This novella’s Voltaire is basically Zimmermann’s Fritz. (Minus the unfortunate operation.)
I laughed, I admit. Which is honestly kind of Bodanis' Voltaire, minus the extreme defensiveness.
ETA: No, I take it back, Bodanis preserves the wit in the midst of all his hero-worship. OMG, how can you lose the wit?
(with extreme Voltaire bias and zero Voltaire wit, as mentioned)
I get that Voltaire's wit is hard to reproduce, but that's what quotes are for!
What is a problem, however, is that any version of MT, ghostly or not, who says „call me du and Resi“ to Henri de Catt is not one I can accept.
What.
Also, the premise is wasted by the two not talking to each other
OMMGGG.
instead, they both talk to de Catt in mostly quotes from Catt‘s memoirs (Fritz), MT‘s letters, and made up dialogue of the „Call me Resi“ type.
Whyyyyy??? Why would you do such a thing? Either of those things!
That is *not* what quotes are for!
Oh, you know what? I know why you would do such a thing. IF YOU WERE POSSESSED BY THE GHOST OF HENRI DE CATT. Presents Catt as total Bambi, check. Catt present at and integral to the most important events, check. Catt on totally intimate terms with the monarchs immediately after meeting them, check.
Mes amies, methinks I detect the hands of Swiss cyber agents from the beyond.
Also, my next crack fic should be the very secret diary of the Marquis de Valory, having to deal with Voltaire, Fritz, and the Palladion. And Voltaire‘s niece. (Also a French citizen illegally arrested and imprisoned in Frankfurt.)
Yes, please!
Valory‘s successor, the same guy who accused Fredersdorf of taking money from foreigners, had replaced Valory as envoy by April 1756.
That's interesting, because Fredersdorf only lasts one year more (until April 1757,I believe). That means this comment is coming from his last year of service, and I can see how that could get confused with dismissal on grounds of dishonesty.
Also, my next crack fic should be the very secret diary of the Marquis de Valory, having to deal with Voltaire, Fritz, and the Palladion.
I just want to reiterate: YES. And also YES. I speak on behalf of us all!
Re: Fritz: The French Envoy's Take
I laughed, I admit. Which is honestly kind of Bodanis' Voltaire, minus the extreme defensiveness.
ETA: No, I take it back, Bodanis preserves the wit in the midst of all his hero-worship. OMG, how can you lose the wit?
(with extreme Voltaire bias and zero Voltaire wit, as mentioned)
I get that Voltaire's wit is hard to reproduce, but that's what quotes are for!
What is a problem, however, is that any version of MT, ghostly or not, who says „call me du and Resi“ to Henri de Catt is not one I can accept.
What.
Also, the premise is wasted by the two not talking to each other
OMMGGG.
instead, they both talk to de Catt in mostly quotes from Catt‘s memoirs (Fritz), MT‘s letters, and made up dialogue of the „Call me Resi“ type.
Whyyyyy??? Why would you do such a thing? Either of those things!
That is *not* what quotes are for!
Oh, you know what? I know why you would do such a thing. IF YOU WERE POSSESSED BY THE GHOST OF HENRI DE CATT. Presents Catt as total Bambi, check. Catt present at and integral to the most important events, check. Catt on totally intimate terms with the monarchs immediately after meeting them, check.
Mes amies, methinks I detect the hands of Swiss cyber agents from the beyond.
Also, my next crack fic should be the very secret diary of the Marquis de Valory, having to deal with Voltaire, Fritz, and the Palladion. And Voltaire‘s niece. (Also a French citizen illegally arrested and imprisoned in Frankfurt.)
Yes, please!
Valory‘s successor, the same guy who accused Fredersdorf of taking money from foreigners, had replaced Valory as envoy by April 1756.
That's interesting, because Fredersdorf only lasts one year more (until April 1757,I believe). That means this comment is coming from his last year of service, and I can see how that could get confused with dismissal on grounds of dishonesty.
Also, my next crack fic should be the very secret diary of the Marquis de Valory, having to deal with Voltaire, Fritz, and the Palladion.
I just want to reiterate: YES. And also YES. I speak on behalf of us all!