Posts filed under ‘art’
Emma Collingwood: “The Radiant Boy – Four Ghost Stories from the Age of Sail” now available on Amazon / Preview online!
Finally! The second book in the “Penny, Dreadful & Tarbottom” series is now available on Amazon Germany!
Or make your local bookshop happy and place your order there; you can find the ISBN number of the book below.
“THE RADIANT BOY”
Four Ghost Stories from the Age of Sail
Written by Emma Collingwood
Illustrations by Amandine de Villeneuve
Edited by Timothy T. Tarbottom
ISBN: 978-3842336759
At the annual meeting of the “Young Bucks Club”, four officers serving in the Royal Navy during the Age of Sail share ghostly naval tales.The second book in Emma Collingwood’s and Amandine de Villeneuve’s “Penny, Dreadful and Tarbottom”-series, “The Radiant Boy” is an eerie and touching tribute to the classic English ghost story and the Royal Navy.
- “THE RADIANT BOY”
- “CRAWFORD’S CASKET”
- “THE LAST JOURNEY OF HMS DOVER”
- “LAST SERVICE” (a tribute to Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood)
The book contains four stories, one b/w sketch and 10 colour drawings by the wonderful Amandine de Villeneuve, “Author’s Notes for the Curious” plus a book curse. The latter is included for free.
Amazon provides a preview, so if you’d like “trial read” and have a look at some of the illustrations, please click the picture below:
If you don’t want to wait for the book to become available through the official website (which will be in about two to three weeks), you can place your order on Amazon even if you don’t live in Germany.
“But I don’t speak German!” Don’t worry – Google can help!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF AMAZON PAGE
“The Radiant Boy” has 100 pages and costs EUR 9.90 (about £ 8.40 / $ 13.00). I’m aware that this is a high price (due to small edition and colour pages), and ordering through the official website will be more expensive, as Amazon offers cheaper shipping. So ordering through Amazon will save you money.
I’m very happy with the final product; Amandine de Villeneuve’s illustrations are absolutely delightful, and I don’t think I’ve done too bad on the writing front, either (if I may say so).
Happy buying, happy reading!
Trafalgar – the 13 year-old Veteran
Helicopter parents are advised to hit the back button now. If you’re worried about leaving your 13 year old in the living room without supervision for ten minutes, the following tale might traumatise you.
“The One True Story of the Battle of Trafalgar” doesn’t exist. There are as many stories as there were people, ships and nations involved. And, not to forget, the historians writing about it! Nelson’s legendary signal before the battle, “England expects that every man will do his duty”, was also addressing the youngsters serving in the navy. Ship’s boys. Powder monkeys. And midshipmen.
Regulars of this blog will know the tragic story of young Norwich Duff who, at 13 years of age, saw his father die next to him, and whose letter to his mother with the sad news is probably telling us just as much about Trafalgar as documents of naval strategies.
From our modern point of view, the mere thought of sending a 13 year old to war is lunacy. It goes completely against our concept of protecting children (and rightly so!). But back in the 18th, early 19th century, a 13 year old midshipman wasn’t a child anymore – he was a “young gentleman”, with all the rights that came with the status – but also with all the responsibilities. No hiding behind barrels when the cannon balls came a-flying – a midshipman was expected to be on deck, like any other officer, not showing any fear – a role model for the men.
In a recent episode of “The Antiques Roadshow”, I came across the story of a 13 year old midshipman who had served in HMS Defiance during the Battle of Trafalgar, under the command of Captain Philip Charles Durham. Now most of you will think of Jack Spratt, the middie who fought alone against the Aigle until men and officers of the Defiance came to his help. His story will be told some other time, though.
The midshipman I’m talking about here was Spencer Smyth. He had joined the navy at 11, the same age as Collingwood first went to sea. Little did Smyth know that, centuries later, his great-great-great-grandson would take his naval service medal to the Antiques Roadshow! (My thanks to the gentleman in question, by the way).
The medal is exceptional, but what really made this little bit of historical information so interesting was the fact that Mr. Smyth’s descendant also brought a picture of his ancestor along, showing him with fellow veterans of the Battle of Trafalgar. You can see him on the left, sitting under Nelson’s portrait.
The gentleman said that he didn’t know what year the picture had been taken, but that he thought Smyth must have been well in his seventies. Now, the NMM has two pictures of Smyth in it’s possession, unfortunately none of them are available online. One is titled “Last survivors in the year 1880 of Battle of Trafalgar, 21st October, 1805“, though, so I wouldn’t rule out that the picture was taken during a veteran meeting on 21st October in 1880 and Smyth actually was 89 years old!
We read about and discuss history – but Smyth was there. He was part of that history. He’s seen it all with his own eyes. I guess that’s what makes the picture so special – it’s not a pompous painting, it’s a simple snapshot of a veteran who experienced in person what we only know from books.
And what happened to young master Smyth later on in his life? I wish I could tell you; my research wasn’t very successful. He made his career in the navy, was wounded as a lieutenant in the Battle of Navarino (1827) which earned him promotion to Commander. He became an admiral in 1878/79 and died in 1880. He married Martha Edmonds, the daughter of the Superintendent Master at Portsmouth and sister of a fellow officer. The navy, it seems, runs in the family.
Smyth must also have had a bit of artistic talent; he made the following watercolour of the Battle of Trafalgar.
The NMM also provides a picture based on one of his sketches. Another drawing, this time of a church, can be found here.
Movie Tip: A Very Dashing Genius – “GOETHE!”
Some say I find a nautical link in everything I write about, and I’m beginning to fear that it’s true. This time, it’s Emma Lady Hamilton, and if I say that she crossed the path of a genius in Italy, you’d probably take Nelson for 500, wouldn’t you?
WRONG!
I’m talking about Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He was a guest at Lord Hamilton’s house and witnessed one of Emma’s performances:
“The performance is like nothing you have ever seen before. With a few scarves and shawls she expressed a variety of wonderful transformations. One pose after another without a break.”
What Da Vinci was for his time, Goethe was for his. Interested in a million things, brilliant and gifted, he was one of the most important personalities of the 18th century. So I guess you’d be delighted if I’d write a lengthy article now about Weimar Classicism and lawyers, right?
I thought so. Very well, have a movie instead:
“GOETHE!”
The story: Young Goethe is not yet the successful poet and writer that he’d eventually become, and he’s only reluctantly studying to become a lawyer. His father, upset with his son’s attitude, sends him to live in the province and become a civil servant. But life in the country is not that bad, after all, for Goethe meets a young woman – Lotte. He’s falling madly in love with her, especially as she encourages him to follow his dream and become a poet.
What Goethe doesn’t know: Lotte is already engaged to his superior, Kestner, and so the tender love between Goethe and Lotte is doomed.
Yes, we can see the attraction.
It is thought that this episode in his life inspired Goethe to write his novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther”, which was a huge success and caused “Werther Fever” (today we’d probably call it “fan craze”) and the first known examples of copycat suicides. It was also responsible for a very early example of fanfiction – author Friedrich Nicolai wrote “The Joys of Young Werther”, “in which Albert, having realized what Werther is up to, had loaded chicken blood into the pistol, thereby foiling Werther’s suicide, and happily concedes Lotte to him.”
“Goethe!” opened yesterday, and I hope I’ll find the time to watch the movie and post a review very soon. I think it’s pretty safe to say that this is not going to be the “100% historically accurate biography of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe” but rather “18th Century Costume RomComDrama”. Now, I’m all for historical accuracy, but this will probably get more people into the cinemas and maybe interested in Goethe than some dusty biopic. Plus – dashing men in 18th century garb, how could I resist?
Excellent actors have been casted – Alexander Fehling as Goethe, Moritz Bleibtreu as Albert Kestner, Burghart Klaussner as the father of Goethe’s love interest Lotte Buff (Miriam Stein) and Henry Hübchen as Goethe’s father, so at least in the acting department, I trust that I won’t be disappointed.
The German-speaking readers of this blog will very likely appreciate the following screencap as much as I do – I consider printing a poster…
WATCH THE TRAILER
Concert tip: “That Noble Fellow Collingwood” – The New Scorpion Band
Tomorrow is the 262th birthday of my favourite admiral. While I usually restrict my Collingwooditis to the Old Cuddy blog, I’d like to recommend to you, dear readers of the Joyful Molly, the following event:
9th October, 2010, 8pm, £ 13.50, concessions: £ 7.00
The Sage Gateshead, Gateshead, in association with the
Collingwood 2010 Festival:
THE NEW SCORPION BAND:
“THAT NOBLE FELLOW COLLINGWOOD”
The New Scorpion Band present songs, poetry, prose and music written to commemorate the great historical events in the time of Collingwood and Nelson and marking the 200th anniversary of the death of Collingwood.
Death? Bah, humbug. He died in March. So – big smashing birthday party, I say!
Art/Resources: Today, I had tea with William Hogarth.
If you’re interested in the 18th century, you can’t avoid the art of William Hogarth. And why would you want to avoid it, anyway? He was the chronologist of 18th century morals (or lack thereof…); from “The Harlot’s Progress” to “Marriage à-la-mode” he left us a legacy that can’t be valued highly enough: 18th century Britain, unfiltered. I still think you can learn just as much about life in 18th century London by looking at “Gin Lane” as you could from a lengthy academic paper.
In short: I adore Hogarth’s work, so I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I met him this afternoon in a very unlikely place: the junk-shop just around the corner. Well, it wasn’t William Hogarth in person, but rather a hand-coloured print of his painting “Pit Ticket /Cockpit”, dating back to 1759. It’s not a 19th century reprint; while I don’t know much about painting, I do know quite a bit about paper, and it’s definitely an 18th century print:
It’s in absolutely perfect condition, the colours are wonderful and give a good impression of the fashion of the day. I’m completely in love with it. It was just so bizarre to see a Hogarth print here; maybe prints turn up in junk shops in London all the time, but in this country? Unheard of.
So I’m now the proud owner of a Hogarth (yes, I know, it’s not a painting, but I don’t care), and tomorrow, I’ll remove all furniture and pictures from the back wall in the living room, repaint it and it will be all Hogarth’s.
And as if that wasn’t fortunate enough, I also found two enchanting French 18th century prints. Both have minor water damage; my guess is that all three pictures come from the same place, because there were also other 18th/19 century antiques on sale, which seemed to belong together. Maybe somebody died and the heirs sold everything? I don’t know.
The two prints are also coloured, but in very pale colours, suiting the more elegant art. They are quite cheeky; in the first picture, you can see a lady catching her beau “in flagranti”, with her competitor hiding in the closet, part of her robe caught in the door!
“LA VISITE INATTENDUE.”
Votre indiscretion funeste à tous les deux,
Dans votre sein, Chloris, va jetter les allarmes:
Du tendre amour quels que soient tous les charmes
Il doit avoir un bandeau sur les yeux
“LE BAIN.”
De la Lettre ou du Chocolat
Què préfère Madame? Ah ma chère Justine,
J’ai le coeur bien plus délicat
Plus foible infiniment, hélas! que la poitrine.
Now I’m looking forward to “therapeutic painting” tomorrow. “Light cream” and “antique rose” – I hope Mr. Hogarth will approve.
Overhaul of Molly Joyful’s Useful List of Resources
Just a quick note to let you know that
Molly Joyful’s Useful List of Resources
is currently undergoing an extensive overhaul and update. It will become a special section here on “Joyful Molly” rather than “just” a long list of links. I’ve collected over hundred new resource links, covering almost every aspect of life in the 18th century, and I hope you’ll like the final product.
Until then, it may happen that some links disappear; if you can’t find something you’re looking for, please leave a message here and I’ll see if I can help you. And please feel free to share any useful links you might know that I haven’t come across yet.
Thanks!
Charity Auction: Help the flood victims in Pakistan and win your own Age of Sail ghost story!
Written by Emma Collingwood – as an audio file, read by myself. It will be one of the stories in “The Radiant Boy”; an old-fashioned ghost story set in the Age of Sail. You’ll get my strange accent for free, and I’ll throw in some choccies as well.
This is a one-of-the-kind item, nobody else will get it. You can keep it for yourself, you can share it with your friends – the only thing you may not do is sell it or use it in any money-making way. Copyright and ownership remains with me.
( YOU CAN FIND ALL THE DETAILS HERE )
Please tell your friends about this auction, post a link on Facebook, retweet it, message it. Thanks so much in advance. The flood victims in Pakistan need our help. Here are two of those victims – it’s important to put faces to a disaster.
Picture by Hatif Ameed. Please have a look at the slideshow of his photographs – those are the people you’re helping with your contribution.
PotC goes Lego: “Pirates of the Caribbean – the Lego Movie”
Media fans are often very dedicated to their hobby, and many of them are amazingly creative. That’s a great thing, because it means we all get more mileage out of a movie or a TV show. And if you’ve ever suffered through “Pirates of the Caribbean: At Wits End”, you’ve learned to appreciate the quality of fan movies.
Philippe Vergauwen is the name of one such fan, and he’s worked 1.5 years on the Lego-version of “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (the first half of the movie, that is). And while he skipped some key scenes, he did include all our beloved naval gentlemen. So you can enjoy Commodore Norrington, Lt. Gillette and Lt. Groves all Lego-shaped! Plus Mullroy and Murtogg, of course.
Oddly enough, Lt. Gillette starts out as a marine, and the Admiralty would probably not have approved of stubbles and moustache, but eh, Commodore Norrington isn’t a good role model there, so we’ll let it slip.
Mr. Gillette has a mid-scene uniform change on his way to the Dauntless, but it looks like he’s lost his razor. Maybe Lt. Wilkinson could have helped him out there.
We all know that this won’t end well for our hero…
Commodore Norrington and Lt. Groves watch the goings-on aboard the Dauntless with great suspicion. Also, Mr. Groves seems to be the only one in the Royal Navy who owns a razor blade.
“… and then the Interceptor sailed into the sunset…”
This is great fun, and just the right distraction in this heat (it’s 38° here, the asphalt is melting and so am I). Compliments to Philippe and thanks for sharing!
You can watch the videos on youtube:
Have fun!
Heritage Wrecker Award: Martin Harmon for Bulldozing 17th Century Gridley’s Cottage
I feel those who destroy our landscape and heritage should get their own award. Society doesn’t make their lives easy, with its restrictions and laws and general peskiness about preserving history. Few people understand that it’s hard work ruining our heritage, so let’s show those who have committed their lives to this difficult task some love and recognition, I say! And let’s start with Mr. Martin Harmon.
Langham villagers furious as house is reduced to rubble
A picturesque thatched cottage has disappeared from a village street scene – just one day after developers gave planners four weeks’ notice of their intention to demolish it.
Rather than starting small and flattening some old wall in his garden, Mr. Harmon reached for the stars and bulldozed down 17th century Gridley’s cottage in Langham. Well, he didn’t do it himself, so we have to deduct some points, but he did so without waiting for the approval of his application by Colchester Council, and so he really deserves this award.
Outstanding work, good Sir, bravo! Look at the result – how could anybody deny the positive impact of Mr. Harmon’s actions?
BEFORE
Gridley's Cottage in 2009, picture by Andrew Stacy
AFTER
Residents in front of the pile of rubble
Unfortunately Mr. Harmon, like most great visionaries, was greatly misunderstood by local authorities who blocked his ambitions and threw out his plans:
Langham: Gridleys’ developer must think again
They criticised the road-facing position of Mr Harmon’s chosen design, its “block” form, proportions and visual impact, adding such a property would “undermine the historic, cultural and local associations with the site and the historic character of the location”.
Our hearts go out to Mr. Harmon. Maybe he could set up a tent on the rubble for the time being…?
Neither Mr. Harmon nor his agent in this matter, Mark Perkins of Mark Perkins Partnership in Langenhoe, wish to comment on the incident. How unfortunate. We would have loved to give them their award personally.
Act Now: Pepys’ favoured Georgian Sheerness Dockyard in Danger!
SAVE Britain’s Heritage‘s work is, unfortunately, never done, and this time they fight side by side with The Georgian Group and World Monument Fund Britain for the Georgian Sheerness Dockyard in Kent. Samuel Pepys was very fond of the place, and I feel like he’s frowning mightily at the moment!
Please take a moment to read this entry and also the full information on the SAVE website HERE; the more people know about this and protest, the bigger the chance that not yet another part of our Naval heritage is going down the drain.
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
“The area at risk is a spectacular Regency residential quarter hidden within Sheerness Dockyard in Kent. The enclave includes a Regency Terrace – five Grade II* listed houses, Dockyard House – an elegant mansion, and a series of other buildings all dating from the 1820s. It is believed to be the largest group of vacant II* listed domestic buildings in the south of England.”
Sheerness Dockyard House, picture courtesy SAVE Britain's Heritage
“This site, which holds the key for the regeneration of the entire historic dockyard as well as the wider region, is
subject to a massive development proposal, involving the breaching of the listed dockyard wall and the construction of 3 new blocks of flats. The entire dockyard hit the headlines in October 2009 when it was included in the World Monuments Fund 2010 Watch, an international call to action on behalf endangered heritage sites worldwide. The dockyard was nominated by SAVE with the backing of a number of leading heritage campaigners including Dan Cruickshank and Gavin Stamp.”
Please click here for more information.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
There are many ways you can help:
You can support SAVE financially
You can write to the authorities in charge and hey, why not start at the top? Since the last elections, the MP in charge is Gordon Henderson. You can find his contact information here. Mr. Henderson is a member of the Conservative Party, so he might as well help conserve what we have… Miss Collingwood, so I heard, is already reaching for paper and quill to voice her concerns.
Spread the word! This is the age of the internet, my friends – tweet / retweet and facebook and journal and blog about this till your keyboards and iPhones melt! The more voices, the bigger the chance of being heard:
Joyful Molly 