Rachel Field's All This and Heaven Too (I've just posted a review at HistoricalNovels.info) is based on the true story of a French governess at the center of a sensational 1847 murder trial that helped bring down the French monarchy (once again - it had been re-established after the era of Napoleon). Originally published in 1938, this does not have a snappy 21st century plot, but is interesting for all that. It focuses heavily on the governess's child-rearing philosophy and on the difficulties of serving as a governess in a household where husband and wife are at odds. While I can't say I would heartily recommend it, I did find it thought-provoking.
Has anyone else read this novel? If so, I'd be interested in discussing it in a separate thread so as not to introduce spoilers here.
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19th Century France
- Margaret
- Bibliomaniac
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19th Century France
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info
- Miss Moppet
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[quote=""Margaret""]Rachel Field's All This and Heaven Too (I've just posted a review at HistoricalNovels.info) is based on the true story of a French governess at the center of a sensational 1847 murder trial that helped bring down the French monarchy (once again - it had been re-established after the era of Napoleon). Originally published in 1938, this does not have a snappy 21st century plot, but is interesting for all that. It focuses heavily on the governess's child-rearing philosophy and on the difficulties of serving as a governess in a household where husband and wife are at odds. While I can't say I would heartily recommend it, I did find it thought-provoking.
Has anyone else read this novel? If so, I'd be interested in discussing it in a separate thread so as not to introduce spoilers here.[/quote]
I haven't but it sounds intriguing, Margaret, and the library has it, so I'll put it on the TBR list. Did it get made into a film? The title sounds familiar.
Has anyone else read this novel? If so, I'd be interested in discussing it in a separate thread so as not to introduce spoilers here.[/quote]
I haven't but it sounds intriguing, Margaret, and the library has it, so I'll put it on the TBR list. Did it get made into a film? The title sounds familiar.
See the film, same title, starring Bette Davis and Charles Boyer. Both at their prime.
Bodo the Apostate, a novel set during the reign of Louis the Pious and end of the Carolingian Empire.
http://www.donaldmichaelplatt.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZthhY6 ... annel_page
- Margaret
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 2440
- Joined: August 2008
- Interest in HF: I can't answer this in 100 characters. Sorry.
- Favourite HF book: Checkmate, the final novel in the Lymond series
- Preferred HF: Literary novels. Late medieval and Renaissance.
- Location: Catskill, New York, USA
- Contact:
Let us know when you've read it, Miss Moppet - it would be interesting to discuss, I think. I might watch the movie at that point, to refresh my memory. Hard to go wrong with Bette Davis!
Browse over 5000 historical novel listings (probably well over 5000 by now, but I haven't re-counted lately) and over 700 reviews at www.HistoricalNovels.info
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- Reader
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- Joined: February 2010
- Location: Going back in Time
Napoleon III
Norman Zollinger's "Chapultepec" tells of the French invasion of Mexico in the 1860s. The early chapters introduce two Americans. Sarah, Boston aristocracy, lives in France with upper class intellectuals after the death of her parents. Her best school friend, Carlota, is related to royalty from several countries and engaged to Maxl Hapsburg. Napoleon III is arranging for Carlota to become Empress of Mexico, where Sarah's family owns a silver mine.
Sarah's brother and only remaining relative has been killed in Mexico. She postpones responsing to the expected marriage proposal received from a French nobleman just before sailing to Veracruz.
Zollinger uses Sarah to depict the elite French. Her fiance's brother is a cavalry officer. The other American, Jason, fought in Mexico as a teenager in the 1840s, then joined the French Foreign Legion, by 1862 he has become an infantry captain, fluent in French, friends with competent regular French army men. French military leadership can't be described as brilliant.
Zollinger is best known for his outstanding New Mexico family saga, "Riders to Cibola," but if you have interest in French inspired wars, "Chapultepec" might appeal ...
Sarah's brother and only remaining relative has been killed in Mexico. She postpones responsing to the expected marriage proposal received from a French nobleman just before sailing to Veracruz.
Zollinger uses Sarah to depict the elite French. Her fiance's brother is a cavalry officer. The other American, Jason, fought in Mexico as a teenager in the 1840s, then joined the French Foreign Legion, by 1862 he has become an infantry captain, fluent in French, friends with competent regular French army men. French military leadership can't be described as brilliant.
Zollinger is best known for his outstanding New Mexico family saga, "Riders to Cibola," but if you have interest in French inspired wars, "Chapultepec" might appeal ...