On a much lighter note

[yuuago]

I might take a step toward writing some historical real-person fic soon (ish). 14th-century France is usually outside of my area, but the book I'm reading right now portrays such an interesting dynamic between Enguerrand VII de Coucy and Olivier V de Clisson, I can hardly resist it.

It's just - there is Coucy on the one hand, portrayed in A Distant Mirror as this very steadfast, cool-headed, calm and rational fellow. Then there is fiery, violent, one-eyed Clisson on the other hand. And the book gives the impression that they got along so well... I just can't help it, I love this sort of thing, where mismatched personalities work well together.

A lot of it is guesswork, of course - I mean, there's only so much one can extrapolate based on the sources that do exist, and the writer is probably stretching things at some points.

In some ways I'd almost call it fanfic of something that's a fiction anyway, because the book goes to great lengths to extrapolate a personality from evidence that's little more than just hints, and you really have to stretch it. But I guess saying that might be pushing the definition of fiction a little more than I usually prefer.

I do have a concrete idea or two, so maybe I'll scribble down some outlines today. With Nordipalooza fest coming up, I won't have time try writing new fandoms, but at least I can put the idea in a place where I won't lose it.

Comments

[monksandbones]

Ooh, is A Distant Mirror what you're reading right now? Or is it the Hennemann book on Olivier de Clisson? This is relevant to my interests because MEDIEVAL BRETONS!

[yuuago]

Yeah, I've been going through A Distant Mirror for a while now, nearly finished. It was my first introduction to these guys (I'm actually not sure how this book ended up in my collection in the first place, but I'm not complaining). I'm pretty intrigued. Is Hennemann's book worth taking a look at?

[monksandbones]

I actually can't say I've read it - the reason I know about it is that it's been translated into French and I saw the translation in a bunch of French bookstores last summer and kept almost buying it (and then not because it makes more sense to read it in its original English). The blurb on the back of the French one made it look pretty interesting, though. I'll probably read it sometime, when the eleventh-century Bretons aren't consuming all my brainpower.

[dhampyresa]

Have you considered Historyfest?

[yuuago]

I did think about it! When it was first put up. I keep lurking in hopes I'll see some prompt that I can fill, haa