From: mbottorff@lshelby.com   
      
   A. Tina Hall  wrote:   
      
      
   > > Except that "Mr Stranger" would look entirely out of place when   
   > > almost everyone else in the book is a Herr Brinker and a Herr Schmidt   
   > > and so forth, (and the one who isn't is very nearly a M. d'Artagnan)   
   > > and the character isn't English, and my heroine isn't trying to   
   > > suggest that he is, and she isn't English herself.   
   >   
   > Hm. Now I wonder why 'Herr' and not 'Mr.'.   
      
   To help create the feeling of being somewhere else.   
      
   Not that it would help YOU get that feeling, of course, but I tend to   
   assume that most of the readers of my books will be living in English   
   speaking countries, and this is a little reminder that the characters   
   are actually supposed to be in Germany speaking German.   
      
      
   > But this has me think of a possible term for you: der Herr. (Means "the   
   > man", not "the lord" (so, no noble title needed), unless the person is   
   > religious and talking about their god - you won't find this use outside   
   > that kind of subject.   
   >   
   > And it's possible to us it directly addressing the guy, and also do an   
   > extra snarky "der werte Herr" (werte is short for verehrte, I think,   
   > honoured, revered). (The snarky interpretation might be modern, though.   
   > Imagine a mother asking her son "Wann wird denn der Herr sein Zimmer   
   > aufraeumen?" - "Now, when will der Herr tidy his room?")   
      
   Cool!  Thank you!   
   I have saved your message for later reference.   
   >   
   > Plus, it's a bit old, though I don't know from when, maybe Brian has   
   > better terminology and times for it.   
      
   If he doesn't speak up, I'll assume it's okay.   
      
   I'm not planning being strictly period with the English anyway.   I just   
   like to avoid things that scream "Modern!!!!!".  As a reader, I find   
   them distracting.   
      
   >   
   > > So I think it should be "Haven't we already met, Herr Fremder?"   
   > > <...>That sort of thing?   
   >   
   > I think it needs a differnt term. :)   
      
   I believe you.   
      
   >   
   > With der Herr, Herr Fremder here would be replaced with mein Herr (mein   
   > means mine). I'm not sure how well that would fit into the time, though,   
   > no idea if back then it would indeed only be used addressing one's   
   > master ('Herr' can also be used meaning '(one's) master').   
      
   Hmm.  I'm going to need to find a place where I can look up the correct   
   forms of address for the period.   
      
      
   > What's the guy doing when she first sees him? What's he doing on their   
   > second encounter?   
      
   I'm not sure, I haven't actually started writing this one.   
      
   He leans over the fence, book under his arm, and watches her make a mess   
   out of trying to collect eggs?  Something similar to that I think.   
      
   She's pretending to be a young housewife whose husband just bought a   
   farm.  He's pretending to be a student taking a break and visiting the   
   country because his mother ordered him to get some fresh air.   
      
      
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