Comments on: “Fallen” Heroines and Happy Endings

By: Tracy Grant

Tracy Grant — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:20:58 +0000

It’s confusing that the names change in the opera. And then the movie is “Camille” which could be a man’s name or a woman’s but in fact refers to neither of them. You’re right, “Carmen” is in the same vein, except that instead of nobly leaving her lover for his own good (like Marguerite/Violetta and Magda in “La Rondine”), she falls ou of love with him. But she still ends up dead.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:54:21 +0000

That’s me, confusing stories and stage productions – I meant ‘The Lady of the Camellias’ (‘Marguerite and Armand’ being the ballet), and La Traviata is probably closer than Carmen, you’re right (although Carmen is in the same vein, in that the woman is punished for being exactly what attracted her ill-matched suitor to her in the first place …)

By: Tracy Grant

Tracy Grant — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:21:06 +0000

Thanks, Sarah, “Garden of Venus” sounds fascinating! I agree such heroines make fascinating characters and are often the strongest character in the story. (“La Rondine iß also a variant on the Marguerite/Armand story (which becomes ViolettaAlfredo in “La Traviata”). I just wish they sometimes had a happy ending!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:13:05 +0000

‘Garden of Venus’ is based on the life of Sophie, a Polish Countess in the early nineteenth century, and her family. I’ve always been fascinated in literature by beautiful, entrancing women and the men who worship them! O, the power!

And of course there are stories such as Carmen, Marguerite and Armand, and the film Moulin Rouge, which are all variations on a theme: a beautiful, fatal courtesan who finally falls in love, but suffers at the hands of male pride and jealousy, before dying – the heroine may be ‘punished’ for her life, but I’ve always found the woman to be the strongest character.

By: Tracy Grant

Tracy Grant — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:15:23 +0000

Thanks for the further recommendations, JMM! Gayle actually used to be in the RWA chapter I was in. She’s a fabulous writer and a very nice person. I read her first book and really enjoyed it but missed these two and need to track down copies.

By: Tracy Grant

Tracy Grant — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:14:07 +0000

From the sound of it, your singing’s worlds better than mine, Gabriele! I actually like a lot of European opera productions–a lot of them bring out aspects of the music and story I hadn’t seen before. Some seem to be fighting against the music and story, but I find that’s also true of some traditional productions. Btw, I saw a fabulous production of “The Rake’s Progress” this evening–set in 1950s Hollywood, and it really worked (it’s an opera I love too, and i’ve seen a couple of fabulous 18th century=set productions of it).

By: JMM

JMM — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:00:33 +0000

Oh, oh, oh!

I almost forgot:

“Thief’s Mistress” by Gayle Feyrer and
“Heart of Deception” by Taylor Chase
(Actually, “they” are the same author)

TM – Robin Hood and Maid Marian; Marian is a ruthless spy for Queen Elinor.

HoD – set in Elizabethan times, the heroine is a ruthless mobster.

Both of them have such… atmosphere and great heroines!

By: Gabriele

Gabriele — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:38:35 +0000

Lol, I didn’t say my singing way any good. Nay, it wasn’t bad and I took some lessons when my voice had matured, but I’m not good enough to make a career out of it (and with the pseudo-intellectual and political way opera is presented on stage in Germany, I didn’t even want to).

I listen to opera a lot when I write, too. Though I sometimes have to revise my dialogue later.

By: Tracy Grant

Tracy Grant — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:07:45 +0000

Thanks, Sarah! I’ve read Katie Hickman’s book about diplomats’ wives, but not the one about courtesans–must look for it. “Garden of Venus” sounds very interesting–whose life is it based on?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:56:14 +0000

I would love to read some good fiction about courtesans, after Katie Hickman’s biography of four such women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries – now, these were the real heroines! Shrewd, beautiful, charismatic, witty and fatal, ladies like Elizabeth Armistead and Cora Pearl of the ‘demi-monde’ had it all for a time, and were famous for their ‘talents’, but usually came to an unfortunate end over one particular man; left with nothing enduring after their beauty faded.

I have read one fictional ‘biography’, ‘Garden of Venus’ by Eva Stachniak, full of beautiful language and a tragic heroine who enjoyed her life as a celebrated mistress, and I would recommend it.