Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Joseph Caraud "Marie Antoinette"

Joseph Caraud (1821-1905)
La Reine marie­Antoinette Et Sa Fille, Madame Royale, A Versailles
Oil on canvas
1870
102.9 x 81.9 cm
(3' 4.51" x 32.24")
Private collection

Joseph Caraud (1821-1905)
Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI in the Garden of the Tuileries with Madame Lambale
Oil on canvas
1857
117.5 x 89.5 cm
(3' 10.26" x 35.24")
Private collection
Amazon
Marie Anoinette
~Lizzie~

Monday, August 26, 2013

Mailbox Monday

The Queen's Mistake by Diane Haeger

"When the young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of the fifty-year-old King Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her undoing. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart?s desire in favor of her family?s ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who sought to bring her down a most effective weapon?her own romantic past.
The Queen?s Mistake is the tragic tale of one passionate and idealistic woman who struggles to negotiate the intrigue of the court and the yearnings of her heart".~Lizzie~

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Monday, August 19, 2013

Mailbox Monday

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

"A tale of true love and high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts - The Princess Bride is a modern storytelling classic.
As Florin and Guilder teeter on the verge of war, the reluctant Princess Buttercup is devastated by the loss of her true love, kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchmen, rescued by a pirate, forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, and rescued once again by the very crew who absconded with her in the first place. In the course of this dazzling adventure, she'll meet Vizzini - the criminal philosopher who'll do anything for a bag of gold; Fezzik - the gentle giant; Inigo - the Spaniard whose steel thirsts for revenge; and Count Rugen - the evil mastermind behind it all. Foiling all their plans and jumping into their stories is Westley, Princess Buttercup's one true love and a very good friend of a very dangerous pirate".~Lizzie~

Friday, August 16, 2013

The Voynich Manuscript

"The Voynich manuscript, described as the world's most mysterious manuscript, is a work carbon-dated to the early 15th century (1404–1438), possibly from northern Italy. It is named after the book dealer Wilfrid Voynich, who purchased it in 1912".

Here is where it gets interesting... no one knows what it says at all except a few tiny translations of plant species that could possibly be wrong. No one has been able to figure it out or even gleam a sliver of information about its origins except by lab tests. It consists of 240 vellum pages that come across as an "herbal manuscript" because the book is mainly illustrated with pictures of plant life. It has been theorized that it is in a form of cipher text because most of the plants do not match known species. The book currently resides in Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library after it was donated 1969. I guess even the brightest minds of Yale have not been able to figure this one out yet. Take a look for yourself and see what you can make of the book that might have been owned by John Dee. You know John Dee, Queen Elizabeth I's trusted advisor on all astrological and scientific matters in her realm. Check out what John might have had in his library.

Front Cover-looks like a normal rare book.

Inside Front Cover


Page 34

Page 77

Page 112

Page 124

Even more interested now that you saw the photo's you say? I could not agree more! It has been said that this mystery book has been the inspiration behind numerous historical novels. I can see why but I seem to not know of a single one do you? 
 
More on "The Voynich Mannuscript"
~Lizzie~

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

John William Waterhouse "Gone, But Not Forgotten"

"John William Waterhouse was an English painter. He lived from 1849 till 1917. In his paintings many classical themes occur. Inner female aspects can be found in many of his paintings. They are expressed in a beautiful, mystic manner".
"Gone, But Not Forgotten
Completion Date: 1873
Style: Romanticism
Technique: oil
Material: canvas
Gallery: Private Collection


Monday, August 12, 2013

Mailbox Monday

The Queen's Rival by Diane Haeger ~PBS Wish Granted~

"From the author of The Queen's Mistake comes the untold story of King Henry VIII's first well-known mistress.
As the beautiful daughter of courtiers, Elizabeth "Bessie" Blount is overjoyed when she secures a position as maid of honor to Katherine of Aragon. But when she captures the attention of the king himself, there are whispers that the queen ought to be worried for her throne.

When Bess gives birth to a healthy son the whispers become a roar. But soon the infamous Boleyn girls come to court and Henry's love for her begins to fade. Now, Bess must turn to her trusted friend, the illegitimate son of Cardinal Wolsey, to help her move beyond life as the queen's rival..."~Lizzie~

Saturday, August 03, 2013

Book Review: INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE CLAUDIA'S STORY by Anne Rice and Ashley Marie Witter

What a fun short read. As many of you know before I became obsessed with historical fiction I was really obsessed with Anne Rice’s series “The Vampire Chronicles”. The series actually led me to HF because I realized it was not just the vampires I loved but it was that Anne’s vampire story lines followed the characters thought out history. I loved following them through the different eras. It made each book really unique and this one is no different from the others.

If you have seen the movie “Interview with the Vampire” which stars dreamy young Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt then you know that Claudia is the child vampire that Lestate (Tom Cruise) created to keep his beloved Louis (Brad pitt) with him. Lestate created an emotional bondage between him and Louis when he created her and now Louis could never leave. He was going to leave Lestate because he could not tolerate his barbaric vampire ways. Louis was always a sensitive soul and at one point or another he refused to kill humans and had resorted to killing rats to feed. When Claudia was created Louis instantly had a soft spot for the girl that would never grow up. Lestate’s plan had worked but at what cost, making a vampire child was against the vampire code in the novels and he knew it. Yet Claudia and Louis were kept in the dark about Lestate’s past history and they had no inkling of what the future held for the pair.  A dark future lay just across the water for Lestate and Claudia and there will be a price to pay and ignorance will not be a tollerated excuse.

This graphic novel is from Claudia’s prospective which has not been done before. It followed very close to the original novel and even the movie. It even has that dark feel that I love about the series. I enjoyed this novel it was like reading the story all over again new. It was fun and fast paced and was nothing like the nice Edward from “Twilight”. The highlight of the novel is the artwork it is incredible, so detailed and is done in all sepia tones except the bright red blood.


5/5 Very well done art work but very violent. If you can stomach a more violent vampire series then Rice is the way to go. I included below a few pictures I took of the novel to show the style of the novel.
Amazon
Vampire Chronicles Series by Anne Rice
~Lizzie~
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