The Hunger:
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This is the prison on the Isle de la Cité in Paris. Originally built in 1284, it was first a palace for the Capetuan kings. It is most famous for being a prison, however, and the scene of torture through the ages. Most recently it was the site from which prisoners were sent to the guillotine during the French Revolution. Beatrix is imprisoned here.

This is the chateau, built in late Rennaisance, in which John was imprisoned. At one point it was abandoned after being burned in the Revolution. Note the causeway across the lake that serves as a moat.

Albany House was the premier bachelor's residence in London during the Regency. Byron lived here at one time. It is located on a tiny pocket of a court off Picadilly right across from Fortnum and Masons (a building from a later period, but the store is loads of fun). Harry and I slipped inside while the doorman was busy with a delivery. It's not normally open to tourists. Inside it is very simple, almost plain, with cream colored walls and shining wood banisters on the stairs that wind to the upper floors. Very like an elegant bachelor. It has a beautiful garden out back. Unfortunately, our pictures of the inside didn't turn out as well as we would have liked. And taking them attracted the doorman's attention who quietly guided us to the front door.

When we were in London at Christmas time in 2004 I chose #46 Berkeley Square as the house Beatrix Lisse, Countess of Lente would live in while she was in London. It was built in the late 18th century, when Berkeley Square was almost new. These pictures of the house and the square were taken at dusk. We walked through the park until it was almost dark.

The Toilet of Venus is the picture hanging in Beatrix's house that she looks at to anchor herself when she is upset. I chose it because of the calm and assured look the Venus has in the painting.

This is a painting of the dismasted ships used as prisons floating in Portsmouth Harbor. Hundreds of criminals and prisoners of war were incarcerated in each one, just as John was in THE HUNGER. This painting is by Louis Garneray, a French prisoner of war who spent nine years on the hulks. He appears as a character in THE HUNGER. This painting is scanned from his account of his ordeal called Floating Prison, available from BarnesandNoble.com if you are interested.