I had no idea what Britpop's adventures in France would be when I started these books. But his time in Versailles turned out to be my favorite part. My wife and I visited Versailles a few years ago and rode bycyles around the grounds (with a very informative guide who shared lots of history), picnicked by the canals, and toured the palace. It helped immensely when I was imagining this fanciful tale. There are elements of historical accuracy, but most of it pure fiction. This series is entertainment set in a historical setting, but I am not overly concerned with historical accuracy.
You're welcome. We're at opposite ends of the scale. In my writing, which is based on translating the testimony of people who lived at Versailles in its glory days, accuracy is everything. Fortunately, there's room for the whole scale. The French excel at what they call récits historiques, which, as you may know, are somewhere between history and historical fiction. I love it all. I'm just happy that there are writers and readers who engage with the past, as I do on both sides of that binary, on many topics beyond Versailles. As Faulkner observed, the past isn't even past.
Agreed. There is room for everyone. It is such a fascination era. The transistion from Monarchy to Democracy. The world literally changed.
As it is an adventure tale, I did quite a bit of research into the era, including Europe, the Carribean, and The Americas. And I was repeatedly surprised by the characters, events, and places I discovered. But I am certainly no historian or expert. It was more for inspiration. I doubt Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette were much like I portrayed them. 🤣
But I enjoyed creating their characters for the books. Perhaps one of the "benfits" of my historical ignorance was I was free to give historical figures the personalities I wanted instead of the historical record of their nature. 🤓
I am glad to "meet" you. I subscribed to your newsletter. And will check it out when I get time.
Just a couple of questions. Flower is plural in one place and then not. And I don't know who is speaking here - “Thank you, Alice.”
If it is Maria how does she know the name of the maid? Especially if she doesn't know if this is the maid that took her place. And no one else should know her name unless she was introduced to them at the time. Just stood out to me.
Alice would have introduced herself, but I didn't include that. I just fixed that.
Maria was responding to Alice. I hate using so many dialog tags, but I guess it is hard to avoid when you have four (or five) characters together in a scene.
I love imaginative responses to Versailles. Keep it up!
I had no idea what Britpop's adventures in France would be when I started these books. But his time in Versailles turned out to be my favorite part. My wife and I visited Versailles a few years ago and rode bycyles around the grounds (with a very informative guide who shared lots of history), picnicked by the canals, and toured the palace. It helped immensely when I was imagining this fanciful tale. There are elements of historical accuracy, but most of it pure fiction. This series is entertainment set in a historical setting, but I am not overly concerned with historical accuracy.
Thank you for reading. 🤓
You're welcome. We're at opposite ends of the scale. In my writing, which is based on translating the testimony of people who lived at Versailles in its glory days, accuracy is everything. Fortunately, there's room for the whole scale. The French excel at what they call récits historiques, which, as you may know, are somewhere between history and historical fiction. I love it all. I'm just happy that there are writers and readers who engage with the past, as I do on both sides of that binary, on many topics beyond Versailles. As Faulkner observed, the past isn't even past.
Agreed. There is room for everyone. It is such a fascination era. The transistion from Monarchy to Democracy. The world literally changed.
As it is an adventure tale, I did quite a bit of research into the era, including Europe, the Carribean, and The Americas. And I was repeatedly surprised by the characters, events, and places I discovered. But I am certainly no historian or expert. It was more for inspiration. I doubt Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette were much like I portrayed them. 🤣
But I enjoyed creating their characters for the books. Perhaps one of the "benfits" of my historical ignorance was I was free to give historical figures the personalities I wanted instead of the historical record of their nature. 🤓
I am glad to "meet" you. I subscribed to your newsletter. And will check it out when I get time.
Also glad to "meet" you. And likewise!
Just a couple of questions. Flower is plural in one place and then not. And I don't know who is speaking here - “Thank you, Alice.”
If it is Maria how does she know the name of the maid? Especially if she doesn't know if this is the maid that took her place. And no one else should know her name unless she was introduced to them at the time. Just stood out to me.
Typo. Flowers should be plural.
Alice would have introduced herself, but I didn't include that. I just fixed that.
Maria was responding to Alice. I hate using so many dialog tags, but I guess it is hard to avoid when you have four (or five) characters together in a scene.