Victoriana

Chiang’s storytelling is rooted in age-old tropes and references — the Old Testament, golems, Victoriana, high school algebra.

His walls are lined with shelves of well-thumbed books, from his childhood comic collection to reference works on art and anthropology, Victoriana and zoology.

Waddington knew her Victoriana; she spent years working in a costume house, specializing in archival ladies fashion.

The town has become a magnet for goths who express themselves in extravagant outfits inspired by Victoriana.

He also struck up an unlikely, but long lasting friendship with the Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman, with whom he shared a passion for both Victoriana and for Cornwall.