The King’s Daughters
I have a little project I’m working on. I don’t know if I should share it; and, quite frankly, I don’t know if you’re likely to even care, but I’m experimenting with the idea of a blog as a place I just brain dump whatever is on my mind. You know, just to see what happens.
So this project. It was actually inspired by another blogger, Coreen, who once mentioned being descended from one of Les Filles du Roi.
At least, I think that’s what she said. I’m too lazy to go and find the original post.
So, like, anyway – who are Les Filles du Roi? Well, I could get snarky, and point out that I did go to the trouble of linking to Wikipedia – twice. It should even open in a separate window – because I know you don’t want to miss anything I’m saying here.
I could also bemoan the inadequacies of the Canadian education system, which seems to leave all the interesting bits out of the history curriculum, but then I couldn’t guarantee that they weren’t in there somewhere. Monsieur Basset was a spitter, and the spit would land on his protruding chin, and all in all it was better to try and not pay too much attention in history class unless you particularly enjoyed being grossed out. Or you sat in the front row.
But I digress. Welcome to brain-dump blogging.
Les Filles du Roi, or the King’s Daughters, were young women recruited in France between 1663 and 1673 (and yes, those dates will be on the quiz), to travel to the New World and, er, procreate. Lots. At least one of them got into a bit of trouble, and was charged with prostition after her husband ditched the family and moved back to France.
And when I read this I thought, hm, there’s a story there. I wonder if I could write it.
So I’ve started a bit of research. I don’t know where it’s going to go. Maybe some historical fiction. Maybe some non fiction. Maybe just a bunch of blog posts where I bore you to tears until someone gently suggests that I go back to blogging about dieting and therapy, because we all have a M. Basset in our past and nobody really wants to think about it.
But in the meantime, I have really REALLY exciting news: I am now, officially, a bona-fide card-carrying patron of the National Library and Archives!!
Ok, so technically not card-carrying. But there’s a card waiting for me at the commissionaire’s desk, and I have the number. And I’m going to GUARD it with my LIFE, because the last thing I need is someone checking out Samuel de Champlain’s grocery list in my name and then forgetting to return it.
Is it sad that I’m excited about this? I’d think so, except that when I tweeted a question about the Archives I got an avalanche of helpful responses – from friends, from people I’ve never heard of, even from Teri Loretto of CBC Radio fame! #swoon
Y’all are just a geeky as I am.
I love you guys.
Now what’s it going to take for Ian Black to tweet me?
I’m supposed to ask a question now, right?
That’s the blogging protocol? So, um…
WHAT is your favourite COLOUR?
Other places I ramble
Stack Overflow
16 Comments
Green. This is awesome. I’d be happy to read drafts! Just how geeky are you? You could always go for your PhD in history…
TY! Be careful what you wish for
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And is that a dare? I don’t think it’s a question of geekiness but rather a reluctance to return to impoverished studentdom. I need to support my lavish lifestyle
Yah…love this. Andrew picks this beer up occasionally because of the filles de roi on the box – tres, elegant, although as he says, they probably would not have truly been quite this wholesome in reality:) http://unibroue.com/en/beers/blonde_de_chambly/
As for me, history geek too…I say write it. Can’t wait to read…
That’s hilarious! I’ve been thinking about ways to “set the scene” for writing – pictures from the period plastered all over the office, soundtracks etc. Makes me wish I like beer! Maybe I should try it anyhow.
As for wholesomeness, from what I’m reading there was a period where they were, apparently erroneously, painted as Parisian whores, but the “truth” (according to our current version of history) is that they were mostly country girls who required the endorsement of the parish priest. City girls, the logic went, weren’t up to the challenge.
LOL Beer as research….if it were wine, I’d be right behind that idea:)
I was thinking more as a writing aid – “write drunk, edit sober”
Orange. great post. I’ll read what ever you write missy
Orange is a great colour! It’s the colour of, um… oranges? Why can I not think of anything else? I thought I had something, there was a tall glass floating in my mind’s eye… then I realized it was orange juice. Sigh.
PS. Thank you. Blushing. That’s kinda orange
Love this idea – it sounds so intriguing. I’ve never heard of the Filles Du Roi and already I want to know more. Write on!
They really, really did leave out all the interesting bits in high school history. I read something recently about women during the war of 1812, wish to heck I could remember what it was, all I remember now is thinking “why didn’t they tell us this in school?? It might have caught my attention!!” And don’t even get me started on the Acadians – I thought they’d all been deported until I moved to Ottawa and met one.
I love the sound of your project! I’m not a big researcher myself (far too lazy and really only like writing about me – joking – mostly!)… I don’t mind that you blog about different stuff. I have two blogs and it’s a friggin’ nightmare! (Not sure what I was ever thinking and now it’s too hard to merge them!)
PS. My fave colour is emerald green. Though I mostly wear black.
Deb
Thanks Deb! I love the reading part of research, I’ve never been good at the knuckling down and sythesizing it into a paper, though. I’m with you, when it comes to writing, I do much better writing about myself
Did you know the Museum of Civilization has an online virtual Museum of New France?
http://www.civilization.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france/introduction/
I did not know about that! Thank you so much, I am checking it out now!!
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