For the King by Catherine Delors

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Thu August 19th, 2010, 6:39 pm

Yes, there were allusions to the death of Roch's mother, but not from typhoid. I even did a search in my full Word file, and "typhoid" didn't come up once.
Sometimes the mind likes to play this sort of tricks...

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Thu August 19th, 2010, 7:39 pm

I must have mixed it up with something in the book I read immediately prior. Too many things -- books -- rattling around in my head, I guess!

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Thu August 19th, 2010, 8:21 pm

Another question -- earlier in this thread you mentioned that you were working on a book about The Beast -- what is that?

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Fri August 20th, 2010, 10:06 am

The Beast of Gevaudan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Gévaudan

Needless to say, I disagree with Wikipedia on the nature of the Beast, though (and many details as well.)

As a child I spent all of my summers in that part of France, and grew up hearing about this gory and fascinating story.

So my next novel will be a Gothic...

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Fri August 20th, 2010, 2:36 pm

That sounds very interesting.... I visited your blog the other day, and saw a mention of the woman who painted portraits, including Marie Antoinette's. I think she would make an interesting subject for a book, as well.

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Fri August 20th, 2010, 8:18 pm

Madame Vigee-Lebrun? Oh, yes! An extraordinary life. So many books to write, so little time...

annis · Post by **annis** » Sat August 21st, 2010, 6:46 am

Posted by Catherine Delors

The Beast of Gevaudan

I knew this sounded familiar. it was the basis of the film Brotherhood of the Wolf, wasn't it? A crazy mish-mash of a movie, but I really enjoyed it.

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Sun August 22nd, 2010, 3:37 pm

[quote=""annis""]Posted by Catherine Delors

I knew this sounded familiar. it was the basis of the film Brotherhood of the Wolf, wasn't it? A crazy mish-mash of a movie, but I really enjoyed it.[/quote]

Indeed it is, Annis! "Crazy mish-mash" is a kind assessment of the film (heavy doses Hong-Kong style fighting scenes+ a smattering of Enlightenment+some gore and guts, how's that for a mix?) But I agree that it is entertaining in a sort of perverse way.

Very disingenuous in its presentation of the facts, in particular with regard to social class issues. The man who did kill in fact the Beast in the true story is such a minor character that he is little more than an extra. No wonder, he was a lowly peasant, therefore of no interest to the filmmakers. They reestablish the "normal" order of things by having a -fictional- nobleman kill the Beast.

I need to write a full review of the thing...

Anna Elliott · Post by **Anna Elliott** » Sun August 22nd, 2010, 5:26 pm

[quote=""Catherine Delors""]The Beast of Gevaudan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Gévaudan

Needless to say, I disagree with Wikipedia on the nature of the Beast, though (and many details as well.)

As a child I spent all of my summers in that part of France, and grew up hearing about this gory and fascinating story.

So my next novel will be a Gothic...[/quote]

Oh, Catherine, how totally fascinating! I've always been fascinated by the Beast--and all the other similar stories from that part of the world. Can you tell us more about the book, or is it too early to share details?

Catherine Delors · Post by **Catherine Delors** » Sun August 22nd, 2010, 6:57 pm

[quote=""Anna Elliott""]Oh, Catherine, how totally fascinating! I've always been fascinated by the Beast--and all the other similar stories from that part of the world. Can you tell us more about the book, or is it too early to share details?[/quote]

Thanks, Anna! What I can tell you already: it is a prequel to Mistress of the Revolution. The central character is Helene de Montserrat, Gabrielle's elder sister, then a girl of fifteen. Gabrielle is not born yet, but her brother and mother are already there. The baddies of the Beast story play a major role as well: Jean Chastel, who will eventually kill the Beast, the Comte de Morangies. Also a little peasant girl whose fate will determine the outcome of the story (historical fact).