at least the feel of the time
I love history, so researching that era was fun. I even researched conditions in Germany at the time, the specific area from which my ancestor emigrated. There was a drought over there, and economic instability. An increase in emigration to the U. S. as a result. While this wasn't used in my story, it helped to give me a feel for the character.
Thanks for the reference to London😇--one of the authors I introduced my children and grandchild to early. The whole family loves that author.
This is what is striking about the story that it has the 'atmosphere' of the times without being too overt about it. :)