The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast

As I've stated many times, I absolutely love researching the historical details that place characters in their own time.  My WIP, The Gardener's Daughter, begins with the two main characters as children.  In order to flesh them out I researched books and games children would have played in the Georgian era.  While frolicking across the Web, I came across an enchanting book first published in the November issue of the Gentleman's Magazine of 1766.  The poem  is believed to be written by William Roscoe in honor of his son Robert's birthday.

The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast by William Roscoe

The rhyming poem describes a whimsical ball attended by insects and creatures who gather for a night of music, dancing, and merry-making.  A mirror  of the London ton, the story adds whimsical character to those attending the festivities. 

Sir George Smart set music to the rhyming story at the request of King George III and  Queen Charlotte for the delight of their daughters Elizabeth, Augusta, and Mary.  The princesses performed the musical during a holiday at Weymouth. 

A series of little books measuring just 5 by 4 inches were published throughout the latter part of the 1700s and in to the early part of the 1800s.  The small books were written by various authors, some lost to the years.  One series, Harriet's Cabinet began with the Butterfly's Ball published in 1807 and followed by The Peacock at Home, 

The Elephant's Ball by W. B. (it is unknown who the initials refer to)

 

 and  The Lion's Masquerade by Catherine Ann Turner Dorset

 An updated version of the Butterfly's Ball and Grasshopper's Feast won the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year award in 1973 with colorful illustrations by Alan Aldridge. 

May you enjoy each of these sweet tales as much as I did. 

Madeleine de Scudery's Quote

I don’t know a lick of French, except for a mouthful of words like oui, monsieur, mademoiselle, madame, au voir, bon jour, merci and that’s about it.  What I do find intriguing about the French language is how romantic it looks on paper or fabric.  I’m also enchanted when good fortune smiles upon me and I overhear French spoken by native speakers.   All this jabbering brings me to the quote in the heading of my blog.

I don’t believe Madeleine de  Scudéry could have been any more on target when it comes to describing a romance novel in simplest form.   The greatest pleasures of the book come from the love heroine and hero strive to hold fast and the worst problems develop because of that love.  I don’t know about you, but I’ll race through a novel that envelopes a world with a pleasurable concept intertwined with a problematic one if they're wrapped around the larger-than-life emotion…love.  Love compels each of us to be better, to be worse... to be. 

Want to learn more about the fascinating Madeleine de Scudéry and her Saturday salon, samedis, where literati gathered to argue the issues of the day? You’ll find a plethora of information on this site.

Have a wonderful Saturday evening,  

A Romantic Journey

I've been on a journey to places only I know and now I'd love it if you'd join me.  After years of writing about everything from how to get pet pee off the carpet to zen gardens, I'm taking the plunge into the fresh waters of creative writing.  My writer's voice lends itself to romantic stories and perhaps that's because I'm a romantic soul.  Yes, I believe there's love out there in all shapes, sizes, colors, patterns, and textures. 

You, dear reader, can expect to find all manner of romance.  Maybe one day it will be a romantic recipe and the next a tale of unrequited love.  I do know this...a blog, MY blog about romance is ready to burst into passionate flames and I so want you to join me.  Put away your cynacism, lay aside your disbelief, and for just a while believe...believe that love encompasses us in strange and wonderful fogs that swirl in and out of our lives. 

I must take care of some business.  I knew I wanted to start Isabella's blog and I knew I wanted it to be dreamy and of course, romantic.  I searched far and wide across the vast Internet landscape until I came upon two good fairies of enchanting backgrounds.  Thank you to Elegia's Background Garden for this hauntingly beautiful background, but before I found Elegia I stumbled upon Cute n Cool Blog Stuff.  itKuPiLLi creates amazing art and she too offers free backgrounds.  I have my eye on one of hers for future possibilities.  So if you have a moment, stop by, take a peek, and be prepared to be delighted.