Research: Fact and fancy in historical fiction
After reading A Gift for the Sultan and my latest novel, Rabble! , friend and fellow novelist Peter de Lissovoy (links below) wrote me: “I hate to think of all the research you did. But it must have been a joy at times, as you made discoveries, it must have been, given the joy and … read more »
150 years on, the struggle continues
Today, 28 May 2021, is the 150th anniversary of the final day of “The week of blood”, La semaine sanglante of 21-28 May 1871, that destroyed the Paris Commune. But as in the song by Eugène Pottier “La Commune n’est pas morte…” Its values are revived and its heroes and heroines quoted in every new … read more »
The Paris Commune and the crisis of imperialism
Commune(s), 1870-1871 by Quentin Deluermoz My rating: 5 of 5 stars The eruption of the Commune in the spring of 1871 in Paris, the capital of one of richest and most powerful global empires, caused tremendous commotion in all of Europe and beyond. And today, 150 years later, the Commune continues to resound as “a … read more »
The “week of blood” in gruesome detail
La Semaine sanglante: Mai 1871, légendes et comptes by Michèle Audin My rating: 5 of 5 stars Michèle Audin has done meticulous research to penetrate the many myths and distortions around “the week of blood”, May 21 to May 28, 1871, the massacre that destroyed the Paris Commune. How many were killed during that week? … read more »
Blood, sex and (a little) politics: the Paris Commune
Now that my novel about the Paris Commune is scheduled for publication (August 2021), I’m republishing some of my notes of other works about the Commune. This one is from October 2013. Le Cri du peuple by Jean Vautrin My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is an immensely agitated, minutely detailed, ridiculously plotted police … read more »