25 posts tagged with history and france.
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Rural Religious Life in the 18th Century?
I'm writing a piece that takes place in a small village in 18th century rural France. My research has hit a bit of a wall in finding resources that give me a sense of what the day-to-day relationship with the church would be for a villager of the time, and specifically what a wedding of the time might look like for a lower-class individual. Open to earlier time periods, other European countries, and tangential perspectives! [more inside]
Why would people with kids postpone marriage in 19th century Europe?
I'm doing research on families who were living in Europe (mostly France, but not only) in the second half of the 19th century, and I have noted a pattern of unmarried people having children together but getting married years after the birth of the child. [more inside]
What should I do with the historical research I'm writing?
Last September, I wrote a couple of comments on MeFi about the life of a mysterious black woman who had been painted by Toulouse-Lautrec in 1881. I kept on digging and the result will be a novella-sized amount of text. What should I do with it? [more inside]
Nonfiction books about the occupation of France in WW2
I'd like to read about people's experiences during the occupation: in particular, granular everyday details about life after the initial surrender and the early years of the occupation (1940–41). [more inside]
Poor Philippe Égalité
Looking for book recommendations for French history between Napoleon I and Napoleon III. [more inside]
What is this waistcoat called en Francaise?
Reviewing a series of mugshots of French Anarchists from the 1890's, I noticed that a very large percentage of them are wearing what appears to be the same style of knitted double-breasted waistcoat. I have questions: [more inside]
An economic history of the French Revolution
I'd like to see an article or book on the economic history of the French Revolution. While the poor crops and unusually harsh winters seem relatively self-explanatory, I'm interested in the personalities and the constraints that seem to lurk along the edges. [more inside]
Great Moments in Obscure 19th Century Italian History
I’m trying to fact-check an anecdote that I’ve come across in the course of a research project, and coming up short. In a nutshell: did King Umberto I of Italy ever visit Paris at any point between 1889 and his assassination in 1900? The anecdote suggests that he did, but my (admittedly limited) understanding of French-Italian relations at the time suggests that this is unlikely.
How did the 18th century French aristocracy regard the poor?
The popular perception of Versailles and the 18th century French aristocracy holds that they showed a casual disregard for the the struggles of the poor. This surely has truth to it, but the famous "let them eat cake" anecdote quite likely never happened – so can you point me to any other evidence (letters, anecdotes, trial proceedings, etc) of how the French ruling class actually regarded the poor?
The pre-modern breast pump was a man? Tell me more about tetaires.
In The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography, the following sentence has prompted much speculation: "There were rebilhous, who called out the hours of the night, 'cinderellas', who collected and sold ashes used for laundering clothes, men called tetaires, who performed the function of a breast-pump by sucking mothers' breasts to start the flow of milk, and all the other specialists that the census listed under 'trades unknown' and 'without trade', which usually meant gypsies prostitutes, and beggars." So, uh, tetaires? [more inside]
State of French scientific knowledge about the moon in 1878
need some pointers as to research strategies/leads to find out about the state of the art knowledge about the moon in 1878, with particular reference to things arising in or popular in the French scientific community. First thoughts are Times digital archive and to look for an encyclopaedia of similar date. Any leads appreciated.
Je veux lire de l'histoire française
I'm in the middle of In Search of Lost Time. It's interesting me in French history. It's better to learn about it from non-fiction, though, since Proust mixes real figures and facts with ones he made up. What good books are there about any period of French history between 1789 and, say, 1939? Popular or academic books are fine, and they don't have to concern themselves with wars, arms races, and treaties, either. Cultural histories are good.
Decode This German Shorthand Mystery Letter From 1939!
This envelope with a letter inside was found inside a large decaying bound edition of Shakespeare auf Deutsch in a junk shop in Bushwick that was only apparently open for a few months before disappearing. The letter, postmarked 15 March, 1939 - was sent to Paris by a Mr. Henri Wolf. The contents of the letter appear to be German shorthand. Included was small piece of what looks like code, there's nothing else on the back.The letter, envelope, postcard, etc in question are at this imgur album. Hivemind: What the hell is this?
I need a history book!
I need help with a book suggestion! All my particulars found within, within, within.. [more inside]
Where in Montmartre (Paris) did Maurice Utrillo stand when he painted this view of the "Maquis"?
My late grandfather painted an interpretation of one of Maurice Utrillo's depictions of the "Maquis" of Montmartre, in Utrillo's time a very poor area of the well-known Paris neighbourhood. Which Utrillo work did my granddad use as a blueprint, and where exactly was Utrillo's vantage point? [more inside]
Looking for a decent documentary on French history
I'm looking for a documentary on French history. Something similar to Simon Schamra's BBC series "A History of Britain". [more inside]
How else to endure all those rituals?
You live at Versailles in 1658. You're nobility of the blood. You know the King. What drugs, drinks, or other ways of getting totally fucked up are available to you? How often could you partake before people started to Have A Problem with it? [more inside]
15th century France military-nobility complex
I'd appreciate help with some terms from 14-16c (apx) France. The translations don't tell me about the social hierarchy or give any context. Thanks for any help you can give here. Or point me to an English-language explanation. Here goes: guidon, marechal, chevalier, seigneur, ecuyer. licencie en droit, chatellenie. sieur, chambellan, sire, noble homme. Sorry for lack of accents.
Tété-Michel Kpomassie: Where is He Now
Tété-Michel Kpomassie: where is he now? Whatever happened to him? I can't find other books by him after An African in Greenland; I've read he eventually received French citizenship and lives there now - but what does he do? He must have written other books or articles, right? Anyone know?
Buddhism and Surrealism in Paris in the 1920s
How do I found out about books, museums, exhibitions, and artifacts relating to Buddhism in Paris in the 1920s? [more inside]
Books on Russian/French history in the 1800s?
I'm looking for some books on European history during the 1800s. I'm specifically interested in Russia from the Decemberists to the 1917 revolution, and the French student revolution of 1848. [more inside]
The Flâneur exposed
'The Flâneur': What fascinating titbits can you add to my knowledge about this concept? Art, history, philosophy and literary theory links all welcome. [more inside]
Short History of France...
Follow-up to a question I asked earlier : Has anyone read any "short" histories of France that they would recommend? [more inside]
Mademoiselle Nation
Anyone know of any good books, plays, or other material about Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, a.k.a. "Mademoiselle Nation"? She was an eleven-year-old girl adopted by the French revolutionaries after her father's murder by a royalist. Her portrait by Jacques-Louis David is currently on display at the Getty in Los Angeles, and as the book blog Romancing the Tome says the story of her life would make for excellent reading. Surely she's found her way into print by now?
French Revolution History
I've just reduced my book queue to a puny six or seven, I'm looking to pile a little something on, and a bookstore just opened within walking distance. I'm in the mood for a good history of the French Revolution. Any recommendations?
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