Come to Harm

facts and fiction

The Psychology Department at the University of Edinburgh is no longer in the venerable old building in George Square where Keiko found it, but has moved to splendid new quarters in the Dugald Stewart Building. This intentional mistake might make it even clearer that Keiko’s experience is entirely fictional. The unhelpful secretary, the charmless roommates, and, of course, Dr. Bryant are not based on any real people at my beloved alma mater.

Painchton is imagined to be in East Lothian, but it and its inhabitants were born in my head. Scotland’s real Food Town is Castle Douglas. The incomparable Grierson Brothers Family Butchers as well as Henderson Butchers and Ballards Butchers are to be found there. The Pooles are not based on any of them.