Items filtered by date: July 2016

Metz. Lunching in El Theatris restaurant, next to the magnificent theatre, looking towards the cathedral on the opposite bank of the Moselle. I ask the waitress about the military barracks in Metz where the young Lafayette did his army training, long before he became a hero of the American Revolution, and then the great defender of France in Europe. She tells me his bureau was IN THE NEXT ROOM from the one where we're eating. Lafayette is one of the heroes of my novel Rebel here. She shows me the room and I confirm later--the building was indeed the officers' quarters when Lafayette was France's general, fighting to preserve the country against the European monarchies. Wonderful coincidence. I'm tempted to use the word awesome. Will settle for merveilleux. His bureau window is behind the white flowers.

Having set Murder at Cirey at and around this château in the Haute Marne that was once the home of Madame du Châtelet, I'm back in a beautiful summer evening for more research in the area. Here the attractive building (added to in the 19th century) is seen from the farm, which in Emilie du Châtelet and Voltaire's day provided all the essentials and many of the luxuries they required for their privileged style of life.

What a pleasure it was the other day to revisit the Château de Breteuil and spend some time with a member of the family whom I used to look after when she was a little girl. Our moments at Breteuil have always been both warm and fascinating. Madame du Châtelet, whom I have researched in depth for my work, was born into this brilliant and famous lineage.

On our way to the Champagne country to research the second novel after Murder at Cirey. Meaux with its magnificent cathedral and art gallery is on the banks of the Marne River, seen here from our hotel window. A police car with klaxon screeching just went by under the window. I'm reminded of Eric Morecambe (of Morecambe and Wise) who remarked in the same situation, 'He won't sell any ice cream at that speed!'

The Musée de la Gendarmerie Nationale in Melun, France, opened its doors in October last year, with spectacular displays of the history of the military police force from 900 AD to the present day. Who knew that French gendarmes were once equipped with sporty cars that could accelerate from 0 to 100km in six seconds?

I was there yesterday to see their exhibits on the Maréchaussée in France, the precursors of the Gendarmerie. Murder at Cirey features a cavalier in the 18th-century Maréchaussée, who solves a difficult case of conspiracy and murder in the Champagne region. Museum staff were super helpful and I could have spent twice the time amongst their superbly organised displays. Definitely worth another exciting visit back in time.

Staying in the Latin Quarter for a while is heavenly, despite grey weather. Among the eternal attractions are the bookstores, totally dedicated to the physical book as an ever-open door to the life of the mind and the sensibilities. Lodged in a back street, a boulevard or, like Shakespeare & Company, gazing tranquilly across at Notre-Dame, they beckon readers to the riverside.