tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25968192377981566962024-03-13T17:50:50.540-04:00Pursuing--or pursued by--Anne of BrittanyMy explorations into history and art and travel to France; as I work on my historical novel,
"None but a King: The Life of Anne of Brittany"Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-36145884790248194042015-01-10T14:52:00.002-05:002015-01-10T15:01:51.850-05:00Je Suis Charlie<div class="MsoNormal">
“Je Suis Charlie”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was so glad to see a sign that
read “Je Suis Charlie” at “The Center for Fiction” when I went to return my
library book. The slogan has justifiably
been heard and seen everywhere in the last few days, and is so appropriate in
an organization devoted to writing and writers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The declarative phrase has double meaning for me—in addition to
expressing support for freedom of expression, it parallels the opening lines of
my novel, “None But a King: the Story of Anne of Brittany.” My protagonist
tells herself “<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Je suis Anne,
Duchesse de Bretagne</span></i>.” Repeating the words gives the
thirteen year old girl strength and
reminds her of the responsibilities she has to deal with as the ruler of an
independent state at war with France.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Both for Anne and contemporary sympathizers carrying
signs and wearing T-shirts, that expression of
identity marks their resolve to live up to the symbolic meaning of the title. I would like to identify a link between Anne's life and Charlie Hebdo; but it is very difficult.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I've been reviewing my research
about the period from 1488 to 1514, in
which Anne ruled, as duchess of Brittany and queen of France, to find traces of
the spirit of “<i>la provoc</i>” –the inimitable French pursuit
of provocation. In Anne's time, France was a strictly Catholic country, albeit
sometimes at odds, and sometimes at war with, the pope. That was long before the Protestant
Reformation, before the Enlightenment, before the French Revolution. Jews had been expelled long ago, and there may have been a few Muslims in the south.<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> The closest relationship I can find to free thinking is Anne’s pursuit of knowledge, and</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">her encouragement of writers, artists and
printers, leading to better education.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Her husbands, King Charles VIII and
Louis XII both went to war in Italy and returned with greater appreciation of
the arts and sciences, which they shared with their very well- educated wife
and together helped to bring the Renaissance to France. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That receptivity to learning, to
thinking in new ways, was the beginning of the spirit of open-mindedness, if
not progressivism, that has characterized France and must not be tempered by the
violence which has so often accompanied its history and progress. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-46138948912833683002014-07-16T15:52:00.001-04:002014-07-16T15:53:48.960-04:00DISCOVERIES OF FRENCH ROYALTY RIGHT ON FIFTH AVENUE<div class="MsoNormal">
There is nothing like the Metropolitan Museum of Art for
constant discovery and a wealth of treasures. Whenever I go, new things attract
my attention and add to my understanding of my characters and their world.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am quite sure that I have learned as much by the art and
architecture that I have been able to see—starting in Pittsburgh, ongoing here
in New York, of course throughout France, and that excellent exhibition in
Chicago—to compensate in some measure for my inability to read original French
source documents.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]-->Today, just walking
through the French Renaissance rooms of the Met, I saw several of “my
characters”—pieces that I do not think had been on display since I’ve been
working on this. There, all in one cabinet, were a bronze medal of Louise de
Savoie, and enamel and bronze representations of her son François I and his
symbolic salamander (which also appear in stone on the walls of the Alwyn Court
apartment house on West 58<sup>th</sup> Street). <o:p></o:p></div>
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There was also an enamel of Henri II, the son of Anne’s
daughter Claude and King François I, showing that he inherited his father’s
long pointy nose, as well as the crown of France and Duchy of Brittany after
the death of his older brother, the Dauphin François.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There were six large wooden relief panels from the Château
de Galion, which Cardinal Georges d'Amboise had built—two showed his portrait,
and one that of Louis XII. <o:p></o:p></div>
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panels were too high for me to photograph; I asked a very tall man to take the
photos and engaged in a nice conversation with him, his wife and son, visiting
from Holland and finding the museum wonderful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-31843409045137957512014-06-29T18:58:00.000-04:002014-06-29T19:04:31.609-04:00The World of Anne and Claude<br /><br />This afternoon I was able to immerse myself, after too long, in the glimmering but somber world of Anne of Brittany, my protagonist—extending to that of her daughter, Queen Claude. How I wished I had a magnifying glass—and even more that I could touch—the detailed miniature manuscripts on display at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York, in the small gallery that houses the extraordinary exhibition of the work of the “Master of Claude de France” –an artist whose real name is not known, but so called because he created the Prayer Book of Claude de France and Claude’s Book of Hours, which is also shown. A special bonus for me was that Anne’s Book of Hours was also exhibited—I am so fascinated by that book, commissioned by Anne herself to teach her first son, who died before he was three.<br /><br />The featured piece is the 2 3/4 x 2 inch, Prayer Book of Claude de France, which could almost be a piece of jewelry, so exquisite is the art and detailing in its 132 miniatures—primarily a series of depictions of the lives of Jesus and the saints, with each page embellished by the royal symbols to which I often refer in my novel. Claude commissioned this work around 1517, when she was crowned queen at the age of 17 after the recent deaths of her mother Queen Anne and father, Louis XII, who was succeeded by her husband François I.<br /><br />The comments of the curators emphasize another critical emotion that preoccupied the lives of Claude and her mother—their duty to bear a son who would become king, and guided her instructions to the artist. Sadly, Anne‘s nine pregnancies did not produce a son who lived; but Claude’s seven pregnancies resulted in the birth of King Henri II. <br /><br /><br />The Morgan Library and Museum gallery includes other works by the Master and other royal artists and provides digital access to the Prayer Book via an iPad and Anne’s Book of Hours on its website.<br /><br /><br />http://<a href="http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/claude.asp">Morgan Library exhibition</a>.themorgan.org/exhibitions/claude.aspPatricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-23857401537648886892013-05-21T12:59:00.000-04:002013-05-21T12:59:43.617-04:00<br />
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I am somewhat appalled at how long it has been since I added
to this blog. But I have been extremely busy and involved with the book itself,
which is my main goal. In addition, I've been involved as leader of the New York chapter of the Historical Novel Society. Since my last post, I have taken two writing workshops
and revised the manuscript several times. I think it is getting better and
better and closer to the book I want it to be. It is important for me to note here that the title of the book has changed to "None But a King: The Life of Anne of Brittany."</div>
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I had a wonderful surprise and affirmation for the wonders
of the Internet when I got an email from a woman who is a determined researcher. Val Wood, of Uwchmynydd, Aberdaron, Gwnynedd, Wales, found me through SOFAR NY, the organization of which
I am co-Director (which provides mental health support services to military families). She had found this blog in her
research on Anne of Brittany, which she took up after finding a ring that she
was able to relate to Anne’s symbols.</div>
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There are the ermine, the fleur-de-lys, the crown. I’ve
never seen anything like it! Her sources believe it was made in France, plated
with silver. She hasn’t been able to have it dated. But in a search quite like
mine, Val plans to go to Brittany to pursue more of Anne’s history. She was
able to tell me more about Anne's betrothal at a very young age to young Edward, Prince of Wales. That
relationship is included in my book, but Val gave me more background.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pRQC-dTlank/UZulAJ84aNI/AAAAAAAAAQA/H2cyW1gm0ws/s1600/The_Watch_Tower_finished_copy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pRQC-dTlank/UZulAJ84aNI/AAAAAAAAAQA/H2cyW1gm0ws/s1600/The_Watch_Tower_finished_copy1.jpg" /></a>And I’ve had another interesting meeting and art connection
with the images that inspired my book. On my way to my writing workshop, held
at the Tribeca branch of the 92Y in Manhattan, I went through an area used as an art gallery. Again I stopped short when I saw a large figure with right-and-left
facing heads. It is a fascinating, timeless and organic figure rendered in
shades of gray, in graphite. I was able to contact and to meet the artist,
Colette Robbins. My visit to her studio was wonderful and we had a long
conversation that I hope will continue. She too has studied art and anthropology and
has rendered quite a few versions of these figures and has a rich library of
resources from throughout the world.</div>
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There’s also been more research, of course, and I’ve both
added to and confirmed some of the data. I found additional graphic material,
including maps, when I was in Brazil…I discovered that searching Google in
Portuguese yielded international treasures that did not appear in English.</div>
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I hope that it will not be long before I can be posting some very good news here.</div>
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Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-75540053214942538112012-03-31T17:10:00.000-04:002012-03-31T17:10:15.927-04:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I am obsessed with a woman who lived five hundred years ago. For more than three years, I have been researching her life and times, and writing about Anne de Bretagne ( or Anne of Brittany). I planned a trip to France and Brittany to understand more about her by experiencing her world, rather than reading about it. The basic facts listed about her always start with the fact that she was twice Queen of France, having married two kings successively. But that would not have been enough to have set me on this journey that entails serious study of art, religion, symbolism, political and economic history and the variety of factors that comprised life for royalty as well as for others.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It is my curiosity that got me started--I’ve often said that the best thing about this time of my life is my ability to pursue my curiosity. And pursue it I have been doing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">IT STARTED IN PITTSBURGH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My mixed-media journey started at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, in the Hall of Architecture, which is a vast repository of statuary casts and models that brings together replicas from all parts of the world and centuries of human creativity, from Venus de Milo to the Arc de Triumph. I was on an excursion studying Frank Lloyd Wright, and we were looking at places of artistic as well as architectural interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I had separated from the others and was wandering around, fascinated, with my camera. Suddenly, I stopped, then walked slowly around a large sculptural group, taking pictures from all angles. It was clear that it was a tomb; two figures were lying atop a large catafalque, (I learned that word later) surrounded by rows of smaller religious figures and protected by angels. My imagination was seized by one of the four larger-than life-size, quite representational, figures at the four corners. Looking outward was a lovely young woman, in a marble robe that flowed beautifully in graceful folds. But the back of her head was the image of an old man. What did that mean? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWeFAvVMyU0/TjWfvoGZuuI/AAAAAAAAAAU/D10mgifxDo4/s1600/tomb+Francis+%2526+Marguerite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWeFAvVMyU0/TjWfvoGZuuI/AAAAAAAAAAU/D10mgifxDo4/s320/tomb+Francis+%2526+Marguerite.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The labels shed little light. All I learned was that this was the tomb of François II, Duke of Brittany, and his wife, Marguerite de Foix, and allegorical figures. The sculpture was credited to Michel Colombe, and it said the original is located in the Cathèdrale St. Pierre in Nantes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I had to find out more. When I got home I did some research; but found little to explain the meaning of that two-faced figure that so intrigued me. As a writer, I am fascinated by allegory, and have always loved art, so I continued to look into the uses of allegorical figures in art, and found nothing else quite like this tomb, but others that I could see had some relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> I found basic information about the sculptor, about the cathedral, about the Duke. I learned that the tomb had been commissioned by his daughter, known as Anne of Brittany. She became Duchess of Brittany after her father’s death, and twice became Queen of France, upon marrying first King Charles VIII, and then Louis XII. Neither of them is very well known or frequently written about in English. I soon realized that François and Marguerite were less interesting than their daughter, Anne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Eventually I learned that this extraordinary young woman had participated—and been a key figure in--</span><span style="font-size: 15px;">a momentous period of history that saw the world change: Born in 1477, she had her first child the year Columbus discovered America; Brittany and France were embroiled in alliances and wars amid shifting leadership and national borders throughout Europe; the printing press began to spread information and ideas to the growing middle class; she and her husbands brought the artistic genius of Italy to flourish in France, while building a nation from feudal duchies and states.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">FOCUSING ON ANNE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Interesting, but I still had no clue about that provocative figure, or why it should be decorating, or watching over, the tomb. It was a busy time for me, and although I could give my mystery only intermittent attention, I could not forget it. I continued to get ideas that I would track down. I My notebook and computer show occasional notes made over the next few years when something brought it back to me or moved my inquiry forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">One day when I was at the Cloisters, looking at the Unicorn tapestries , I heard the docent say that some authorities think they were a gift to Anne before her marriage to Charles. Two-headed figures would capture my attention, until I realized they were usually Janus, which didn’t seem to pertain here. My readings in many areas of art, literature and communication would bring thoughts of parables and allegories. What is behind that figure? Finally I was able to identify it as an unusual version of the allegorical representation of the cardinal virtue Prudence—which was usually shown as a three-headed man, signifying past, present and future. Naturally, the next subject to explore was “the Virtues,” as they were described by Plato and seen in Christian and in pagan religions. New areas kept opening for my reading on allegory and images in medieval art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Many interpretations, but no pertinent answers.…. Why did Anne want those figures, that image, on her parents’ tomb? Or was it that the sculptor interpreted her wishes that way? How much influence would a patron have on an artist?</span><br />
<br />
MY OBSESSION</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">In one month, several things converged in my life. Two courses of study that had occupied me for the past two years had ended. I was in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Medieval section with a friend and was frozen by three small three-dimensional figures: one was a two-faced image; the others were four-inch bronze discs showing the faces of Queen Anne and King Louis XII. I told my friend of my fascination with both the two-faced figure and with Anne. She urged me to go on with my investigation. Then I learned that my ongoing editorial job had come to an end. That was it. Now I could spend the time to research and write about my obsession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">I had to find out about Anne of Brittany. The same bare information appeared wherever I looked. I could find only two books about her published in English. (My high school French is not up to research into original materials.) I located a copy of the 1917 biography, and read its stilted language, full of adulation for the admirable young woman who had such an interesting, challenging life. Then I found the 1967 version written for teens, in less formal language, with descriptions of gowns and coronations, but few more facts. In the process, I had been consulting an increasing variety of histories of France, of the Middle Ages, Medieval period, and early Renaissance—politics, arts, daily life. So much was now available on the Internet; I rarely had to leave my computer. But I did. I was able to check out many of the sources listed in bibliographies, and to order books from the library. My curiosity was in high gear but it was not satisfied.</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anne was just 12 when she became Duchess of Brittany; and 14 when she married King Charles VIII and became Queen of France. A widow at 21, she married King Louis XII and again bore the French Queen’s crown. She was highly educated and prepared for royalty; she was a leading patron of the arts. Despite two controversial political marriages that resulted in loving relationships, despite nine pregnancies; despite loyal supporters and important adversaries, despite devotion to the church and generous philanthropy; Anne failed at the primary purpose of the Queen of France: no son of hers became King.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">DIGGING FOR FACTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I am in thrall to modernity. I know that I could not have done the research or written my novel without the electronic tools that I use constantly to augment the serious reading I do. See a reference or a point that needs checking? I wouldn’t guess how many Google searches I’ve done, how many Wikipedia articles I’ve consulted for quick answers or background to a specific question. By now, I can read Wikipedia articles and websites in French even better than the on-line translations. They may lead me to a reference to a book or article I want to consult, or to an out-of-print volume that Google has digitized about my period and characters. The language is stilted and the facts often in conflict or wrong, but still, I’ve unearthed some useful tidbits. Any of these may lead me to hours of reading, and may confirm or question what I had before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The books on my shelves are now two-deep --I’ve broken my resolution not to buy too many books and increasingly am tempted by e-readers. I have spent hours reading ‘analog’ old and new books, which I can obtain after electronic searches and requests of the New York Public Library. I am so fortunate to be in New York! I’ve been permitted to borrow many of them; the library has tracked them down electronically and sent them to my local branch for me to pick up. The older, rare and more expensive volumes are available for me to consult at the main reading room, where I am permitted to bring my Netbook computer…an indispensible investment for this work. I feel privileged to be allowed to use the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum and the Rare Books collection of the JP Morgan Library and Museum . I had a fantastic bonus when I was at the Morgan: before being admitted, I had had to submit a list of the books I wanted. Then the wonderful librarian, realizing that I was researching Anne de Bretagne, brought me additional rare facsimile material that I didn’t know was available. They also have a valuable <i>Book of Hours</i> that was commissioned by Anne de Bretagne for her son. It is completely digitized and available online for me to study, page by page, as long as I want to, right from my desk. My French is not up to reading academic books or articles, but when I am consulting a French art book at one of the libraries, my online French dictionary will find a translation. I admit that not everything is in New York but my computer is! Amazing collections from major libraries and museums are now digitized and accessible to me, many from home (some require me to be in my library to use their links.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">MY CHALLENGE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I was absorbing all this fascinating information, generating questions (often of myself) as I went along, and trying to gain a sense of how I would handle this challenge. I spent about eight months putting together the basic facts, but reaching answers to all my questions wouldl take much longer. Here I am in the 21st century; shaped by a society so different from Anne’s: it is diverse and democratic and respects the pursuit of knowledge; women are treated and considered completely differently than in Anne’s time; we are blessed with a growing wealth of information, new theories of history and art , advances in science and medicine; a world that values intellectual growth and individual development. Unlike Anne’s earlier biographers, I want to write a modern book; a good story that is also analytical. I want to tell the story of Anne’s life, in the context of her time and setting, so as to give perspective on contemporary lives. These people were experiencing the onset of the Renaissance! How did the time and place shape their attitudes –toward religion, medicine, parenthood, marriage, art, learning, warfare, royalty? I would have to find a way to put into a modern perspective both the facts and the understanding I was gleaning about this </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">unique</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> young duchess/queen who, while representing her time.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> And I would have to decide how to handle the many details and facts--even dates-- that remained in conflict after all my reading. My constant frustration at the inconsistent dates listed in the histories was alleviated when I found that calendars have been changed several times since her period; that years and ages were reckoned differently, and that the attempt to impose uniformity did not come until after her time. For Anne and several other characters, I </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> even be sure of when they were born! To say nothing of other controversies regarding people, antipathies, motives, and allies. Some books talked glowingly of the happiness of Anne and Charles when they married; others said she was virtually kidnapped!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I would have liked to be a scholar; to write a definitive biography; but my French isn’t good enough to research whatever original source material has not made it into English language books. But with the information available to me, I can write an interesting novel, that reveals and incorporates the issues that make it so compelling. I would tell the story of Anne in her time, based on actual historical events, but not write a history book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">HISTORIC FICTION, INSPIRATION, AND ASPIRATIONS</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’ve always been a reader; there is usually a novel by my bedside that I read for pleasure, and piles of books next to every chair, with a notebook on top, that I read for background and information. At some point, I realized that my recreational reading had shifted to historical fiction. First I would search for books about early France (and learned that most of them start with François I, who reigned after the death of Anne and her husband Louis. Books of the turn of the 15<sup>th</sup> century usually were about the Tudors in England or the Borgias in Italy. And frequently I would find that I could not read past a few pages: the writing was banal! The text would vary from detailed descriptions of gowns and people’s glances and heavy breathing to sword play. But then <i>Wolf Hall</i> came out in America. I was blown away. Hilary Mantel had crafted an absorbing story about real historical characters; with insight, depth, and skill. Then <i>Cleopatra</i>, by Stacy Schiff was published, to great acclaim. That was another case where the author crafted a wonderful biography despite not having definitive source information; yet she was able to call on the known facts and her broad research. Both of those works left me inspired and frustrated. I would love to write like that, but I know I am not as skilled as they. But better to aim for quality than settle for something I have no respect for. I would write what is known as ‘literary’ historic fiction. My aspirations are high. I gave up on bodice-rippers and focused on really good books that offered professional inspiration as well as an engaging story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">STYLE/FORM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So I knew most of what I want to say and what I want to leave the reader thinking about. But the question of how to say it was still to be resolved. I want to evoke compassion and sympathy toward a queen who lived five centuries ago. Because many of my sources were based on just a few early histories, and some facts were in conflict, my research did not reflect as broad a perspective as I would want and did not even mention or question some of the points that are of interest to contemporary readers. Not even all nobles in northwestern France or Brittany would think alike, I am sure. Indeed, I knew there were many conflicts. I would have to make assumptions and fill in a lot of areas that to us are significant but would not have been considered by early male historians who focused on politics and war or even the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> century women authors, who dwelt on romance, fashion, and ceremony. I want my reader to feel engaged in this story, to relate to the lives of Anne and her world, despite the fact that that world is so different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Anne was a woman, as well as a Queen, whose emotions should be understandable by the reader, even though the institutions and conditions she knew are so different from ours. My notebook was filled with ideas and false starts. And then it came to me. The people in Anne’s life would tell her story from their own points of view, sometimes not typical of their time. I had already made family trees and long lists and short bios of family, nobles, artists and religious leaders with whom she interacted. Some had fascinating stories themselves. Most significantly, the use of a variety of people would allow me to illustrate aspects of the time more sensitively than an all-knowing and -judging authorial voice.</span></div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-80481652134720241792012-02-14T11:44:00.000-05:002012-03-31T19:17:20.925-04:00When does it end?<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I’ve happily and proudly
declared (to myself) that I reached the end of my historical novel, “Journals of a Renaissance Court….the story of Anne of Brittany.” </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">Now I’m polishing. But last night I attended a
reading of a play by Lorraine Liscio about Christine de Pizan (1363-1434), who
although she died about 60 years before the period of my novel, was an
important influence on Anne and the other women in her time and place.</span></div>
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Christine was an intelligent, rather free-thinking and
influential woman, and quite possibly the first ‘professional writer.’ I have
all that in the book. But in the dramatization of her life I realized the possibilities of some of
the political characters and battles on which I had not really focused because they took place so much earlier. I see
some fascinating links that will really augment the story. </div>
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One of the ways to enrich
a historical novel is to include references and links to significant people and
events that relate to the main characters and situations. And now I have a
series of situations and family links that I know will be fascinating. That’s
today’s job. </div>
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But how and when do I
stop?</div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-78147078724962331482012-02-09T14:57:00.000-05:002012-02-09T14:57:16.546-05:00Learning from Midrash<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In my studies of Jewish teachings,
questions are often answered with 'Midrash.' The word comes from the Hebrew
word “to seek” and its literal meaning is ‘to investigate’ or ‘to study.’ Without
going into technical</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">explanations of the
two kinds of Midrash—legal and narrative—it can be said that Midrash is usually
described as a form of storytelling by rabbis and thinkers over the centuries
to fill in the gaps of biblical stories, words and teachings; to answer the
unexplainable; to comment on the unclear.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Midrashim (Hebrew plural for midrash) </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">may speculate on human weaknesses ..motivations
…nuances..on the available information. Midrashic stories are often told </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">to shift perceptions of stated actions. (i.e.
“why did Cain kill Abel?” “why was Noah chosen to save his family?” “why did
Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery?”) The goal seems always to be to find
a religious yet meaningful /logical /ethical explanation for questions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In contemporary terms, the process of explaining
answers to difficult questions can be related to the sages’ development of
Midrash. “Mommy, why…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">No novel, whatever its subject or goal, can be compared to the work of rabbis who
wrote Midrash, or to learned teachings. But on consideration, I believe that in
the process of writing fiction based on real but incomplete or flawed history,
it is the author’s task to create secular Midrash…to explain what is unclear or
unknown from the available facts; to speculate on the participants' actions and
thoughts; sometimes to shift perceptions of accepted dogma by applying a new
lens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">My novel about Anne of Brittany, which
takes place in France 1488-1515, is based on
a great deal of historical research. But most of the history of that
period consists of dates: wars, treaties, reigns, births, deaths, marriages.
That leaves a lot of blanks. I’ve learned at least as much from the arts of the
period, and from visiting the places in her life. But that is still not
sufficient to tell a meaningful story. That’s why I couldn’t write it as a
biography or history. I’ve had to extrapolate to fill in the blanks. Why?
Where? When? How? What did it feel like? What were the reactions of others? Who
are the people without titles who made things happen? It had to be a historical
novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I do not intend to be presumptuous or
irreverent by using the word Midrash. Instead, again, it has offered me another
view of the process of thinking and writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-40628991809381921592011-10-17T12:04:00.000-04:002011-10-27T15:18:46.601-04:00<br />
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CHARACTERS IN ANNE'S LIFE AND TIMES</div>
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<b>ANNE DE BRETAGNE </b>1476-1514 Duchess of Brittany, Queen of
France </div>
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Anne had always been prepared to become Duchess.
When she was about 12 her father died
and she became ruler of Brittany, a major player in European politics. Marriage
to King Charles VIII of France seemed a solution to its battles and financial
woes. Left a widow at 21, she married his successor, Louis XII. As Queen, her most
critical role was to give birth to a dauphin. Despite nine pregnancies, she
failed, yet lived a rich and productive life, helping to lead France into the
Renaissance, fostering the arts, knowledge, and religion. Her court was a
center for European politics . </div>
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<b>Cardinal Georges d’Amboise<i> </i></b> 1460-1510.
Friend and advisor to Louis XII,
his role was supportive, political and diplomatic, as well as
religious. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ANNE DE BEAUJEU</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, 1460-1522 Duchess of Bourbon, also
known as Anne of France. Sister of
Charles VIII and Regent until he was old enough to assume the throne, then
reluctant to relinquish power. Frequent
rival of Anne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><b>Jacques de Beaune</b>, 1445-1527 Merchant whose power and
importance grew as he became
Treasurer-General to Queen Anne and eventually chief Financial Officer for
François I.</i></div>
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<i>Anne Boleyn. 1</i>502-1536
Lady-in-waiting to Mary Tudor and Queen Claude until she returned to England
and court of Henry VIII. </div>
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<b>CHARLES VIII</b>, 1470-1498
King of France, Anne’s husband. Frequently at war, first with Brittany, then in
Italy, in attempt to gain crowns of Naples and Milan. Died at 28, childless, after
hitting his head on his way to watch a tennis match. </div>
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<b>CLAUDE</b><i>,</i> 1499-1524 Daughter of Anne and Louis
XII. Queen of France and Duchess of
Brittany. Often a political pawn. Married to François d’Angoulême who inherited
the crown of France when Louis died, so she became Queen and achieved the goal
her mother did not: her many pregnancies produced a successor,
King Henri II, and she was grandmother of three kings.
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<i>Michel Colomb, 1430-1513 Master sculptor of Tours. He designed and
supervised the tomb of Anne’s parents and was a major influence on other French
artists.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><i>Madame Francoise de Dinan</i></b><i>. 1436-1499 Governess, then Councilor to
Anne who later joined a plot against her.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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FRANÇOIS II, 1435-1488 Duke of Brittany. Anne's father and last Duke.</div>
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Henry VIII. 1491-1547 King of England. Brother of Mary
Tudor</div>
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<b>LOUIS XII</b>, 1462-1515
King of France. Ascended to throne and married Anne after Charles VIII died.
Known as “father of his people,’ he did a
great deal to help his country but his invasions of Italy to claim other thrones were failures. From his sojourns in Italy he learned to
appreciate its arts and letters, and brought
home libraries, craftsmen, and artists, including Leonardo da Vinci. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Louise de
Savoie </b>1477-1531 Mother of François I
and Marguerite </span>d’Angoulême<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. After the death of her husband she often lived in
the court of Louis XII and groomed her
son to be king. An educated, smart, and sometimes devious woman, she was
jealous of Anne in many ways, but felt superior because she had a son who would
and could become king.</span></div>
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Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli 1469-1527
Italian writer, political scientist, philosopher, statesman, diplomat who met
with Louis XII several times in attempts to improve relations between Italy and France.<u><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<b>MARGUERITE D’
ANGOULÊME</b> (de Navarre) 1492-1549 Daughter
of Louise de Savoie, Sister of François I. Married Charles d’Alençon and Henry de Navarre. Like her mother, for many
years she lived to support her brother’s position. A brilliant woman and
writer, as she matured she was involved in politics and religion, and highly
respected. </div>
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Marguerite of Austria. 1480- 1530 Daughter of Maximilian.
Lived in French court as a child, since her betrothal at the age of two to Charles VIII. When he
decided to marry Anne of Brittany, she was sent back to Austria. Maximilian, attempting to ally with Spain,
arranged with Ferdinand and Isabella for Marguerite to marry their son John and
for his son Philip to marry their daughter Juana. </div>
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<b>MARGUERITE DE FOIX</b>,
1453-1486. Second wife of François II, mother of Anne and Isabeau. </div>
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MARY TUDOR. 1494-1558. Sister of Henry VIII. Third wife of Louis XII. </div>
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<b>Maximillian of
Austria</b>. 1459-1519. King of Germany, King of the Romans, Archduke of
Austria, Holy Roman Emperor. Married by Proxy to Anne 1490. Father of
Marguerite of Austria. </div>
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<b><i>Jean Meschinot</i></b>, Household poet and Master of the Court</div>
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<b><i>Maréchal Philippe de Montauban</i></b>. 1455-1513 Councilor to Duke of Brittany and then
his daughter Anne’s closest advisor.</div>
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<i>Ofelia Devora
Amador-Espinosa</i>. Medical advisor to Anne. Forced to leave Spain after her
physician father , a “New Christian,” was killed in the Inquisition. </div>
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<i>François de Paule</i>.
1416-1507. Hermit-Priest and Holy Man thought to have great powers. </div>
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RENÉE, Daughter of Anne and Louis XII. 1510-1575<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"> </span></div>
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LOUIS XI, King of France. 1423-1483. Father of Charles VIII,
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JEANNE DE VALOIS. 1465-1505
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<b><i>Etienne de Vesc</i></b>. 1445-1501 As a member of the court of Louis XI, he was
and remained a strong influence on Charles VIII and encouraged him to invade
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Leonardo da Vinci. Artist, 1452-1519 resident at court
of François I, where he died.</div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-7944310710521415522011-10-11T11:33:00.000-04:002011-10-17T12:10:31.879-04:00<br />
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Pursuit…curiosity….and writing</div>
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came together when I was in the beautiful city of Nantes, which
has many reminders of Anne and her
family. I spent a fascinating hour pursuing another of my interests—graphic arts—at
the Musée de l’imprimerie—the Museum of Printing. </div>
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I admired a print being made on an old lithography press, and
then found it among the graphics offered for sale. I knew enough French to
relate the text to pursuit and writing; and thought the piece was beautiful, so
bought it.</div>
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The text says: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Tant et tant d’or j’ai dépensé pour l’écriture enfin trouver”</span></i></div>
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Once home, with my French dictionary at hand, I set to a
precise translation, which eluded me. I have now asked for help from people I
know who are fluent in French, who are themselves immersed in literature and
the arts. I’ve gotten some literal translations, which fall short; and some
more complex interpretations, which are probably closer. Michelle, a very
cultured Parisian who knows several languages, identified the calligraphy as Arabic
and tried to translate it, but could not be precise. Brigitte, a Swiss-born
academic, thinks it may be old French. Annette, who is immersed in
literature and the arts, but whose French is not great, gave it a metaphorical interpretation,
which I really like, that “ all the gold and worldly goods are an empty pursuit
next to the art or beauty in the design itself.”</div>
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She’s a very perceptive old friend, who knows me, and added that
she saw I was pursuing another journey to satisfy my curiosity. She is right,
and I will add that my pursuit of curiosity has been noted and appreciated by many
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I received a response from the president of the museum in Nantes, who said that the Arabic calligraphy is by a Tunisian-born artist who lives in Nantes, named Lassaâd Metoui, whom he will ask about the meaning.<br />
Anyone else have any ideas?</div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-74127910814557375562011-09-27T16:19:00.000-04:002011-09-27T16:19:31.541-04:00FAMILY PORTRAIT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8mCXEtPsXk/ToIthfyuB_I/AAAAAAAAADc/6SNEnSY1PkI/s1600/IMG_3216_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8mCXEtPsXk/ToIthfyuB_I/AAAAAAAAADc/6SNEnSY1PkI/s320/IMG_3216_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I photographed this reproduction of a small painting by Jean Bourdichon. It shows Anne, Louis and their daughter Claude with Francois, to whom she was already betrothed. As heir to the crown unless or until Anne and Louis should have a son, Francois lived with them in the court.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-45352834338850323052011-09-27T16:14:00.000-04:002011-09-27T16:14:03.767-04:00Anne's family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MImcc6TB3q8/ToIpt1HENiI/AAAAAAAAADU/kW8EHlcg12U/s1600/IMG_3452_Charles+Orland+portrait-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MImcc6TB3q8/ToIpt1HENiI/AAAAAAAAADU/kW8EHlcg12U/s200/IMG_3452_Charles+Orland+portrait-1.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">As I was walking through the Louvre, I saw a painting of a child that looked very familiar: it was Charles Orland, the son of Anne and Charles VIII, the much-beloved Dauphin, who died in 1495 at the age of three. The artist was Jean Hey. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Most of the representations were formalized portraits, except for one large oil from the Musee de Beaux Arts de Lyon, painted by Francesco Bassano. Both of Anne's husbands sought to win Italy, and were often at war. This is described as "Charles VIII receiving the crown of Naples in Battle." However, the text says that he did not gain Naples by combat; which reinforces my decision that there is so much lack of clarity that I can only tell this story as a novel.<span style="background: white;"> </span></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">HISTORY IS REVEALED THROUGH ART </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It was art that started me on this pursuit, and that has been
foundational in developing content. Because Anne, both of her
husbands, and her family were patrons of the arts, it is largely through art
that important parts of their lives have been revealed to me. Although I
haven’t gone back to the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum is my
second home, and in the past few years it has had special exhibitions of
illuminated manuscripts and tomb sculpture as well as lectures about them that
have been valuable and pertinent. The Cloisters is a repository of works of the
period and before, and its lectures have provided information about herbal
medicine, dyes, and images in art and tapestry, with insight into
patronage and religious views. The JP Morgan Library and Museum had a fabulous
exhibition of illuminated manuscripts, including some made for Anne and her
family; and I was fortunate to hear the curator himself talk about them, with a
group of people fascinated by the Renaissance who had come from Boston for the
same exhibitions and lectures I was attending. I was surprised and delighted that
my esoteric interests were shared by so many enthusiasts. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">REWARD FOR GOING OUT ON A FREEZING DAY</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">One January Saturday I braved the frigid weather to walk uptown to
visit a gallery on Madison Avenue. I’d seen a small item in the paper that they
were featuring art of France in 1500. How could I not follow through? Once
there, I was immediately warmed by what I found. First of all, there was a
beautiful miniature that was framed by the cordelière: the image of twisted
ropes that was Anne’s symbol. Everything there was interesting; much of it
directly involved characters I already knew. I turned to talk to the man
working in the gallery and learned that he was a graduate student studying this
artistic period, focusing on Bourdichon, one of the artists whose names I
had become familiar with. The gallery director told me that a major show,
assembled and curated by the Louvre and the Art Institute of Chicago, would be
in Chicago in the Spring, and that there would be a definitive catalog in
English about this subject. Fortunately, my brother lives in Chicago, and
welcomed me for a wonderful visit with his family. The nearby Newberry
Library supplemented that show with manuscripts and art of the period. I spent
a tremendously valuable day at the extraordinary exhibitions, and many hours
afterward poring over the catalog, which is the most informative piece </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> read, even resolving some of the conflicts of other
historians. It was as though it was all put together for me!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anne de Bretagne is a legendary figure in Brittany, somewhat less so in the rest of France. Hotels, streets, restaurants and historic sites bear the name of Anne de Bretagne. She is better represented in the arts. However, the depth of information or explanation is minimal, and some of it is contradictory. Rather than being frustrated by that, I realize that it confirms my original determination that if I want to write about her, I would have to go beyond the accepted facts.</div>
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The most significant recognition of Anne de Bretagne in America and much of the world is for the art and books she commissioned. The Book of Hours of Anne de Bretagne, in the JP Morgan Library Museum in New York, is considered one of the finest of its kind. And the tomb of her parents, which is in the Cathedral of Nantes, is recognized as one of the finest examples of early Renaissance sculpture and funerary art…and was the lure that brought me into her world when I saw a reproduction in the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">France gave me some new images of Anne and the people in her world. At the Chateau de Saint-Malo, t<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">here was a very large painting of a procession in which Anne is entering Saint-Malo with the Bishop, showing an impressive retinue. The Château de Saint-Malo was largely built by Anne and her father…but the painting was not mentioned in its flyer or known about by the museum guide. I came upon it after he told me not to bother going there!</span></span>caption</td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span></div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-6206366092682233992011-09-27T14:34:00.000-04:002011-09-27T14:34:49.222-04:00HISTORY REVEALED THROUGH ART<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gez2IrdYYd0/ToITG4KUNlI/AAAAAAAAAC4/lZYmBm7RDec/s1600/IMG_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gez2IrdYYd0/ToITG4KUNlI/AAAAAAAAAC4/lZYmBm7RDec/s200/IMG_3214.JPG" width="200" /></a>One important realization is scale: this small woman lived in a very large world. Each château <span> </span>is really a small city, inhabited by hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The image on the right is a model of the Chateau des duc de Nantes, and below are the main wings and tower walls.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3ZsBZ34Qus/ToIWAS_brhI/AAAAAAAAAC8/ocMD1SJJq8g/s1600/IMG_3206Chateau+at+Nantes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3ZsBZ34Qus/ToIWAS_brhI/AAAAAAAAAC8/ocMD1SJJq8g/s320/IMG_3206Chateau+at+Nantes.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kaeDd5AIY_s/ToIWMzBlrUI/AAAAAAAAADA/qhwi5z4zid8/s1600/IMG_3229+chateau+towers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kaeDd5AIY_s/ToIWMzBlrUI/AAAAAAAAADA/qhwi5z4zid8/s320/IMG_3229+chateau+towers.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The rooms are large, the furniture I saw (with qualifications that most is not original) is massive. Distances are quite large. It is hard to understand how the court could have traveled so much, so far, so often. And she was frequently pregnant! My train rides from place to place were lovely and comfortable, through beautiful farmland and occasional woods, and took several hours each. Horses, carriages, litters, and even barges are much more cumbersome and slower means of transportation.</div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0Nantes, France47.218371 -1.55362100000002147.160765999999995 -1.6353510000000211 47.275976 -1.4718910000000209tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-69556215452480630242011-09-27T13:32:00.000-04:002011-09-27T13:32:40.543-04:00My encounters with Anne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2jWeJ7DlAw/ToIGyHwpMSI/AAAAAAAAACg/YNZv-lqZpek/s1600/IMG_3283+Anne+and+Pat2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2jWeJ7DlAw/ToIGyHwpMSI/AAAAAAAAACg/YNZv-lqZpek/s200/IMG_3283+Anne+and+Pat2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi-8___ymbo/ToIHOqBYzzI/AAAAAAAAACk/GOZmI2iUYmw/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi-8___ymbo/ToIHOqBYzzI/AAAAAAAAACk/GOZmI2iUYmw/s320/IMG_3398.JPG" width="240" /></a>As you see, I found Anne, more than once: the blue version is in Nantes, the white in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. She is formidable, and still hard to get to know. I could not interview her, or see much of the inner woman. But by visiting her most important homes—the châteaux at Blois and Amboise—and experiencing her environment, I do have a better perspective on Anne, her life, and her times.Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0France46.227638 2.213749000000007141.328188 -5.3970509999999932 51.127088 9.8245490000000082tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-29221973422532896682011-09-18T16:04:00.000-04:002012-03-31T18:28:09.606-04:00I am in France, and following AnneBut I have been having trouble trying to post to this blog as I had intended. My little Netbook is troublesome, and I have not had Internet, although it was promised, in several of my hotels. I have, however, been keeping up a journal and taking many pictures, which I will post as soon as possible.<br />
I can fully attest to Anne's death: the first monument I visited, at Basilica St. Denis in Paris, was her tomb:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj-7AU-y6FA/TnZNt94cdEI/AAAAAAAAAB8/BuLCxZeBD9g/s1600/IMG_2991tomb+ofAnne+%2526+Louis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj-7AU-y6FA/TnZNt94cdEI/AAAAAAAAAB8/BuLCxZeBD9g/s320/IMG_2991tomb+ofAnne+%2526+Louis.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Blois was the favorite home of Anne's husband King Louis XII. It had been added to over centuries, and he made many additions and improvements when they lived there. This is known as the Louis XII wing:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RecICU-s6vE/TnZaGes8hGI/AAAAAAAAACQ/bpRWXlfXd6M/s1600/IMG_3173+Louis+wing+at+Blois.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RecICU-s6vE/TnZaGes8hGI/AAAAAAAAACQ/bpRWXlfXd6M/s320/IMG_3173+Louis+wing+at+Blois.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7dLVLWDV9s/TnZa8ppWYkI/AAAAAAAAACU/jED70x8oXjA/s1600/IMG_3171+Louis+at+Blois+entrance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7dLVLWDV9s/TnZa8ppWYkI/AAAAAAAAACU/jED70x8oXjA/s320/IMG_3171+Louis+at+Blois+entrance.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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This is the figure of the regal king over the entrance to the chateau<br />
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One important realization is scale: this small woman lived in a very large world. Each château is really a small city, inhabited by hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The image below is the Chateau des duc de Nantes, and below are the main wings and tower walls.The rooms are large, the furniture I saw (with qualifications that most is not original) is massive. Distances are quite large. It is hard to understand how the court could have traveled so much, so far, so often. And she was frequently pregnant! My train rides from place to place were lovely and comfortable, through beautiful farmland and occasional woods, and took several hours each. Horses, carriages, litters, and even barges are much more cumbersome and slower means of transportation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CfrLHisqHJ4/TnZcfjLRKVI/AAAAAAAAACY/Ekv1jVDlMmY/s1600/IMG_3172Anne%2527s+symbols+at+Blois.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CfrLHisqHJ4/TnZcfjLRKVI/AAAAAAAAACY/Ekv1jVDlMmY/s400/IMG_3172Anne%2527s+symbols+at+Blois.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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The rooms are large, the furniture I saw (with qualifications that most is not original) is massive. Distances are quite large. It is hard to understand how the court could have traveled so much, so far, so often. And she was frequently pregnant! My train rides from place to place were lovely and comfortable, through beautiful farmland and occasional woods, and took several hours each. Horses, carriages, litters, and even barges are much more cumbersome and slower means of transportation.<br />
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<br /></div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-58883963452090889682011-08-28T13:00:00.000-04:002012-03-31T19:13:44.858-04:00Curiosity, knowledge, the journey, and the hurricane<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">PURSUING ANSWERS AND GOING TO THE SOURCE: FRANCE</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Art started me on this journey, but along the way I’ve found several areas that called for further exploration and analysis to better
understand Anne and her time. I’m examining issues such as destiny, royalty,
family roles, marriage, motherhood, education, art, science, medicine, religion
(as motivator/explanation/vehicle), culture, differing male and female roles
and responsibilities. How did these influence Anne, in what proportion?
What did people of that time know that we don’t?—allegory, spiritualism,
superstition. How different was she from other women of her class? My
novel should give my reader more than the story of the characters and the time.
I want to elicit new ways of thinking about our lives and era, as well as
those. How did people live before science and the scientific method? Most
people, of any class, grew up to live the lives they were ordained to. What was
it like, despite having so much, not to have a real choice about what one would
do in life?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">PRACTICAL INFORMATION</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">In the back of my mind as I wrote more and grew confident in my
work, I realized that I really have to see the places I write about, not only
for physical descriptions, but for atmosphere. If not now, when? I’m healthy,
I’m able, no one needs me on a regular basis. I won’t have to borrow for the
trip. And so I determined, finally, that I would do it! I used my frequent
flyer miles to book a trip to France for September. I worked out my own
itinerary, which is not that of the typical tourist (I’d seen a lot of
those sights on an earlier trip.) Then I decided (with the advice of members of
my writers’ group) that since I will be traveling alone, by train, I’d better
improve my French. I enrolled in a very good Intermediate French class and felt
much more confident in my ability to get around and communicate, and have my
time be more productive.</span><br />
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August 28, 2011--We in Manhattan seem to have gotten through the hurricane with little severe damage; although there has been a great deal of disruption. Because of all the early warnings and precautions taken for the last several days, normal activity stopped. People had time to stock up and do what was necessary. So although I spent many hours securing my apartment; taking in all the plants and furniture from my terrace—that means moving everything around to make room in a small apartment; filling pitchers, jars, pots, and pails with water; and cancelling weekend activities, everything is fine for me. Not everyone fared so well, depending on where they live and how seriously they took warnings. I've had time to spend working on the details of my trip, which is just ten days away. </div>
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One of the fascinating things I’ve learned about the life and times of Anne of Brittany is that the court traveled a great deal. There must have been amazing logistics involved, since hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of people would relocate several times a year from one château or capital to another. And they would bring with them furnishings, food, and equipment to take care of the movable court. No hotels or motels along the way—they stayed at the châteaux of the nobles, who would have to be able to accommodate them. I haven’t seen satisfying details of how they managed all this. How long in advance would they send a messenger to say that “We’ll be coming by with 800 people next week.”? Traveling by litter and barge, Anne’s trip from Lyon to Blois took eight days, and she did it rather often. Now it can be traversed in less than three hours, by train or auto. </div>
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I’ve been reflecting on the information we have available now, constantly being updated and refined: weather maps following the storm, communications from government, utilities, first responders; the knowledge that allows informed predictions so that precautions can be taken. And of course weather is just the current topic; the same is true about disease, nutrition, space, and technology. With all that, knowledge is not perfect. Compare that to earlier times, when they just didn’t know or understand the forces of nature, the relationships among events and conditions. Copernicus’ major book asserting that the sun is the center of the universe was published in 1543, after all of the characters in Anne’s life had died. And its validity was not established until 1616, by Galileo’s study of the tides. </div>
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Curiosity must be a universal instinct, and before the acceptance of scientific method would have had to be fed by imagination, religion, and magical thinking. How fortunate I am to be able to follow my curiosity across time and place.</div>
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<br /></div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2596819237798156696.post-86446274160246949752011-07-31T15:14:00.005-04:002012-03-31T18:34:13.479-04:00<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">WRITING, PREPARING, STARTING TO GO PUBLIC</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Learning from Henry James about Bluebeard and Anne</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">July, 2011</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My obsession has been pretty private; I haven’t spoken a lot about my interest, although several people know that I am writing a historical novel, and I’ve mentioned Anne of Brittany, whom few people know about. I say she was Queen of France twice—and that awakened a friend who remembered reading a book about her when she was a teenager. Little is generally known or taught about the time or characters. Writers and film makers have acquainted Americans with the Tudors, the Borgias, and the Boleyns. Most novels of the period are set in England. American novelists don’t set novels in France until the time of Diane de Poitiers, which is more than thirty years and three kings later than Anne and her husbands (except for Eleanor of Aquitaine, who has a link to England.) . Whenever I see a reference to Anne in general print or electronic media, even general history or guidebooks, it is cursory , general, and often wrong. Anyone who reads this can see that I’ve become obsessive about the time, the period, and the issues. As I became more involved, and told people about my travel plans, they ask questions and I perceive that they are becoming interested too. I’ve even gotten advice from someone I respect to refer to “Anne of Brittany” in English, not to use the French. Starting this blog is a big step for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My work and my days and evenings are now proceeding on several planes at once:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">1- most important, I continue to work on the book. As of mid-July, I have twenty-one chapters written, and in some stage of editing. The last chapter is still only notes; it has to tie everything together and I will not do that until I return from France and go over everything again. I have started to build an index; chapter by chapter. It will be put together in a few months, when I have completed my draft. Having the index allows me to double-check details about people and places, to augment notes for my trip, and to deal with an issue that is an ongoing concern-the use of French or Anglicized names for people, titles, and places. In this round with the index, I am also working to coordinate and update the timeline to keep the narrative consistent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">2--It’s about two months until I get to France. There’s quite a bit more preparation I want to make for the trip: more notes about places and background; decisions about time allocation; what to bring. Shall I get a Kindle, or even an iPad? If I get my netbook fixed, will it allow me to work efficiently and write as I go along? I have my file box, my notebooks, my voice recorder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">3--French. Next week is the last class; I’m working hard and improving all the time, but not nearly as good as I’d like to be. I read quite well, and can probably be understood, if not considered literate. I’ll keep trying to improve as I go along. I will load a French dictionary on my e-reader, whichever one I get.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">4—This narrative has to become a blog. People have been asking enough questions that I see the value. It will both provoke more interest and help to promote the book. I’m almost far enough along to start figuring out the mechanics of creating a personal, professional blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">July 5, 2011</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Yesterday I went to see “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen. I smiled the whole time! And I felt tremendously excited on all levels. It was a charming film, but I was thrilled at the idea that I would be in that beautiful place in two months. What is it about Paris that affects writers and artists so completely? Last night I heard David McCullough talk about it in connection with his new book about the American artists who went to Paris in the 19<sup>th</sup> century. Surely there is some of that same feeling that people have for New York. But what? I think perhaps it is the atmosphere of excitement, of encouragement to creativity, of openness to ideas and to diversity. And in Paris, one is surrounded by beauty, unlike most of New York. Yet that is not what I need from Paris; I’m really not going for ‘creative’ reasons, although I fully expect to be inspired by being there and in France. For me it really is the research, the in-depth understanding of the places that will give more fullness to my writing. And I have found always, whenever I travel, that being alone, going to a different place, even somehow, the time difference, does stimulate me to think more profoundly and to write more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">July 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I had lunch with a Canadian friend and her attorney-son whose father’s family is from the Loire valley. History fascinates him. He was very interested in my book and according to her, “intrigued by the subject of (my) novel” He knows more about Anne than anyone I’ve met, and had recently been to her principal châteaux while visiting his grandmother in Angers. He was able to tell his mother quite a bit about Anne de Bretagne and “the precarious political position of Brittany that destined her to become the queen to two French kings, and through her daughter Claude, the bearer of the future French royal dynasty.” Not only does he know a lot, but I was really heartened to learn that he had said “that Anne de Bretagne is comparatively unknown to Anglo-Saxons and that most of the research material is in French.” She added that they agreed “You might have a best seller.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">July 9 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It is Saturday, so I spent most of the day studying: French, which I am taking very seriously, of course. Also spent considerable time on the work for my Study Group-lately that is the main counter to my French preoccupation. Yesterday I made my final reservation for the last three nights in Paris, at a nicer, more expensive hotel. One final blowout. This afternoon I got an email from my friend Jim about self publishing, and that spurred me to work on this some more, in preparation for using this some way. It is interesting, but who would want to read it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">July 12, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Last night I went to Barnes & Noble to hear Ina Caro, a historian, talk about her new book that deals with seeing French history by train, using Paris as your base. I have and am reading her earlier book. Her best single idea, in my mind, is traveling chronologically, to afford a better perspective on history and changes as they progress, visible through architecture. I certainly appreciate the concept, which won’t really work for me. This book is also an interesting way of planning a longer vacation in France; one she came up with when she had an apartment in Paris. I asked her specifically whether the idea for this kind of trip came first, or the decision to write about it. She didn’t answer. My next question was about the people: were the people friendly? Someone else had asked about being alone, as opposed to her travel with her (well-known historian ) husband Robert. She didn’t answer that either. She replied to me that the people were not friendly, but were always polite. She said that French people always do what is legal. A man tapped me on the shoulder and said, “If your accent is better than hers, people will be nicer to you.” I’m working hard on my French.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: #0C343D; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"> After spending much of
the day working on the details of my trip, I decided to go to my new Kindle, on
which I had downloaded the Complete Works of Henry James, so that I
could read about his travels in France. He's a wonderful writer, of course, and
it was fun reading, utilizing the ability to mark highlights and make
notes...until I came to the section on Nantes--a very important place in Anne's
life. As he traveled through the Loire Valley and visited some châteaux, he
heard about Anne from some of his guides, with just the usual minimal detail.
But almost as an aside he says that the chateau in which she and Charles
sometimes lived was, about 80 years earlier, the home of "the
horrible Maréchal de Retz, who in the fifteenth century was executed at Nantes
for the murder of a couple of hundred young children...."</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: #0C343D; color: #ddeeff; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Not in all my reading had I seen anything
about this. So of course, I ran to Google, and found several
strange references, most dealing with vampires and werewolves. But
there were some more straightforward explanations of a Gilles de
Rais, (or Retz) born in 1404 near Nantes. He was from a noble family that bore
many of the names mentioned throughout the history
of Brittany and of the characters in my book. He was well educated,
entered the military, and married a wealthy heiress. At some point,
he became increasingly weird, and lived alone with his servants in his castle.
For seven years he "<i>inveigled little boys and girls into his castle, at
the rate of about two each week, and then put them to death in various ways,
that he might witness their agonies and bathe in their blood, experiencing
after each occasion the most dreadful remorse, but led on by an irresistible
craving to repeat the crime. When this unparalleled iniquity was finally
brought to just light, the castle was found to contain bins full of children's
bones</i>." </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #0C343D; color: #ddeeff; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Other references said that the
legend of Bluebeard may be based on his story.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #0c343d; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="background: #0C343D; color: #ddeeff; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">But why had I never seen anything about it before? How do I
work it into the story? It's too juicy to ignore.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #0c343d; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="background: #0C343D; color: #ddeeff; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">More research of course, and more room for my own
imagination, but would this be a partial solution for the people who warn me to
"make it sexy'? It's certainly sensational, more than I could ever have
imagined.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Patricia Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732044444690299488noreply@blogger.com3