History Is Stranger Than Fiction by Lauren Willig
History is stranger than fiction. Recently, I had the fun of seeing select scenes from my first book, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, transformed from prose into pictures. Pink Carnation is set in 1803, during Napoleon’s tenure as First Consul, just at the point where Anglo-French relations deteriorating once again into open warfare. My half-English, half-French heroine is in the famous Yellow Salon of the Tuileries Palace, being presented to Mme Bonaparte, when Bonaparte himself barrels in, interrupting the conversation and knocking her half off her feet.
Kind of over the top, no? A little burlesqued, even. I had a moment of alarm on seeing the comic version, wondering what readers might think. Would it strike them as too absurd? But that was Napoleon for you. He really did barge into his wife’s salons, interrupting mid-sentence. He bolted his food at meals, forcing everyone to eat as quickly as he did, and there are even memorable stories of his ripping—yes, literally ripping—the dresses off women he suspected of wearing embargoed British muslin rather than French linen from St. Quentin. It gives a whole new meaning to bodice ripper.
One of the best parts of writing historical fiction is getting to stumble across tidbits like these. History is full of slapstick—like Josephine’s pug dog, Fortune, biting the future Emperor on their wedding night, or King Charles I getting stuck in a window while attempting to escape from Parliamentary custody. Not so amusing for the players at the time, but pure Monty Python in retrospect.
One of the difficulties of writing historical fiction is judging when the absurd is too absurd, when truth will come across as falsehood, because, really, who does things like that? My entire series is premised around the notion of flower-named spies dashing about Europe during the Napoleonic Wars, leaving witty notes on Napoleon’s pillow and thwarting his military maneuvers. Absurd? Perhaps. True? Absolutely. There was a veritable bouquet of spies with flower aliases on the prowl in early nineteenth century France, including a Mouron (a Pimpernel), and, my favorite, la Prime-Rose (a pun on primrose), a comely lady spy who, when the occasion called for it, could disguise herself as anything from a courtesan to a young boy.
Were there female spies during the Napoleonic Wars? You betcha. La Prime-Rose (like my own fictional Pink Carnation) was just one among many. One of my favorite bizarre but true stories is that of a fifty-year old widow, a Mrs. Arabella Williams, who successfully disguised herself for several years as a teenage cabin boy while she carried information back and forth between England and France.
I could go on and on—and generally do, unless stopped by that glaze-eyed expression people get when you pontificate at them at cocktail parties. Among my researches, I’ve stumbled across an Indian ruler who liked to strangle courtesans with silk handkerchiefs, a rebellion in Ireland foiled by accidental fireworks, the inner workings of the Hellfire Club, and even some surprising information about that perpetual fan favorite, Miss Jane Austen.
Some things even I can’t make up….
Thank you Lauren for paying visit and what a cool post and how fun it was to read. I love comic art and I think that is more my thing too when it comes down to art. It is so different to put a face to the character and she what it turns out like. For more on Lauren and her wonderful comic check out her website. Trust me I saw it and man is it cool. Now it is giveaway time,
Rules
For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, thanks, and please let me know in the comments. You're eligible for the extra entry as well.
For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.
Giveaway will end on October 13rd at midnight.
Good luck to everyone I know one lucky reader is going to be very happy with this one.
Setting off for England, Eloise is determined to finish her dissertation on two spies, the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. But what she discovers is something historians have missed: the secret history of the Pink Carnation-the most elusive spy of all time. As she works to unmask this obscure spy, Eloise has more and more questions. Like, how did the Pink Carnation save England from Napoleon? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly escape her bad luck and find a living, breathing hero of her own"?
More on Lauren
http://www.laurenwillig.com/Facebook
Send a Pink Carnation E-card
Amazon
Great post! Please enter me in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteroselz18(at)yahoo(dot)com
I already follow your blog!
Great post Lizzy and I think this book is a great way to entertain us as well as inform us about history. AND it's always interesting to learn that the royals were just as human as we are with all their antics. I'd love to win this book and looking forward to more in the series.
ReplyDeleteFondly, Roberta
rlphilbr13@aol.com
Hey Lizzy...oh yes I'm a follower ;)
ReplyDeleteRoberta
rlphilbr13@aol.com
Okay...I just tweeted, facebooked and DUG your giveaway post link to share the blog love ;)
ReplyDeleteRoberta
rlphilbr13@aol.com
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1222723325
http://twitter.com/rlphilbr13
Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteRachelhwallen@gmail.com
The things that aren't taught in history classes. I have learned some really unusual facts about history, that is always my response, you just can't make this stuff up. I would love to read the book.
ReplyDeleteI am already a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
What a thoroughly delightful post. I love knowing strange-but-true tidbits. Thanks for the giveaway. This is a series I've been wanting to start.
ReplyDeleteextra entry - follower through Google Reader
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
No need to enter me because I already have this one, but this was a great post. I can't believe that a 50 year old woman could disguise herself as a teenage boy! That's incredible!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah!!! Please enter me in the giveaway! I am a follower! Thanks so much...
ReplyDeletetiger_fan_1997 AT yahoo DOT com
Oh yeah!!! Please enter me in the giveaway! I am a follower! Thanks so much...
ReplyDeletetiger_fan_1997 AT yahoo DOT com
sounds great!
ReplyDeletehewella1 at gmail dot com
gfc follower #1
ReplyDeletehewella1 at gmail dot com
gfc follower #2
ReplyDeletehewella1 at gmail dot com
I have been wanting to read this series. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'm an old GFC follower.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict/status/26624393534
truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom
Totally interested in Lauren's comments, definitely leaves me wanting more! Thanks, Susan. PS Please enter me in the contest too!
ReplyDeleteso excited about this book. i love the new cover!
ReplyDeletecreedy2280(at)att(dot)net
this is a great blog will use it for reader's advisory for historical fiction. yay!
Hello everyone, I am so glad you all feel the same way as me. History is entertaining and it is so nice to know that other people enjoy the same unusual history as me. It is fun reading and then doing research on them after-wards. Dolleygurl I am so with you I could not believe that a fifty year old woman could pass as a teenage boy. She must have been super skinny and very young looking.
ReplyDeleteGood luck everyone I am reading it now and loving it.
Looks like a really good book!
ReplyDeletekfehnel@gmail.com
Already a follower =)
thanks for the chance to read this novel :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
well I would love to win this book and I follow your blog
ReplyDeletethanks for giving me a chanch
gramsof 20
rosepedal60@gmail.com
Thanks for this one! Very excited :)
ReplyDeleteI follow
faithismymiddlename[at]gmail[dot]com
I also reTweeted the post :)
ReplyDeletekidneyinacooler @ twitter
faithismymiddlename[at]gmail[dot]com
faithismymiddlename@gmail.com
+1 Very interesting post by Miss Lauren. Her post reads as if she was in front of me telling an exciting story! I would love to read her novel.
ReplyDelete+2 I do follow you thru google connect. Thanks.
~Bella
nunezbella at hotmail dotcom
I've been a fan of Lauren Willig's for some time. And now, through her website, I have discovered your blog and am now an enthusiastic follower of your's as well! Love everything about your blog . . . the articles, the book suggestions! Please enter me in the contest to win Lauren's book.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
jbostick@16jdc.org
Thank you everyone for your cool comments. I am so in love with this series snow and I have something big in store for it next year. I can not wait to tell you all about it but that will have to wait until next year. I am getting the winner now and will post it in Mailbox Mondays tomorrow. Good luck everyone is Lauren not the coolest or what?
ReplyDelete