of her, do you remember any of what you heard?

Comments

hmmm....

[leapfaith.livejournal.com]

I recall that she was a medium, a fraudulent one, if I recall correctly, and that she founded the Theosophical Society, which is a great name for an organization, sad to be associated with fraud. For some reason, I associate her name with Houdini's, but I don't recall why. And now I'm going to go look them both up...

leapfaith