So someone recently shared with me the story of Ida Tarbell, who in 1902 began to give the Standard Oil company and its then recently retired president John D. Rockefeller a big black eye. She was considered one of the early muckrakers, although she never liked the term.[li]
And then I realised: ‘muckraker’ is an American term, coined a decade after Fallen London is set. The early investigative journalism story alludes to it; what’s up with that? And then I dig further and find out it’s drawing from Pilgrim’s Progress, so while weird, it’s probably okay. And then I work out what it’s referring to, and apparently there’s a parable in there about a man with a muck-rake who’s too busily focused on moving filth around that he isn’t willing to trade his muck-rake for a very nice crown he’s been offered. And that metaphor only really makes sense if you hear Roosevelt be concerned at journalists focusing too much on the supposedly vile things those in charge are doing (unless they’re making sure they’re true, I mean Hearst is still out there). And now I just don’t know anymore.
I think I only made this topic to share research and get people to read about Ida Tarball and the wealthiest man who ever lived.