'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas (Translated by Robin Buss)
Showing posts with label france. Show all posts
Showing posts with label france. Show all posts
01 February 2021
The Final Count Down
13 November 2016
Dressed to Empress!
Mention the Empress Josephine and the first thing that comes to mind is 'Not tonight, Josephine.'. The second thing would probably be Napoleon and the third... erm...
This embarrassing lack of knowledge led me to the wonderful 'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' by the even more wonderful Dr Kate Williams.
Born on a plantation in Martinique in 1763, no one could have imagined that Marie-Josephe-Rose de Tascher would become the greatest jewel in the French imperial crown. The wild little girl, who ruined her teeth gnawing raw sugar cane, became a romantic teenager, dreaming of the glamour of France and its court. When her aunt decided she should marry her lover's son and move to Paris, Josephine thought her chance had finally come. But the marriage was a ploy to keep wealth in the family and Josephine's husband, Alexandre, proved adulterous, suspicious and vile, while she found her lack of education and social graces made her the laughing stock of those she admired. The French Revolution brought horror and death, but also opportunity. Her husband was executed and Josephine narrowly escaped a date with the guillotine, but she became a streetwise survivor, determined to live by any means possible. She rose to become a star of the new debauched France that seemed desperate to wash away the blood with wine and live life to the full in defiance of death. When she caught the eye of a young Corsican soldier called Napoleon Bonaparte, her latest lover ordered her to keep him happy. Thus one of history's great partnerships was born...
I adored this book. I found it so interesting and learned so much that I was astounded that no one has made a TV drama about Josephine. Hers was an amazing personal journey, shaped by circumstance as much as desire and survival as much as ambition. Dr Williams' book is studded with fascinating gems of information that really made her subject come to life. From Josephine's terrible teeth to her love of exotic plants, her naive spending habits to her diplomatic skills, each snippet brings Josephine out of Napoleon's shadow. Above all, far from being Napoleon's chattel, Dr Williams shows that one of history's greatest couples were most successful when working as a team and that at least part of the General's success relied on his wife's ability to handle the more touchy-feely aspects of being a ruler. Even the man himself recognised this, although far too late.
'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' has a highly accessibly style to it, full of an almost gossipy energy. The author clearly has great passion for the subject and reading the book is much like sitting down with a friend who can't wait to tell you all the news. I loved the way letters and other sources were quoted too, so while the whole thing had authenticity, I didn't feel bogged down and the book didn't loose its readability. If you were doing an academic study on Josephine, you would obviously want more original text, but for someone like me, this was perfect.
Overall, I would really recommend 'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' to anyone interested in history and particularly women in history. It's not just about the battles on the field, people!
STOP PRESS!!
Not long after finishing this book, I had the great pleasure of seeing Dr Williams talking about her new novel at Yeovil Literary Festival and this led to some amazing news. A drama based on this book is actually being made! Sounds like it's going to be a bit saucy in places, but so long as the series is true to all aspects of Josephine's story, I'm sure it'll be amazing. It's currently at script stage, but hopefully we'll hear more soon!
This embarrassing lack of knowledge led me to the wonderful 'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' by the even more wonderful Dr Kate Williams.
 |
| 'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' by Kate Williams (Arrow, 2014) |
I adored this book. I found it so interesting and learned so much that I was astounded that no one has made a TV drama about Josephine. Hers was an amazing personal journey, shaped by circumstance as much as desire and survival as much as ambition. Dr Williams' book is studded with fascinating gems of information that really made her subject come to life. From Josephine's terrible teeth to her love of exotic plants, her naive spending habits to her diplomatic skills, each snippet brings Josephine out of Napoleon's shadow. Above all, far from being Napoleon's chattel, Dr Williams shows that one of history's greatest couples were most successful when working as a team and that at least part of the General's success relied on his wife's ability to handle the more touchy-feely aspects of being a ruler. Even the man himself recognised this, although far too late.
'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' has a highly accessibly style to it, full of an almost gossipy energy. The author clearly has great passion for the subject and reading the book is much like sitting down with a friend who can't wait to tell you all the news. I loved the way letters and other sources were quoted too, so while the whole thing had authenticity, I didn't feel bogged down and the book didn't loose its readability. If you were doing an academic study on Josephine, you would obviously want more original text, but for someone like me, this was perfect.
Overall, I would really recommend 'Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon' to anyone interested in history and particularly women in history. It's not just about the battles on the field, people!
STOP PRESS!!
Not long after finishing this book, I had the great pleasure of seeing Dr Williams talking about her new novel at Yeovil Literary Festival and this led to some amazing news. A drama based on this book is actually being made! Sounds like it's going to be a bit saucy in places, but so long as the series is true to all aspects of Josephine's story, I'm sure it'll be amazing. It's currently at script stage, but hopefully we'll hear more soon!
19 June 2016
Moon, Light, Shadow
It's been a while since I last read a Poldark novel ('Warleggan' back in July 2014). I knew that I wanted to read them all, preferably before they're all filmed by the BBC, but was so appalled and shocked by Ross' behaviour in book four that I couldn't quite bring myself to do it. I have now, however, finished 'The Black Moon' by Winston Graham. It was so good, I've pretty much gone straight on to book five.
'The Black Moon' begins with Elizabeth, lost love of Ross Poldark and now wife of his enemy George Warleggan, giving birth to a baby boy. While George rejoices at having
a son, the ancient Aunt Agatha quickly points out that the child has been born under an ominous black moon, a very bad omen. But for the time being the bad luck shadows others in the household. Elizabeth's cousin, Morwenna, tutor to Elizabeth's son from a previous marriage, falls in love with Drake Carne, brother of Ross' wife Demelza, sparking a new enmity between the Poldarks and Warleggans. And Ross has much on his mind already, including the fate of the unfortunate Dr Enys imprisoned in revolutionary France...
This, like the other Poldark novels I've read so far, is absolutely absorbing. Reading Winston Graham's work is like being launched through time and space into rural Cornwall, but without the travel sickness and overcrowding by holiday-makers.
Having said that, there's always a risk with family saga novels that, as they progress, the number of characters becomes a bit overwhelming and you start needing a list in order to keep track. I did begin to feel a bit like this when reading the first few books, but Graham seems to have recognised the potential problem and there was enough explanation of who's who to jog my memory without over doing it. To be fair, there were 20 years between 'Warleggan' and 'The Black Moon', so original readers would have needed some help too!
'The Black Moon' had me on the edge of my seat. I laughed at Demelza's encounter with French exiles at a dinner party, I sighed at Drake and Morwenna's falling in love, I cheered as Ross sought justice once more, I cried and I gasped at... well, I don't want to give all the details away. Suffice it to say the fact I couldn't stop myself heading straight for the next book says a lot. I'm just relieved that I don't have to wait as long as fans in the '70s!
'The Black Moon' begins with Elizabeth, lost love of Ross Poldark and now wife of his enemy George Warleggan, giving birth to a baby boy. While George rejoices at having
 |
| 'The Black Moon' by Winston Graham (Pan Books, 2008) |
This, like the other Poldark novels I've read so far, is absolutely absorbing. Reading Winston Graham's work is like being launched through time and space into rural Cornwall, but without the travel sickness and overcrowding by holiday-makers.
Having said that, there's always a risk with family saga novels that, as they progress, the number of characters becomes a bit overwhelming and you start needing a list in order to keep track. I did begin to feel a bit like this when reading the first few books, but Graham seems to have recognised the potential problem and there was enough explanation of who's who to jog my memory without over doing it. To be fair, there were 20 years between 'Warleggan' and 'The Black Moon', so original readers would have needed some help too!
'The Black Moon' had me on the edge of my seat. I laughed at Demelza's encounter with French exiles at a dinner party, I sighed at Drake and Morwenna's falling in love, I cheered as Ross sought justice once more, I cried and I gasped at... well, I don't want to give all the details away. Suffice it to say the fact I couldn't stop myself heading straight for the next book says a lot. I'm just relieved that I don't have to wait as long as fans in the '70s!
26 May 2015
Queen of Broken Hearts
Bet you can't guess what this post is going to be about!
Earlier this month, I finally finished 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by esteemed historical biographer Antonia Fraser.
'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' is a hefty tome which examines the life of the last queen of France
and seeks the truth behind the many myths that surround her. Daughter of the matriarchal Queen-Empress Maria Teresa, Marie Antoinette was born to be a pawn the game of European dynastic power. Unfortunately, she was ill-suited to political machinations and unprepared for the cruel popularist media that thrived in the lead up to the French Revolution. Innocent of much she was accused of and made a scapegoat by power-hungry politicians, this is the tragic story of a woman whose life became so unbearable, the guillotine's blade came as a relief.
I began reading this about seven years ago after finishing a book about Marie Antoinette's second son Louis-Charles ('The Lost King of France' by Deborah Cadbury). It too was a heart wrenching story, but, as is often the case with history, reading about one person led to another. Since studying A Level French I'd always wanted to know more about this period, partly because I couldn't believe the language assistant's claim that the whole French royal family had simply been wiped out.
'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' is excellent in that it is focussed, well researched and refrains from huge leaps of supposition, but this does mean it lies more at the textbook than popular history end of the spectrum. In itself, this isn't a bad thing, it just means that it's not an easy ready.
Although, given the subject matter, it was never going to be an easy read. I suspect that one of the reasons why it's taken me so long to finish this book is that I knew where it was going to end. Marie Antoinette was no angel, but she was still a human being and no-one deserved the vilification that she received at the hands of the media and her captors. Throughout this book, she comes across as the wrong person cast in the wrong role and you can't help wondering what would've happened if she and Louis XVI had been born in a different class at a different time and in a different place. Thinking back over representations of the Queen I've encountered on TV and in films, it makes my stomach turn to realise that more than 200 years later old prejudices still rule.
So, overall, this book is not for the faint hearted, in terms of content or style. It is interesting and informative, however, so I would recommend it for anyone who wants an insight into this almost legendary monarch. Just be prepared to work at it.
Now, what next...
Earlier this month, I finally finished 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by esteemed historical biographer Antonia Fraser.
'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' is a hefty tome which examines the life of the last queen of France
 |
| 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser (Phoenix, 2002) |
I began reading this about seven years ago after finishing a book about Marie Antoinette's second son Louis-Charles ('The Lost King of France' by Deborah Cadbury). It too was a heart wrenching story, but, as is often the case with history, reading about one person led to another. Since studying A Level French I'd always wanted to know more about this period, partly because I couldn't believe the language assistant's claim that the whole French royal family had simply been wiped out.
'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' is excellent in that it is focussed, well researched and refrains from huge leaps of supposition, but this does mean it lies more at the textbook than popular history end of the spectrum. In itself, this isn't a bad thing, it just means that it's not an easy ready.
Although, given the subject matter, it was never going to be an easy read. I suspect that one of the reasons why it's taken me so long to finish this book is that I knew where it was going to end. Marie Antoinette was no angel, but she was still a human being and no-one deserved the vilification that she received at the hands of the media and her captors. Throughout this book, she comes across as the wrong person cast in the wrong role and you can't help wondering what would've happened if she and Louis XVI had been born in a different class at a different time and in a different place. Thinking back over representations of the Queen I've encountered on TV and in films, it makes my stomach turn to realise that more than 200 years later old prejudices still rule.
So, overall, this book is not for the faint hearted, in terms of content or style. It is interesting and informative, however, so I would recommend it for anyone who wants an insight into this almost legendary monarch. Just be prepared to work at it.
Now, what next...
11 August 2014
Women at War
As many of you know, when I'm not reading books, buying books or blogging about books, I can often be found on Twitter, posting about books as @Girl_LovesBooks (not to be confused with Book Loving Girls with similar names. They're lovely too, I'm sure, but not me!).
Being quite easily distracted and up for a challenge, I began joining in with Doubleday's #bookadayuk campaign in June and July this year. Each day had a book-related theme to post about and it was great fun trying to come up with an idea for each topic and seeing what other titles people recommended. A few books on my reading list were mentioned, so that was reassuring!
Anyway, I'd been tweeting away quite happily, coming up with books with blue covers, exotic story settings and childhood favourites, when I got a message saying I'd won the publisher's prize draw. I hadn't even realised it was a competition, so it was a nice surprise to be sent a copy of 'Wake' by Anna Hope.
'Wake' is the story of three women in post-World War One London. Although none went to the front, each has been affected by the tragedy and horror of the devastating conflict, suffering the loss of a loved one, either in body or spirit. Hettie is a dance instructor at a night club, hired for sixpence a song to partner men around the floor, forced to surrender half her earnings to her mother while her psychologically damaged brother is trapped by the trauma of his wartime experiences. Wealthy and defiant Evelyn works in a string of low paid and sometimes dangerous jobs, broken-hearted and looking for something to numb the pain. Ada's son died at the front, but she is still haunted by visions of him in the streets around her home. While she watches for him, she is losing sight of her husband and doesn't notice the growing distance between them. The three stories unfold and entwine over the course of five days in 1920 as the body of the Unknown Warrior makes its way from the battlefields of Europe to Westminster Abbey. He is destined to bring peace of mind to the grieving country, but can he really take the place of those lost to Ada, Hettie and Evelyn?
I was absolutely delighted to receive this book because, due to this year's centenary of the start of the war, I'd been looking for something to read set in this period. I went on a bit of emotional rollercoaster with 'Wake', however, and not just because of the emotive plot.
I love history and didn't realise how much I already knew about the era, so by the middle of the book I was beginning to feel a exasperated because I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. But I soon realised that I'd quite spectacularly missed the point. This book's great strength is the way it brings the dry facts to life through characters that readers, particularly female ones, can relate to. Although I knew more than I'd expected about everything from trench warfare to shell shock to the flu epidemic to women working in factories, it was like I just had pieces of a puzzle. This book made me put them together and think about World War One and its aftermath in a very different way.
Several other people have said on Twitter that they loved this book and I can see why. Ms Hope does a wonderful job of making the characters feel real and it's easy to develop great affection for them. Although they are from another time, the era of our great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, Ada, Evelyn and Hettie are going through emotional experiences that we can understand and relate to in the modern era. The joy of love and the pain of loss and broken hearts is the same for us all, no matter the year.
Structuring the story around the arrival of the Unknown Warrior was an excellent idea which I think worked extremely well. Again, while readers may know the facts, that many bodies were never retrieved and identified, which prevented many families from burying their dead, the book reminds us of the thousands of individuals who gained closure by believing that the Unknown Warrior was their husband, son, brother or lover.
In some ways, the media's current obsession with World War One and the annual acts of remembrance have simultaneously reminded us of and fossilised this terrible event, often making it feel as cold, formal and remote as a memorial statue on a pedestal. As such, I think this book is a must read for any young woman who finds history dry and distant and wants to understand what World War One really meant to people like her. 'Wake' lives up to its name, helping our ancestors live again and reawakening our understanding of them.
Now, what next..?
Being quite easily distracted and up for a challenge, I began joining in with Doubleday's #bookadayuk campaign in June and July this year. Each day had a book-related theme to post about and it was great fun trying to come up with an idea for each topic and seeing what other titles people recommended. A few books on my reading list were mentioned, so that was reassuring!
Anyway, I'd been tweeting away quite happily, coming up with books with blue covers, exotic story settings and childhood favourites, when I got a message saying I'd won the publisher's prize draw. I hadn't even realised it was a competition, so it was a nice surprise to be sent a copy of 'Wake' by Anna Hope.
 |
| 'Wake' by Anna Hope (Doubleday, 2014) |
I was absolutely delighted to receive this book because, due to this year's centenary of the start of the war, I'd been looking for something to read set in this period. I went on a bit of emotional rollercoaster with 'Wake', however, and not just because of the emotive plot.
I love history and didn't realise how much I already knew about the era, so by the middle of the book I was beginning to feel a exasperated because I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. But I soon realised that I'd quite spectacularly missed the point. This book's great strength is the way it brings the dry facts to life through characters that readers, particularly female ones, can relate to. Although I knew more than I'd expected about everything from trench warfare to shell shock to the flu epidemic to women working in factories, it was like I just had pieces of a puzzle. This book made me put them together and think about World War One and its aftermath in a very different way.
Several other people have said on Twitter that they loved this book and I can see why. Ms Hope does a wonderful job of making the characters feel real and it's easy to develop great affection for them. Although they are from another time, the era of our great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, Ada, Evelyn and Hettie are going through emotional experiences that we can understand and relate to in the modern era. The joy of love and the pain of loss and broken hearts is the same for us all, no matter the year.
Structuring the story around the arrival of the Unknown Warrior was an excellent idea which I think worked extremely well. Again, while readers may know the facts, that many bodies were never retrieved and identified, which prevented many families from burying their dead, the book reminds us of the thousands of individuals who gained closure by believing that the Unknown Warrior was their husband, son, brother or lover.
In some ways, the media's current obsession with World War One and the annual acts of remembrance have simultaneously reminded us of and fossilised this terrible event, often making it feel as cold, formal and remote as a memorial statue on a pedestal. As such, I think this book is a must read for any young woman who finds history dry and distant and wants to understand what World War One really meant to people like her. 'Wake' lives up to its name, helping our ancestors live again and reawakening our understanding of them.
Now, what next..?
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