If you could attend any historical event...

Holly Tucker · Post by **Holly Tucker** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 2:10 pm

Which one would it be? (Saw this over at Good Reads, it's a great question!)

I'd want to attend the fateful party that Nicolas Fouquet hosted for Louis XIV. It landed the Minister of Finance in jail for the rest of his life. That will teach you not to try to outdo the king!

Holly
http://www.wondersandmarvels.com

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 2:18 pm

I have two similar wishes:

Any dinner attended by Oscar Wilde to enjoy the wit and repartee.
Any dinner hosted by Talleyrand to enjoy the wit and repartee and the gems created by his chef.

michellemoran · Post by **michellemoran** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 2:19 pm

Oh, definitely the signing of the Declaration of Independence. All of those brilliant minds together...

As a close second, though, I would love to have been at any private ball held during the late 18th century/early nineteenth century. I would want to see the furnishings, the dresses, the hairstyles... all of it!

princess garnet · Post by **princess garnet** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 5:21 pm

[quote=""Holly Tucker""]I'd want to attend the fateful party that Nicolas Fouquet hosted for Louis XIV. It landed the Minister of Finance in jail for the rest of his life. That will teach you not to try to outdo the king![/quote]

I visited Veux-le-Compte on a weekend day exursion while on summer study aboard 4 years ago. Here's a bio about M. Fouqet:
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/histo ... ouquet.php

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 7:26 pm

Part of me would like to say the Execution of Lady Jane Grey, but I'm not sure if I could handle that, the same goes for the sinking of the Titanic.

Maybe Jane being offered the crown.

SM

Perdita · Post by **Perdita** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 8:24 pm

The moment the Earl of Essex bursts into Elizabeth I's bedroom and catches her without her wig or makeup on. Big mistake!

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 8:38 pm

That's a tough one! One of the first that comes to mind would be to watch the whole of Charles II's coronation procession from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey on April 23, 1661. With his restoration came the return of music and perfomances and laughing!

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 9:08 pm

Were I in my youth, it would be a delight to be at a grand ball attended by the lovely daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra, but only as one of a rank worthy of dancing with them of course.

Volgadon · Post by **Volgadon** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 9:19 pm

[quote=""Leyland""]That's a tough one! One of the first that comes to mind would be to watch the whole of Charles II's coronation procession from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey on April 23, 1661. With his restoration came the return of music and perfomances and laughing![/quote]

Which is a bit of a myth, but that's for a different thread.

annis · Post by **annis** » Wed October 15th, 2008, 9:32 pm

The dramatic first meeting of Cleopatra and julius Caesar- how does one emerge from a roll of carpet looking as gloriously seductive as depicted in Jean-Léon Gérôme's image?

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Bios/Cleo ... aesar.html

I can't help thinking that you'd emerge hot, bothered, dishevelled and rather less than glamorous!