A book you will all really love - if you don't have it go out and purchase RA NAO

[momesdelacloche.livejournal.com]

It's called "Danton : the gentle giant of terror" - you are already loving it, aren't you? - and it's by David Lawday.
I WOULD have posted some of the best bits - I mean, the descriptions of Robespierre and the comparisons between the two men are priceless - but it has been taken from my college library and rudely put on the New Books display in the Uper Reading Room of the Bodleian. So if you are anywhere near there, go and see it!
I mean.. I don't know how the author knows half of the stuff... I think - my theory is - he secretly discovered Danton's private diary! but he doesn't want anyone else to know he has it, so whenever he uses information from THE TOP SECRET DIARY OF GEORGES DANTON AGED 34 1/4 he just doesn't site any references at all, and leaves us all open mouthed - like for instance, when he tells us exactly what wine Danton and Camille Desmoulins ordered from their favourite café on a particular day, and that Robespierre turned it down for a glass of milk instead. He had previously written about Robespierre had a "feline" look about him (and "joyless eyes" - [here he did site a source, the lovely Michelet]) which partially explains the milk but other than that...
I mean, you have to see this. This guy has discovered something big, I'm sure. He's just not telling us about it.

Here is a review by a respected person on the French Revolution scene here in England: http://www.literaryreview.co.uk/doyle_07_09.html

P.S. Sozzalicious to anyone I sort of intentionally annoyed. I am just like a lowly deputy of the Plain. Nobody up there on the Mountain need listen to anything I say
P.P.S. But do read this book because you will not be able to put it down (without hurling it across the room and foaming slightly at the mouth)(in amazement)!

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

No, I mean the kind of content the book is sure to contain, based on the author's comments in the radio interview victoriavandal posted, the review posted here and what I know about its author, and the publisher's notice. I may be wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't know she posted a radio interview with him. I thought since it was a new book I might post something about it. Excuse me for not having anything more worthwhile to contribute to this community

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry if I came off a bit abrupt there; that wasn't my intention. It's just that it seemed to me you were implying that I couldn't really critique the book without reading it--if that is the case, you're absolutely right, I can't and I shouldn't try. But I can make a pretty good estimate based on the sources I mentioned above, which tells me it would probably be a waste of my time to read it in order to, essentially, make a more mediocre version of M-H Huet's critique of the common portrayal of the dichotomy between Robespierre and Danton from her book Mourning Glory.

That aside, by all means, contribute whatever you can. After all, if everyone were a translator, where would I be?

[momesdelacloche.livejournal.com]

As if I would imply such a thing. I can never be bothered to read books through myself, but you seem like the meticulous type, I'm sure you would never make a statement that wasn't based on the soundest of foundations.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I should be very sorry for anyone who picks up one of my books when I'm a historian if I weren't "the meticulous type," as you put it. I'm sorry if I sound too dull and serious, but I think it's imperative to carefully study or consider anyone or anything one is planning on judging before one does so.