18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 33

[cahn]

And, I mean, it doesn't have to be just 18th century characters, either!

(also, waiting for Yuletide!)

Comments

Re: Derek Beales: Joseph II, Volume 1: In the Shadow of Maria Theresia 1741 - 1780

[cahn]

Otoh Beales wishes Isabella had survived to discreetly manipulate and manage Joseph for decades to come, since she evidently was good at it, and when I read that, I thought: leaving aside that this would have put all the emotional work in this marriage on her, what makes him think she'd have managed it beyond the few years they were married? During which she already clearly was depressed. If he's right, and Maria Christina would have withdrawn from her in any case to marry Albert, this would have made her even more depressed, and at some point, if she had survived, she wouldn't have been able to fake it anymore.

:( Yeah, I suppose there isn't any good way out of this. except the AU where Voltaire saves Fritz by the power of his pen and also saves Isabella tangentially, Still Want

BTW, was v. amused to read Joseph's congratulution-to-your-son letter to Leopold starting by addressing him as "oh great populator!"

:D that's awesome!

I've wondered whether Maupertuis wasn't a bit miffed that they didn't try to poach him and hence had to invent some stories to make up for that.

Like mildred_of_midgard, this is now my headcanon! :D