TSP IRL

[madeleinestjust]

One of the best reasons for reading Orczy's Pimpernel series is the blend of fact and fiction, in my opinion: she fires an interest in history, particularly the French Revolution, by bringing the era so vividly to life. So I wondered - are there certain 'characters', in real life, that jump out of the story/text books for you? Has Orczy lead you to

Comments

[multred_a]

Sounds like an interesting woman! I like Harriet Vane from the Dorothy Sayers novels!

[madeleinestjust]

I like Harriet Vane from the Dorothy Sayers novels!

I wanted so much to fall for Harriet in the same way as I did for Marguerite, but her character just didn't work for me - she's an intellectual Mary Sue, whereas Marguerite is glamorous and fun! Or perhaps I didn't give the books enough of a chance? I do love Lord Peter, however!

[madeleinestjust]

(The TV series of that did engender a brief crush on Patrick Malahide, who was magnificent as Roderick.)

*unh* My God, moi aussi - and at an age where it's probably more Freudian than anything else! And yet more books for my TBR pile!

Hmm ... Is Patrick Malahide perhaps not a more accessible casting call than Vladimir Putin? Not quite as ferrety, but still with that Chauvelin-esque charm - and I don't even think it matters that he's outside the suitable age bracket!

[mellifluous_ink]

I'm limiting myself to SP because I am not really relaxed enough to think about this.

Lord John Bathurst, who is--as far as I know--only a name in the SP books, inspired my entire steampunk universe.

[madeleinestjust]

They exist in the 'real' world of that time and the novels are peppered with real characters - and are incredibly educational as I discovered during my last journey around the Egyptian wing of the Museum...

That's exactly it! I spent most of my trip round Paris noting street names from Orczy's books, and the Conciergerie was like stepping into 'Eldorado' - although the Baroness did over-egg the dank grottiness somewhat (the prison had only just been remodelled before the Revolution). I think I sounded like a tour guide on occasions!