The University of Sheffield is located in Sheffield, Yorkshire England. Today, it boasts about 30,000 students. The university's founding can be traced back to the early 1800s.

Mantel studied law at Sheffield University and met her husband, Gerald, there. She talks about her time there as being very difficult. She was poor, dealing with issues pertaining to both her and Gerald's family, and couldn't lead the so-called "student lifestyle."

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is a major port in western Saudi Arabia. It borders the Red Sea. It is one of the biggest cities in Saudi Arabia.

Hilary and Gerald spend four years in Jeddah, following their period in Botswana. Hilary published her third novel, Eight Months on Gazzah Street, in 1988, based on her own experiences living in Jeddah. She is quoted saying that leaving Jeddah was "the happiest day of [her] life. 

Botswana is a country located in southern Africa. It is landlocked by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Nambia. 70% of the country is covered by the Kalahari Desert, and the country suffers from droughts. 

Hilary and Gerald lived in Botswana for 5 years, from 1977-1982, where Hilary worked as a social worker. She gained inspiration for her first novel while doing her social work in Botswana.