I am writing the first draft of a novel (historical fiction) set in the late Victorian era between England and France. As I live and work in Japan, however, my research scope is limited to Google and the Book Depository/Amazon.jp.
The British Library recently launched a fantastic "Romantics and Victorians" feature (http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians) on their website. While this archive has been quite fascinating in its own right and an immense help, I would like to ask fellow historical fiction writers where else I might conduct research. Any free online newspaper archives from the era would be highly appreciated, too.
Also, and though it isn't research as such, I often use the Online Etymology Dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php) in addition to the Oxford/Collins/Cambridge Dictionaries to check up on word usage/anachronisms. Are there other resources like this online that would prove useful?
Thank you very much for your suggestions.
Jonathan:
I do not plan on bringing any military conflict or personnel into my novel, but that forum is a great source for anyone else writing about the same period who happens to read this post. That being said, one can never read up on too much history, military or otherwise. :)
I knew about Victorian Web, but again, I'm sure other writers will benefit from your suggestion. Thank you.
Katie:
I might have to take down A Tale of Two Cities from the shelf again! Thank you for reminding me of Dickens. Thank you for the other book recommendations too.
At UK Press Online I randomly entered my birthday for the year 1886 in the keyword search and brought up a dozen or so pages, but it seems I will need to register to be able to access the results. Still, the site looks quite promising!
My novel is set between about 1885–1890. One particular area that I have been having trouble with is the price of goods and services. For example, how much would it cost for two people to take a hansom cab one mile, as opposed to ten? How much for a second-class ticket on the steamer from Dover to Calais? How much would a governess make working at the estate of a well-to-do family? Even just the price of daily goods seems to depend on the area. Would a shank of lamb be cheaper in the countryside than London? I have a lot of questions like these, but if anyone knows of some good sources or guides, that would be really helpful.
I only really know about England I'm afraid but Charles Dickens 'A Tale of Two Cities' would be a good starting point for between the two. The rest of Dicken's London books will be useful too.
For newspapers try www.ukpressonline.co.uk
If you go to findmypast you can find the 1881 and 1891 census reports
Charles Booth poverty reports are quite useful too.
http://booth.lse.ac.uk/
In terms of books try Round About a Pound a Week, Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor, and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.
A lot of those are about social reform in London, mostly because that's the late victorian I know. If you let me know what in particular you're looking for I might remember something else!
Bit out of my period, and may be too military biased for you, but try:
http://www.victorianwars.com/ - Forum-based site but loads of information listed by date/conflict
http://www.victorianweb.org/index.html - More general info.
Best of luck :)