Monthly Archives: June 2013

Recent Reads

Updated on June 26, 2013 by Janet Mullany

Occasionally I find a book that’s so extraordinary, so wonderful, that all I want to do is read to the neglect of all else. Yet at the same time I can’t bear the thought of coming to the end, and want to take my time savoring every phrase and sentence.

I’ve been fortunate enough to read two such books in the past couple of weeks. The first one, , by Kate Atkinson, I borrowed from the library for the kindle, and then decided to buy it. In hardback. It was massively on sale but I knew this was something I’d keep and that this was too good for the kindle. It’s astonishing. I reached a new level of appreciation for a book on the commute–crying in public on the Metro (ranking way higher above my previous criteria, missing my stop or getting on the wrong train). How to describe this book … well, it’s about a woman whose life ends many times until she can get it right and includes amazing vivid scenes of life from before World War I through the blitz. Read more about the book at Kate Atkinson’s site.

The other book, which I’m just a few dozen pages into, is Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up the Bodies, the sequel to Wolf Hall, the center volume of her three-book series about Thomas Cromwell. Thomas Cromwell has been branded a villain in history, the right hand man of Henry VIII who was responsible for the dissolution of the monasteries (or so the simple version goes). He rose from humble beginnings to a position of great power, playing the dangerous game of power with the Tudors. It’s all familiar history that’s been dumbed down, prettified, and made safe by The Tudors and Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl. But this book, these books, are brilliant and complex and chillingly beautiful; written in third person present tense, an interesting choice, and Bring Up the Bodies has one of the best backstories in a sequel that I’ve ever read.

Have you read either of these books or authors? What have you been reading?

Posted in Reading | 4 Replies

Cecilia Grant’s A Woman Entangled

Updated on June 26, 2013 by megan

First off, thanks to Carolyn for ceding her day so I could talk about a remarkable author whose book is just out.

A Woman Entangled, Cecilia Grant’s third book, was released this week, and I got a chance to read it prior to publication, so I can wax eloquently about it. Or as eloquently as I can wax.

The book’s premise is a familiar one–the beauty of a family wishes to elevate her family’s standing through marriage, and has a plan to make that happen. Her immediate family has been disowned by her extended family because her mother was an actress who married her father. The two are in love, and have had children, and seem content with their lives. But the heroine, Kate, wants more. She thinks she deserves more, also, because she is so beautiful, and she is practical enough to know she should utilize her beauty to do things for the people she loves.

Pride and Prejudice is frequently referenced in the book, and acts as a sort of leit motif, but looking at the two heroines–Kate Westbrook and Elizabeth Bennet–they are opposites of each other, at least in the most crucial way to women of that time; Kate is absolutely determined to barter herself in a marriage to help her family, while Elizabeth will not, even though her family’s circumstances are more dire than the Westbrooks.

Which heroine is more honorable? Is it better to be true to yourself, or to be true to your family? Kate can be, frankly, unlikeable during the course of the book because she is so set on her course. But her unlikeability–told in Cecilia Grant’s amazingly layered and elegant prose–makes her real, someone who is more than just a pretty face (even if that is all she sees!).

While the hero has an equally compelling storyline, A Woman Entangled is truly Kate’s story, since she is the one with the power to make decisions that will affect her family, the object of her affections, and herself. It’s a remarkable position for a woman to be in at any time, much less this time, and A Woman Entangled is a remarkable book.

Given what I’ve described of Kate, would you take the Kate path of sacrificing yourself for your family, or take the Elizabeth path of staying true to yourself? A random commenter will win a copy of A Woman Entangled!

Megan

Posted in Risky Regencies | 3 Replies

Dancing At The Ball

Updated on June 25, 2013 by Amanda McCabe/Laurel McKee

Last weekend, I had a great time attending the Netherfield Ball hosted by the JASNA North Texas chapter! Over 200 people, plus real, live musicians, celebrated the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice with tea sandwiches, cakes, beautiful gowns, and dancing….

(Here is their website for more info on the event…)

I seldom make it to dance practice here (they have classes two days a month, and I always seem to miss them!), but I was able to dance some of the easier sets and enjoyed watching the rest, fanning myself from a chair on the sidelines and pretending I had just been snubbed by Mr. Darcy. I knew I had watched many of the movie adaptations too often, since I recognized the steps from several of the dance scenes. Like Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot, from Emma and P&P:

Some more Emma:

Some Becoming Jane (I had forgotten DS Hathaway from the Inspector Lewis mysteries was in this one! Poor guy…)

Some waltzing from Young Victoria (wrong period, I know! I just love this gown so much):

I had a wonderful time, and hope they will hold another ball next year! (I had to keep resisting pulling a Lydia and running around squealing “I long for a ball!!”). Wearing the gowns, doing the dance steps, and talking to other people who love the period is always a great inspiration for writing. Plus a ton of fun!

Do you dance? What is your favorite style?? What would you wear to the Netherfield Ball?

Posted in Risky Regencies | 1 Reply

Napoleon Invades Russia

Updated on June 24, 2013 by Diane Gaston

Two hundred and one years ago on June 24, 1812, Napoleon began his invasion of Russia.

Tsar Alexander had angered Napoleon by ceasing to continue the blockade against British goods which was ruining the Russian economy. So, to teach the Tsar a lesson, Napoleon amassed an army of 450,000 men to march into Russia. Napoleon was convinced the whole affair would be finished in 20 days and that the Tsar would capitulate, but if ever weather changed the course of history, it was during this campaign. Weather and the fortitude of the Russian people.

As the French army marched into Russia, the Russian army refused to give them any true engagement. Instead they retreated, burning the countryside behind them. Because Napoleon’s armies replenished their supplies through pillage and plunder, the burning of crops denied the soldiers sustenance.

On June 27, Napoleon conquered Vilna with barely a fight, but that very night a huge electrical storm killed many troops and horses, with freezing rain, hail, and sleet. Later the oppressive heat would kill more troops. Others would desert looking for food and plunder

It was September before the first major battle was fought at Borodino. By then Napoleon had already lost 150,000 soldiers to exhaustion, sickness, or desertion. The Battle of Borodino was an extremely bloody one with total casualties on both sides of 70,000. The Russians withdrew and Napoleon marched triumphantly on to Moscow.

Except the Russians burned Moscow and its stores, leaving only hard liquor. Most of its citizens had fled. Napoleon, nonetheless, waited three weeks in Moscow, expecting the Tsar to request negotiation.

Instead it started to snow and Napoleon realized he and his army could not survive a Russian winter. He ordered the retreat but the Russians blocked his chosen route, forcing his army to retreat over the already burned and barren land from which they had come. The winter came early and was particularly harsh, with high winds, snow, and sub-zero temperatures. Thousands more died of exposure. It was said that soldiers split open dead animals and crawled inside for warmth or stacked dead bodies for insulation.

By the time in late November when the Grande Armée crossed the frigid Berezina River, its numbers were depleted to 27,000 from that original 450,000.

Still, Napoleon stated it was a victory.

Instead it turned the tide of Napoleon’s perceived invincibility. Prussia, Austria, and Sweden rejoined Russia and Great Britain against Napoleon. Although he was still able to raise an army to continue the fight against them, it was never the fighting force it once had been.

Three times in History armies tried to invade Russia only to have their efforts further their demise. Napoleon tried it in 1812; Charles XII of Sweden tried it in 1708; Hitler tried it in 1941. For each the Russian winter and the scorched earth policy took a horrific toll.

The Weather Channel will be airing a new series, Weather That Changed the World. “Russia’s Secret Weapon” to be aired June 30 at 9 pm, will be about the disastrous winter that changed Napoleon’s fate.

Do you have an example of when weather changed the world?

Posted in Regency, Research, Risky Regencies | 4 Replies

Internet Treasures: The DiCamillo Companion

Updated on June 21, 2013 by Myretta

The DiCamillo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses

I met Curt DiCamillo when he was at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and working in his spare time on his wonderful DiCamillo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses. Since then Curt, who is an architectural historian and a recognized authority on the British Country house, spent eight years as Executive Director of The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA. Now he works on his own and the database continues to be a wonderful and growing resource.

According to the web site, “the Database is updated daily, with information coming from professional journals, my 2,300-volume library on country houses and allied subjects, and from contributors around the world who kindly provide information and photographs. The Database currently contains records for more than 7,200 houses.”

I suggest poking around the site. It has a ton of information. A sample entry for Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire includes images, detail on its architects, its status, references, access information, current ownership, its seat, a short but packed history of the house and park, any movies or television for which it was used as a location, and a bibliography. Pretty much anything you might need to know.

If, however, you’d like more and firsthand information, Curt also leads tours to various locations. I’ve never been on one (although I’d love to) but I’ve heard some of Curt’s presentations and can testify that you’d get a lot of good, solid background through one of these adventures.

Do look around the site, it includes some interesting extras. It’s a good place to get lost for a couple of hours. Are there any Internet treasures on your bookmarks that you’d like to share?

Posted in Risky Regencies | 2 Replies