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Teen Nostalgia: Angelique, Catherine & Marianne

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love_uk
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Teen Nostalgia: Angelique, Catherine & Marianne

Post by love_uk » Thu August 27th, 2009, 9:08 pm

Came across a box of books last month, none of which I've read in decades but have been unwilling to pitch. A few are so tattered from re-reading that I'm not sure they'd make it through one more read. Nonetheless, I know I will keep them forever.

They are the Angelique series by Anne (Sergeanne) Golon, the Catherine & the Marianne series by Juliette Benzoni.

I was in my teens when I first read them & remember being enthralled by the history (how accurate I couldn't tell you) & rather titillated by most of them, especially when the heroines made it into the inevitable harems! I also remember losing interest as soon as they ended up in America (same for Gabaldon, I'm afraid).

I read that both of Benzoni's series were made into wildly popular miniseries by French TV in the late '80s, where all of her books seem to be extremely popular.

Has anyone else read these? Just curious to see what someone else thinks about them!
Joan

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm

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Post by diamondlil » Sun August 30th, 2009, 3:22 am

Hi Joan

I missed out on reading the Angelique books as a teen, but I am working my way through the series now and enjoying them immensely. There is a thread on them here.

I haven't read the Benzoni books myself, but I have heard good things about them.

When I was a teen I couldn't get enough of Plaidy. One of these days I will reread some of her books and see how they stand up!
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love_uk
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Post by love_uk » Sun August 30th, 2009, 6:23 pm

well, of course you ran this thread in March & I didn't join until August! Many thanks for the link to the March thread. BTW - how do I find old threads like this one???

Again, Merci! :D
Joan

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm

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Warning: Spoilers!!!

Post by Miss Moppet » Sun August 30th, 2009, 6:50 pm

[quote=""love_uk""]

I was in my teens when I first read them & remember being enthralled by the history (how accurate I couldn't tell you) & rather titillated by most of them, especially when the heroines made it into the inevitable harems! I also remember losing interest as soon as they ended up in America (same for Gabaldon, I'm afraid).

[/quote]

Hello Joan

teen nostalgia indeed. I've just posted about these books as good candidates for reprinting on the Out of Print HF thread.

My mother bought all the paperbacks in the 60s and I discovered them when I was about 14. I remember she got annoyed one half term because I spent the entire time reading the Angelique books instead of revising for some exam or other. She loved the books too but like you we weren't as interested once Angelique went to Canada and although I've still got those books too for me the series is really complete with Angelique in Love. The French settings were easier for me to visualise as we took so many French holidays. Apparently Anne Golon is working on a final book where Angelique returns to France, which I would love to read. Given Angelique and Joffrey's past history, I imagine there'd be some bridges to build with Louis XIV...

And yes, I moved on to JB's Catherine and Marianne. I now have several of the Catherine books in French and in one of them JB explains about how she came to get interested in the background to the Catherine books and how they were commissioned specifically for the same audience that enjoyed Angelique. Also I have the final Catherine book, which I think is called La Dame de Montsalvy (?) and was never translated into English.

With Marianne, I didn't have all the books so I filled in with library copies. I am still on the lookout for secondhand copies.

And now I have to ask, what are the scenes you remember best? Mine are as follows:


Spoiler Space....






Angelique:
1. The bit in Marquise des Anges where she has to choose the way she wants to die, poison or sword
2. In Road to Versailles, Angelique's first night with Nicholas and then the scene on the lake with Philippe
3. In Angelique and the King, Philippe locking Angelique up in a convent
4. In Angelique and the Sultan, Angelique getting tied to a pillar and whipped
5. In Angelique in Revolt, the awful bit where Angelique's home is attacked and also when she gets branded

Catherine:
1. The gypsy sex rituals (really shocked me)
2. All the bits in Gilles de Rais's castle (terrifying)
3. Catherine seduced by the Sultan in the harem (yes the harem stuff was The Best. More HF should feature harems!!!)

Marianne I never knew as well, but I do recall her first romp with Napoleon and also that she had her home redecorated in C18 rather than Empire style. And there was some sort of sinister underworld scene with Napoleon's minister Fouche.

Yes well...Looking back it seems to have been the sex and violence which made the greatest impression on me, but that's the teen years for you.

As for accuracy, don't know enough to judge except for Angelique as I ended up specialising in C17 and C18 France, at least partly because of Angelique's influence. And yes, there are mistakes (Angelique has a fan painted with the five continents when only four were known at the time, etc), but in general the research was very solid and Anne Golon really understands the C17. She makes a brilliant comment in one of the first two books about how the tide of medievalism had retreated leaving pools of tradition and superstition behind...that's exactly what it was like. C17 people were still dealing with the heritage of the Middle Ages, which the C18 discarded at the same time as they became nostalgic for it.

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Post by love_uk » Sun August 30th, 2009, 8:49 pm

I gather from her Wikipedia page that Serge did the research & Anne did the writing.

Must admit that I can't recall many specifics ... must get out that box & re-read them all! Thanks for sharing all your memories. I was deeply amused by all the different covers on the other thread...mine are not quite so lurid.

Was interested to see the prices talked about in the March Angelique thread - may have to sell mine if I don't find a job soon!

Thanks for your response
Joan

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm

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Post by diamondlil » Sun August 30th, 2009, 9:03 pm

[quote=""love_uk""]well, of course you ran this thread in March & I didn't join until August! Many thanks for the link to the March thread. BTW - how do I find old threads like this one???

Again, Merci! :D [/quote]

I find the search box on the top tool bar is quite a good tool. Most of the time I can find what I am looking for.
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Post by Miss Moppet » Sun August 30th, 2009, 9:49 pm

[quote=""love_uk""]I was deeply amused by all the different covers on the other thread...mine are not quite so lurid.

[/quote]

I've got the 60s dollybird covers, which I actually quite like, and they're chaste compared to some! My favourite is Angelique in Revolt:
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Post by Margaret » Mon August 31st, 2009, 7:12 am

Good luck with your job search, LoveUK - it would be a shame to have to sell your Angelique collection!
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Post by love_uk » Sun September 6th, 2009, 5:54 am

Thanks for the good luck wish, Margaret & thanks, diamondlil, for the search tip!
Joan

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm

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Post by parthianbow » Sun September 6th, 2009, 11:07 am

I too loved the Angelique books as a teenager! In repressed 1980s Ireland, they had a definite titillation factor! :eek:
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