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

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

She includes lots of things that would be common knowledge amongst those of us keen on Victoriana; would that translate to a wider audience? I don't know. But my Big Assumption is that, if you write the story, it will find its audience - and some of them will get the subtleties and some won't, and that's OK.