What is the reason why the writer says that the `` consultation and answer '' corner of the old women's magazine is `` a treasure trove of ideas ''?

When tackling creation, it is important not only to work out ideas, but also to explore materials to solidify the setting and world view. Especially when drawing old times, reading newspapers and magazines of the time can be a good stimulus. We live to understand emotions and feelings, says Amanda Jane Pearce, author of the best-selling historical novel series

The Emmy Lake Chronicles is a story series about a young female columnist set in London during World War II. According to Mr. Pierce, it was the 1939 magazine 'Woman's Own' that I found by chance that inspired me to write the first book in the series ' Dear Mrs Bird '. After that, Mr. Pierce began collecting magazines during World War II to refer to writing, and he seems to have gathered a collection of more than 800 women's magazines and news magazines.

The women's magazine published in 1939 has contents such as fashion and beauty, movies and novels, cooking recipes and band advertisements, so that you can enjoy the 'bright life at that time'. 1939 was the year Britain went to war with Germany, and Pierce's ``Woman's Own'' was read only a few weeks before the declaration of war, so it really feels like the tide of the times. It is From the inspiration he felt at that time, Mr. Pierce said that he wanted to write a historical novel. Although there is nothing better than direct testimony, in terms of understanding what many women were interested in and what they were reading in their daily lives, Pierce said, ``A time machine costs £4.95 (about 900 yen). I was able to buy it.'

Special features that give a sense of the trends of the time and real news from the time are also useful for historical research, but what Mr. Pierce found particularly useful for writing was the 'Consultation for Readers' section at the end of the magazine. It seems that it was a corner of.

In the last corner of 'Woman's Own', there are various kinds of worries in modern times, such as a mother who is worried about her daughter not studying at school, a young woman whose parents oppose her marriage, and a woman who doubts her husband's cheating. There was a post that almost didn't change. On the other hand, the columnist's response to it gives us real insight into the views and morals of the time, the choices and standards of judgment. Basically, columnists stay close to their readers, but some questions contain prejudices that are unthinkable today, or they make judgments based on biased values, which are not visible from mere historical knowledge. You can feel the difficult 'values and way of thinking of the time'.

Also, 'Woman's Own' is a magazine during World War II, so it seems that she was able to feel the role of magazines and columnists especially during the war. For example, you can understand the practical functions of magazines, such as recruiting for the services and factories necessary to participate in war, and increasing columns and advertisements that make food last longer when there is a trend of food oversupply. . Pearce also realized that columnists who spell advice play a big role in dealing with the emotional impact of years of conflict.

Not only can magazines provide information about the time, but they can also get a sense of what was going on at the time through the advice of columnists who support their readers and inform, warn, or try to adjust public opinion. ``If you find a pile of old magazines in your attic, don't throw them away, they still have a lot of stories to tell,'' says Pierce.