Kenny Rogers has died at the age of 81, peacefully......RIP Gambler....
I missed Kenny's farewell tour, sadly. But he'll always be there. Hits like Lucille, and the Gambler and Coward of the county.. will always be played....
Saturday, 21 March 2020
Friday, 20 March 2020
a story on Amazon by Nadine Sutton
Rough Music is a “band” story set in the US, in the late 1970s. It isn't a love story but rather a work story, about music and the life of an up and coming band. I’ve based it on what I’ve read about country singers in the days when touring was a constant part of their lives. It was hard work and took its toll on the marriages of many singers. But I love the music of the 1960s and 70’s. I love country pop, people like Glen Campbell... and I also love the Williamses… especially Hank Junior. I enjoy Lynrd Skynrd. So my story is all about that sort of life…
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Music-Nadine-Sutton-ebook/dp/B01AEQS0G0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452977780&sr=8-1&keywords=nadine+sutton
Robert Louis Stevenson Part II
Stevenson was not interested in law but agreed to read it,
to please his father. He led a more Bohemian
life, in the 1870s…making friends with literary types. He visited England, and met people who would become
good friends and literary advisers. In
London he met Gosse and Leslie Stephen, (father of Virginia Woolf) who was the
editor of the Cornhill Magazine. He rejected
Christianity and became an atheist and he began to frequent pubs and
brothels. He had intermittent health problems
with his bad chest, which drove him to visit France for a warmer climate. These trips gave him material for his travel
books… which would become an important way for him to earn money and develop his
writing skills.
In 1876, he had qualified for the Scottish bar but did not wish to practice law. While on a trip to Belgium and France he met Fanny Osborne an American lady who was separated from her husband due to his infidelities. She had taken her children and moved to France to study art. They fell in love but she returned to America in 1878... to her husband. Stevenson went on a trip to Southern France where he wrote Travels with a Donkey. It is considered a classic of “outdoors” travel writing involving camping and travelling through the mountains of France.
But his feelings for Fanny were still strong and in 1879, he decided to travel to the USA to see her. The voyage and travelling exhausted him, and he was living on a small income… trying to support himself by writing. Fanny was now divorced from her husband and she came to him, in California to nurse him back to health. They married and had a honeymoon in the Napa Valley. Stevenson got on well with his stepson Lloyd Osbourne who collaborated with him on some writing projects. He had been very ill but recovered with Fanny’s care and the couple returned to Scotland. His parents disapproved of his marriage to an older divorced woman but they grew to like Fanny
In 1876, he had qualified for the Scottish bar but did not wish to practice law. While on a trip to Belgium and France he met Fanny Osborne an American lady who was separated from her husband due to his infidelities. She had taken her children and moved to France to study art. They fell in love but she returned to America in 1878... to her husband. Stevenson went on a trip to Southern France where he wrote Travels with a Donkey. It is considered a classic of “outdoors” travel writing involving camping and travelling through the mountains of France.
But his feelings for Fanny were still strong and in 1879, he decided to travel to the USA to see her. The voyage and travelling exhausted him, and he was living on a small income… trying to support himself by writing. Fanny was now divorced from her husband and she came to him, in California to nurse him back to health. They married and had a honeymoon in the Napa Valley. Stevenson got on well with his stepson Lloyd Osbourne who collaborated with him on some writing projects. He had been very ill but recovered with Fanny’s care and the couple returned to Scotland. His parents disapproved of his marriage to an older divorced woman but they grew to like Fanny
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Beds and Blue Jeans
Beds and Blue Jeans is a novella set in present day America. It is about a love affair between a young couple who drift into living together and having a baby, and how they make things work. Its set in Nashville Tennessee.....
http://www.amazon.com/Beds-Blue-Jeans-everyday-mayhem-ebook/dp/B01370SMFO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443265304&sr=8-2&keywords=nadine+sutton
Sunday, 15 March 2020
Letizia Bonaparte Part II
Letizia spent
time in Italy, and was never much involved in Napoleon’s court. In 1814, when
his empire fell, most of the younger Bonapartes were more interested in saving their
own skin than in being loyal to the man who had brought them fame and power and
wealth. Pauline was loyal to him and
chose to go with him to Elba. So did Letizia. She liked the island; it was not so far from
Corsica where she had grown up. She was
happy enough with the limited and retired life there, and she had saved her
money for bad times. His mother and
sister tried to console him for his fall and make his life there happier… but Napoleon
was determined to make one last throw.
He returned to France and his venture ended in defeat.
After Waterloo he was exiled to St Helena, from which escape would be impossible. The Bonapartes were exiled from France. Letizia and Pauline both went to live in Italy. They settled in Rome; Pauline was desperately grieved over her brother now being sent to an island thousands of miles from Europe.
She did maintain a social life hoping to persuade influential English visitors to ameliorate his conditions in St Helena. Letizia spent most of her time with her brother Cardinal Fesch.. and was almost a recluse. Pauline fell out with her mother over Napoleon. Letizia and Fesch fell under the influence of a mystic who claimed that the ex-Emperor had managed to escape and was no longer at St Helena. Pauline did not believe this and she was angry when her mother took little care about finding a good cook and doctor to attend Napoleon.
Letizia lived a reclusive life for many years, outliving most of her adult children. She died in 1835, of old age.
Napoleon inherited something of her strong character, but he had less common sense… He admired his mother, but overall did not have a high opinion of women. His mother had been a good housekeeper, and a mother and he felt that that was all that women were really good for. He loved Josephine, but did not respect her.. being ambivalent about “decorative and flighty” women, just as his mother was.
After Waterloo he was exiled to St Helena, from which escape would be impossible. The Bonapartes were exiled from France. Letizia and Pauline both went to live in Italy. They settled in Rome; Pauline was desperately grieved over her brother now being sent to an island thousands of miles from Europe.
She did maintain a social life hoping to persuade influential English visitors to ameliorate his conditions in St Helena. Letizia spent most of her time with her brother Cardinal Fesch.. and was almost a recluse. Pauline fell out with her mother over Napoleon. Letizia and Fesch fell under the influence of a mystic who claimed that the ex-Emperor had managed to escape and was no longer at St Helena. Pauline did not believe this and she was angry when her mother took little care about finding a good cook and doctor to attend Napoleon.
Letizia lived a reclusive life for many years, outliving most of her adult children. She died in 1835, of old age.
Napoleon inherited something of her strong character, but he had less common sense… He admired his mother, but overall did not have a high opinion of women. His mother had been a good housekeeper, and a mother and he felt that that was all that women were really good for. He loved Josephine, but did not respect her.. being ambivalent about “decorative and flighty” women, just as his mother was.
Saturday, 14 March 2020
Letizia Bonaparte Madame Mere..
Letizia Bonaparte
is chiefly famous for being the mother of Napoleon I. Born in Corsica, as Letizia Ramolino, to a
noble army family, she was born in 1750.
Her family was related to families in Genoa, and she spoke Italian as
her first language. Her mother
remarried after her father’s death and she had more children... Joseph Fesch, Letizia’s half-brother who
became a Cardinal... was an important part of the Bonaparte family in later
years.
At the early age of 13 she was married to Carlo Buonaparte, a trainee lawyer who fought for Corsican independence from France. Carlo then however accepted French domination of the island. Letitiza was a strong young girl who bore a large family and had 8 of them survive to adulthood… Joseph, Napoleon, Lucien, Louis and Jerome were the boys and there were 3 girls, Caroline, Elisa and Pauline.
Although Carlo could have made his fortune under French rule, he was something of a gambler and not very responsible. The family was noble- but they did not have much land, and his legal career while lucrative enough wasn’t enough to keep up with his spending and his large family. In 1785, Carlo died of stomach cancer and the family were left very badly off.
Letizia and her children moved to Marseilles, to try and make a new life. They were very poor but they found opportunities, to train for new lives. Napoleon was training as a soldier and Elisa went to a school founded by Mme de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XV….where she learned ladylike accomplishments. Letizia had simple frugal tastes and was a formidably strong character, and managed on a small income. However her second daughter Pauline seems to have escaped any education and was wild and flighty… Letizia had been a strict disciplinarian to her children but the younger ones were somewhat wild.
As Napoleon began to rise in the world, he remained devoted to his mother. He married Josephine de Beauharnais, a move that Letizia disapproved of. She did not want him to marry "for love" a frivolous light hearted widow with a somewhat tarnished reputation, who had 2 children and was 6 years his senior. She preferred Italy to France and she and Napoleon also quarreled over the issue of her son Lucien. Lucien had married a widow also, who had been his mistress. However Napoleon wanted him to divorce her and marry a Princess whom he had chosen.
Lucien refused, provoking a quarrel and Letizia tended to side with him…In the end he refused to leave his wife....
Letizia and the other Bonapartes all disliked Josephine and hoped Napoleon would divorce her....
Letizia did not attend the Coronation in 1804, but was given the title of Madame Mere, as the Emperor’s mother. She still led a quiet life, saving money, though Napoleon was generous to her. She never quite believed that their fame and fortune would last and saved for a rainy day.
At the early age of 13 she was married to Carlo Buonaparte, a trainee lawyer who fought for Corsican independence from France. Carlo then however accepted French domination of the island. Letitiza was a strong young girl who bore a large family and had 8 of them survive to adulthood… Joseph, Napoleon, Lucien, Louis and Jerome were the boys and there were 3 girls, Caroline, Elisa and Pauline.
Although Carlo could have made his fortune under French rule, he was something of a gambler and not very responsible. The family was noble- but they did not have much land, and his legal career while lucrative enough wasn’t enough to keep up with his spending and his large family. In 1785, Carlo died of stomach cancer and the family were left very badly off.
Letizia and her children moved to Marseilles, to try and make a new life. They were very poor but they found opportunities, to train for new lives. Napoleon was training as a soldier and Elisa went to a school founded by Mme de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XV….where she learned ladylike accomplishments. Letizia had simple frugal tastes and was a formidably strong character, and managed on a small income. However her second daughter Pauline seems to have escaped any education and was wild and flighty… Letizia had been a strict disciplinarian to her children but the younger ones were somewhat wild.
As Napoleon began to rise in the world, he remained devoted to his mother. He married Josephine de Beauharnais, a move that Letizia disapproved of. She did not want him to marry "for love" a frivolous light hearted widow with a somewhat tarnished reputation, who had 2 children and was 6 years his senior. She preferred Italy to France and she and Napoleon also quarreled over the issue of her son Lucien. Lucien had married a widow also, who had been his mistress. However Napoleon wanted him to divorce her and marry a Princess whom he had chosen.
Lucien refused, provoking a quarrel and Letizia tended to side with him…In the end he refused to leave his wife....
Letizia and the other Bonapartes all disliked Josephine and hoped Napoleon would divorce her....
Letizia did not attend the Coronation in 1804, but was given the title of Madame Mere, as the Emperor’s mother. She still led a quiet life, saving money, though Napoleon was generous to her. She never quite believed that their fame and fortune would last and saved for a rainy day.
Thursday, 12 March 2020
Robert Louis Stevenson Part I
Stevenson’s works have remained popular in the 20th
century, some of them being adapted more than once as films. the most famous are of course Treasure Island
and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
He had a talent for adventure writing but this took its toll on his reputation, making him seem a lightweight writer and children’s writer.
He was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, and his family were middle class, lighthouse designers and engineers. He himself was a delicate child, whose weak chest could not cope with the damp of Scotland, and he was frequently ill during his school days. His family were Presbyterians, and so was his nanny, Alison Cunningham whom he loved dearly though some of her tales scared him. But she loved him devotedly. He went to school but at times, due to illness he was taught privately. He had a passion for stories, especially about Scottish history.
He went to university in Scotland, studying engineering but he had no interest in his work, and did not want to join the family trade of lighthouse design. He wanted to be a writer. He upset his parents by becoming radical in politics and rejecting Christianity… and dressing in a bohemian manner. His family realised he would never make an engineer, and though they were horrified at his student rebellion, they agreed to his trying his hand at writing, though his father wanted him to study Law as a fall back.
He had a talent for adventure writing but this took its toll on his reputation, making him seem a lightweight writer and children’s writer.
He was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, and his family were middle class, lighthouse designers and engineers. He himself was a delicate child, whose weak chest could not cope with the damp of Scotland, and he was frequently ill during his school days. His family were Presbyterians, and so was his nanny, Alison Cunningham whom he loved dearly though some of her tales scared him. But she loved him devotedly. He went to school but at times, due to illness he was taught privately. He had a passion for stories, especially about Scottish history.
He went to university in Scotland, studying engineering but he had no interest in his work, and did not want to join the family trade of lighthouse design. He wanted to be a writer. He upset his parents by becoming radical in politics and rejecting Christianity… and dressing in a bohemian manner. His family realised he would never make an engineer, and though they were horrified at his student rebellion, they agreed to his trying his hand at writing, though his father wanted him to study Law as a fall back.
Rough Music by Nadine Sutton
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Music-Nadine-Sutton-ebook/dp/B01AEQS0G0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=nadine+sutton&qid=1584007464&sr=8-3
Selling on Amazon
a Novella set in the 1970, about a country rock band.
Selling on Amazon
a Novella set in the 1970, about a country rock band.
Sunday, 1 March 2020
William Shakespeare Part I
William Shakespeare
was born in Stratford on Avon, in England, in April 1564. His baptism was on
26th April, and traditionally, his birthday is believed to have been
on St Georges Day, 23rd April.
His father was a successful tradesman, a glove maker, and his mother, Mary Arden was the daughter of a prosperous farmer. He was of the middle class, neither aristocratic nor poor. This gave him a position in the middle of the social ranks, comfortably off enough to have received a reasonable education and removed from poverty, but not rich or removed from ordinary life. He was probably educated at the local grammar school, which provided teaching for boys of the middle rank. He would have studied Latin and Greek. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, a woman about 8 years his senior, who was pregnant at the time of their marriage. The marriage was rather hasty, and Susanna, their daughter was born 6 months later. However probably he and Anne were engaged and her pregnancy put forward the marriage… so while it was improper behaviour it was not all that scandalous. Two years later, Anne had twins, Hamnet and Judith. They were born in 1585 and nothing is known of Shakespeare for some time after that, until he begins to be mentioned in 1592 as taking part in the London theatrical scene.
His father was a successful tradesman, a glove maker, and his mother, Mary Arden was the daughter of a prosperous farmer. He was of the middle class, neither aristocratic nor poor. This gave him a position in the middle of the social ranks, comfortably off enough to have received a reasonable education and removed from poverty, but not rich or removed from ordinary life. He was probably educated at the local grammar school, which provided teaching for boys of the middle rank. He would have studied Latin and Greek. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, a woman about 8 years his senior, who was pregnant at the time of their marriage. The marriage was rather hasty, and Susanna, their daughter was born 6 months later. However probably he and Anne were engaged and her pregnancy put forward the marriage… so while it was improper behaviour it was not all that scandalous. Two years later, Anne had twins, Hamnet and Judith. They were born in 1585 and nothing is known of Shakespeare for some time after that, until he begins to be mentioned in 1592 as taking part in the London theatrical scene.
Because there is such gap in our knowledge of
him, these lost years have been the subject of much speculation and fiction. It has been suggested that he had to leave Stratford
because he was caught deer poaching in a local landowner’s estate. But there is no evidence of this. There has
been speculation, based on the knowledge that he shows in his plays that he might
have had other occupations during the “missing years” that he might have become
a soldier, or worked as a country schoolmaster.
No one knows
when Shakespeare went to London, or how he got a start in the theatre. He may well have done so when his twins were very young...
But
within a few years he was writing many plays which were popular and well received. He was criticised by some writers for
not having the University education that some playwrights had, but he proved that
he could understand human nature and life, and use language more flexibly, than
most other writers.
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