Historic food preparation

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I'm adding a tasty site on historic food preparation to the sidebar (click here or on the image to see it). The Baroque period isn't specifically mentioned, but many of the techniques would likely have been similar, especially the ornate decoration.

English as She is Spoke

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One of the many delightful windows into the past are travel guides. One I love is English as She is Spoke; The New Guide of the Conversation in Portugues and English, in Two Parts. (The publishers have added: Being a comprehensive phrasebook of the English language written by men to whom English was entirely unknown.) It was originally published in 1855.

Such books give us a rare glimpse into what was considered essential vocabulary at the time. On page 3, we have the "Ages" for example: "the infancy," the puerility, the youth...

We'll fly over adolescence, virility , maturity to get to: the decay, the oldness, the age decrepit and the decayedness. (I wonder where I fit?)

Under familiar phrases, we find:

Approach near the fire.

Let us go to respire the air.

Warm my bed.

The spy-glass is good for nothing.

That wood not burn.

This room is filled of bugs.

I should kill you to the blows with a stick.

I am catched cold in the brain.

In The Discovry of France (a book I love), Grahm Robb quotes from Madame de Genlis' guide book, which lists, as well, a number of essential phrases every traveler will be apt to need in Germany:

This horse is worthless. It is restive. It is skittish. I am decidedly loath to take it.

Can one place a harp in its carrying case on the luggage rack?

Gently remove the postilion from beneath the horse.

One must avoid passing through forests at dusk or at night.

Postilion, stop, the brakes must be attached.

I Googled for the essential phrases I need for travel today:

May I have the bill, please?

Where can we change some money?

Help!

Is there a police station nearby?

What does this say about our culture?

Blogs by authors of historical fiction

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Michelle Moran, who is a blazing star right now in the world of historical fiction, has named this blog as the top of ten blogs by authors of historical fiction. I'm honored and surprised! Thank you, Michelle.

I'll be sure to explore the other blogs on her list. (I can personally recommend Versailles and more.)

Michelle is not only a historical novelist, but an academic: a wonderful combination for a genre that requires so much research. Her own blog should have been at the top of her list: History Buff.

Sun Court in the news

First, an interesting article in TimesOnline on cracking 17th century French code: here. Here's the message itself, starting with Il faut que 49 230 121 397 76 393 185 460 30 223 ... . Got that?

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In a review of a book titled The Scoop on Poop Throughout the Ages, by Chariese Harper, it's stated:

Did you know Louis XIV held meetings while sitting on a toilet shaped like a throne? ... Actually, it was a chamber pot hidden beneath an upholstered seat, known as a closestool.

As for a number of noisome habits attributed (by the English, I should note) to the French King, I was squinty-eyed about this one, and so asked the members of the Louis XIV Yahoo group. Sandra Taylor informed me that Lisa Hilton discusses this matter in her book Athenais,The Real Queen of France. The King did not do this. Sandra goes on to say that:

"The duc de Vendome [a Mancini and one of the King's leading generals] apparently was guilty of this practice and an Italian dignitary or official refused to have an audience with him as he was so offended or insulted and he may have even filed a report of the incident when he returned to Italy."

And so, another fantasy squashed!

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Was the Sun King an asparagus fanatic? According to this article on asparagus, he was, and had greenhouses constructed so that it would be available to him all year-round. I know that the Sun King went through a green pea phase, and that his passion for his gardens (and the produce) started the trend that lead to the fresh taste of French cuisine today: but asparagus? Again, I'll have to check.

Statue of Louis XIV at Versailles

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Novelist Catherine Delors writes a wonderful blog on French history: Versailles and more. She has just posted about the restored Louis XIV statue being returned to Versailles, where it will be inaugurated on June 25. She links to an article (click here) for detailed information about the work that has been done.

I look forward to seeing this renewed statue the next time I'm in Versailles.

Two relevant blog posts (elsewhere) ...

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I've a blog post up at Hoydens & Firebrands on what it was like going to the theatre in the 17th century: here.

I've also written about the results of my research into the Queen's daughter by her African dwarf: here.

New thoughts on the Queen's Black baby

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I've fallen into the rabbit hole of research today. I began this research thinking that it wasn't possible for the Queen to have had a child by a beloved African dwarf — but now I'm not so sure. I've put together the evidence (such as it is) ... and my own conclusions (for now): here.

What's interesting about the Madame de Montespan chapters (I'll take up the question of their authenticity later) is the repeated statement that looking at someone while pregnant could affect the looks of the child. For example, in speaking of a young man who looks very much like the King:

The resemblance, I must confess, is the most striking that I have yet
seen; for it is complete, even to the tone of the voice. But a look
might have operated this miracle. Instance the little negress, the
daughter of the poor Queen, that Queen so timid and entirely natural, who, to her happiness, as much as to her glory, has never looked at, approached, or distinguished any one except the King. (Chapter XXXIII, page 474)