This is the third and final part of a series of posts that looks at the principal places in France in Overture, Book 1 in the Alouette Trilogy. The main character, Marie-Thérèse, has ambitions to be an opera singer. The story moves mainly between rural Aveyron in Southwest France and Paris, but Marie-Thérèse also spendsContinue reading “Marie-Thérèse’s France 3: Bordeaux”
Tag Archives: Overture
Marie-Thérèse’s France 2: Paris
This is the second part of a series of posts looking at some of the settings that Marie-Thérèse, my main character in Overture, would have known. How do you cover Paris in one blog post? I’m not even going to try. Instead, I’ll focus on a few of the places that are mentioned in theContinue reading “Marie-Thérèse’s France 2: Paris”
Marie-Thérèse’s France 1: Rural Aveyron
Today, I want to take you to some of the settings that Marie-Thérèse, my main character in Overture, would have known. In this first post, I’ll focus on Aveyron, which is one of the most rural départements (counties) of France. I live just over the border in an adjoining département, but I’m very attached toContinue reading “Marie-Thérèse’s France 1: Rural Aveyron”
The Life of an Agricultural Labourer in France in 1900
At the turn of the 20th century, the world of agricultural labour in France was a patchwork of different métiers and social positions. Wherever you were on the social hierarchy, your life was governed by the tasks associated with the different seasons.
From Rural France to Paris: Les Bougnats
The odd-sounding combination of coal merchant and bistro owner was quite common in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These establishments were usually the métier of immigrants from the Auvergne and northern Aveyron, where the poor soil made farming a thankless task.
Overture Cover Reveal
I’ve reached a very exciting stage in the genesis of my latest novel, Overture. I can now reveal the cover, and the Kindle version is on pre-order on Amazon. As ever, my designer JD Smith has come up with a great cover design, which I believe really conveys the flavour of the Belle Epoque periodContinue reading “Overture Cover Reveal”
Vanessa Couchman 