in the writer of a book or what a singer sings about etc. I think is what gives rise to a 'pop culture'.

Thanks Mandy and Delories for the various examples you have mentioned.

Catherine had such implicit trust in whatever was written in 'Udolpho', and we see this in the confidence with which she declared how the area around Beechan cliff reminded her of the South of France, because she had read that, and we know that the author had never been to France.

Perhaps this is the reason why JA insisted upon writing only what she knew personally and experienced.

I can imagine Catherine today - before the lifting of the veil ;-) - standing in a museum in front of a certain painting and thinking/declaring - Ha! this woman is a man (or vice versa).