It’s a very lonely business, writing romances set in the mid-18th century. Had I set my stories 50 years later, I’d be in good company. Great company even. Everybody loves a Regency, right? You can find endless kindred spirits who have kindly gathered info on every little detail you might want. But the 1760s?* Heck no. You’re on your own. For better or worse.
Baroness de Neubourg-Cromiere (1756) by Roslin
Luckily, I love doing research and there are other people out there just like me (fond of the 18th century, that is). They just don’t write romances. So as to not feel entirely alone, I started a blog that will be dedicated solely to the topic of the 18th century. If you are of a similar bent, please pop by and say hi. You can find the link below.
I’m working, I sweat, but it’s all good
I’m breaking my back but it’s all good
‘Cause I know I’ll get it back
Yeah, I know your hands will clap
And I’m working,
Yeah, I’m working
To make butter for my piece of bun
Because I have a terrible sense of humor, I couldn’t resist making a Christmas video over at JibJab, featuring a bunch of historical people (click the image to watch it).
And because I’m really anal like that, they do have a common historical denominator – they all took part in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713) in one way or the other.
Do you know who they are? Most likely not. They don’t really look like they usually do. But you might have seen the guy in the red bandana looking something like this?
That’s right – I’m talking about Louis XIV of France, aka The Sun King. He made it to this video because in 1701, he decided to let his grandson become King of Spain despite earlier agreeing that all his heirs should forfeit the right to the Spanish throne. Also I included him because he liked the sort of hair they have in that video and because he has this cute little mustache that makes him look like an overaged Casanova from the 1930′s, bless his little heart.
Our next contender had to be the main singer for no other reason than blatant favorism. I adore the Duke of Marlborough, see. I adore him more when he’s young and pretty, but heck, I adore him old and plump too. The fact that I hold him close to my heart isn’t the only reason I added him though – he was also the British commander for most of the war and kicked French butt on a regular basis, such as at Blenheim and Ramillies for example.
So this is Marlborough’s boss, Queen Anne of England. She kicked her father off the throne, lost 14 children during her lifetime and loved a chubby Danish guy to whom she was married. She was also bosom buddies with Marlborough’s wife Sarah until they quarreled and turned hostile to each other. Queen Anne was the last Stuart monarch and she fought tooth and nail against the idea of recalling her half-brother James and letting him inherit the throne, instead preferring it to pass to distant German relatives.
If I say this is James FitzStuart, Duke of Berwick, you’re all likely going to think he’s British. Well, it ain’t so. Young Berwick, you see, was an illegitimate son of James II and he trailed after old Papa after they’d kicked said James out of England during the so called Glorious Revolution. That means that Berwick, nephew of Queen Anne, was actually a general on the French side during the War of the Spanish Succession; a damned good general too. What makes the story even more quaint is that his mother was Arabella Churchill, sister of the Duke of Marlborough.
What ever else you can say of this portrait of Berwick, though, he has excellent hair. I was actually sad to have to cut it off for the video.
Finally, we have the second allied commander of the war – Prince Eugene of Savoy. He was apparently brave and had quite a temper and people would say it was uncanny how he and Marlborough worked together like they could read each other’s mind. The man had a strong personal dislike of Louis XIV for complicated family reasons, and is generally considered one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history. Unfortunately, it seems he didn’t realize how good he’d look in red hair or think to learn to play bass.
Best Moment: When all the guests left on Christmas Day. I vant to be alone, as the Great Garbo said.
Worst Moment: When the drain in the kitchen sink stopped working the day before Christmas.
Most Played Christmas Song: Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. And I do mean over and over.
Best Christmas Gift: The Abduction Club dvd (which was a gift from me and not to me, but it was awesome just the same if I may say so myself). You cannot go wrong with Irishmen in gaping frilly shirts.
Best Cinematic Moment: Squire Western headbutting strawberries in BBC’s Tom Jones, a Foundling. Never gets old, that scene.
Most Used Phrase: “Beat to quarters!” Or, possibly: “Live-LY!” (I find that a little Navy discipline is never amiss at Christmas).
Number of Mincepies Eaten: Many. The ones from Harrods were the best if you’re curious.
I have a problem with my WIP. Well, to be honest I have a lot of problems with my WIP, but I have one specific problem that I am going to ask for help with.
See, the story started out in being set around 1750 because I was familiar with that decade and because it had suited my needs. The problem was, when I saw my characters, they weren’t dressed in 1750 outfits, but rather later styles. Mainly, it was the hats. Hats in the 1750s were decidedly boring. A flat bergère, possibly. Like a plate of straw, pressed onto a small, neat hairstyle. Later in the centuries, they had these big tubs of feathers and flowers and my heroine has a thing for hats and hair bigger than Stephanie Plum’s.
So I moved it to the early 1770s. See, the problem is that my hero is a Navy captain and I have to try to fit it in between wars so I figured I should set it right before the American Revolutionary War. But then it occurred to me – hm, I’m likely setting him up for kicking American butt the next few years and do I really want to do that? Plus, let’s face it, hats were EVEN BIGGER in the 1780s! So I could set it after 1783 instead. But I feel perhaps my characters are more of a 1750s mindset and that my heroine’s backstory would work better earlier in the century.
Decisions, decisions.
Anyway, I figgered – INTERNET! This is why they invented that thing – so that I could put up this post and pester everyone I know for advice!
So I got a poll for you. Fun, eh?
The contestants are:
Around 1750
Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by Gainsborough, 1750
Pros:
- it’s earlier in the 18th century. Very un-Victorian attitudes in the 1750s. Plus my heroine’s backstory is puuur-fect for that decade. I know this because I designed it so it would be.
- there’s a convenient war for my hero just having ended (and another one coming up where he won’t have to bombard Americans – or, only French-Americans and who cares about them?)
- I have some research already done for that period
Cons:
- my characters refuse to wear the proper attire. They hate it. My heroine finds the very notion insulting.
- I have other ideas for stories set later in the 18th century and if I push this up I would focus my research more.
The 1770s
The Jennings family by Roslin, 1769
Pros:
- There’s a convenient lack of wars in early 1770s.
- Hair and hats had grown considerably. My heroine is grumbling a bit but I may be able to convince her to squeeze into one of those outfits
- It’s still far from the 19th century.
Cons:
- I’m not feeling it. Not really.
1780s
Mrs. Thomas Hibbert by Gainsborough, 1786
Pros:
- Dude, I totally see my characters prancing about in 1780s outfits. They really want this. My heroine is jumping up and down going: “Can I, can I, PLEASE?”
- I have another story that must be set in the 1780s so I could just make that decade mine. Take it, discipline it and own it.
Cons:
- It’s getting late in 18th century and the Revolution and stuff are looming on the horizon. People are already gearing up for the new century. Bloody Napoleonic wars are only 20 years away. I smell Regency from afar.
- My hero would have spent the past 10 years trying to blow Americans to smithereens. Does that bother you?
- I dunno if my heroine’s backstory is as believable 30 years later as it was in the 1750s. But then, exactly how sensitive are people with that stuff? I’m thinking it could work. Might work. Not just as perfect a fit.
So, what’s a girl to do? Give me your opinion by voting on this poll!
Today is the last day of the first week of NaNo. Not the beginning of the end even, just the end of the beginning. I’ve done about 8,000 words in two days and I’m a little exhausted.
Anyway, a snippet from my ms, regarding a character who may or may not be cut in revisions. Enjoy!
“It is not so much Mr. Seagrim as his daughter,” Mr. Phippen said. His tightly curled wig was askew and his face had the excited gleam of the righteously indignant and slightly intoxicated. “A shame, sir. A shame!”
It’s that time of the year again. November. As in NaNo-vember.
I hadn’t really planned on doing it this year, but then things happened and here I am, eagerly awaiting the chance of doing 50,000 words in one month.
I’m all prepared.
I have several Word-documents with names, places and ideas. Thanks to more brilliant people than me (yes, I am looking at you, Kat) I even have EXCEL-files full of scene outlines and things. I also have mad scribbled notes that I cannot even make out myself and that looks something like the picture above.
And yes, project will go by code name SARAH. I really wanted my heroine to be a Fanny but alas that name has been corrupted over the years (not that it didn’t always have certain connotations – it’s not a coincidence that Fanny Hill is called Fanny, is it?) and is no longer fit for a heroine. I think she’s still a Fanny on the inside though. As for my hero, I am planning a blog post on my special problems in naming him further on. But he has a name. Two even.
I have also stocked up on coffee and I’ve canceled all my engagements for November. I am not at home to visitors and my butler has received stern instructions not to let anyone across the threshold. I can’t think there’s anything I didn’t think of.
This is a picture of French King Henry IV, a hard-assed guy who finally brought an end to the French Wars of Religion and who was one of the most popular French kings both during and after his reign. It is also the sort of picture that, if put up on Facebook, would make the object of it throw himself on the ‘detag’ button and then beg, threaten and cry until the person responsible removed it.
I mean, what were they thinking? Is he drunk? High? It’s certainly what his facial expression and the little dance step he’s doing implies. And, for the love of God, what is he wearing? Baby-blue silk shorts? With a full plate top? It’s… I don’t think they’d have words for it on Project Runway.
To be honest, I’m thinking drunk sex pics of Santa Claus on holiday when I see this, but that may just be me. Please excuse me while I go watch Queen Margot and try to forget this picture was ever made.
(randomly, I just realized I have a whole collection of pictures of scantily clad French kings. Does that make me weird?)
You have your historical characters trying to come up with a truly outstanding male physique for comparison. Odds are, you’ll dig up Michelangelo’s David.
I mean, we all know David is a fine looking man but, personally, I’ll admit I never really looked at him that closely. Until now. And, I have to say, he IS fine looking.
He also turns 506 years today. Yup, that’s right. It was in 1504 that Michelangelo completed him. Pretty well preserved for a guy that age, or what do you say?
Best Christmas Gift: The Abduction Club dvd (which was a gift from me and not to me, but it was awesome just the same if I may say so myself). You cannot go wrong with Irishmen in gaping frilly shirts.
