3rd July 2016

A week of Shakespearean tragedy. Cameron stabbed Britain in the back by calling a referendum for internal party reasons, Boris stabbed Cameron in the back by voting Leave, and a man called Gove stabbed Boris to further his own PM ambitions.  The result? Pretty much 50:50 in the end. Hardly a clarion call by the people. All I've met who voted Leave are now regretting their decision! Such chaos. The very reason people don't like the EU is because they're unelected by the public. An oxymoron democracy! Yet, come October, Britain will have a new PM and guess what? That person will be unelected by the public! If only everyone had read Sarkozy's views on how to stop non-EU immigration:  restrict Schengen free movement to EU nationals only. Come back Nicolas, we need you! Widening the scope globally, the only interesting thing is the emergence of so many women leaders. Joining Merkel we could soon have Theresa May (UK), Hillary Clinton (US), and frighteningly Marine Le Pen (France).  The witches of Cawdor stirring a political broth, or at last women coming to the rescue of a stupid world? I'm out of here. Brexit? No simply the views of an ex-Brit!

Wednesday 8th June 2016

Welcome to my Wednesday international writings' blog. Today I'm delighted to welcome the wonderful Sue Barnard, editor and writer extraordinaire. She has that magic touch which can transform Shakespeare's Verona to today's world.

Here's a scene from Romeo and Juliet, followed by Sue's take on it.

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean;

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife…

So begins William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet, the story for which the city of Verona is justly famous.  In fact, more than one-third of Shakespeare’s plays are set wholly or partly in Italy, but Verona has definitely made the most of the association.  Fans of Romeo & Juliet can now visit several sites in the city which claim to have links with this timeless and iconic love story.

The best-known and most popular of these is the Casa di Guilietta (Juliet’s house), situated in a small courtyard just off the Via Cappello.  The attraction is a twentieth-century invention, but the three-storey period house is tastefully and sensitively furnished, and includes some of the costumes and furniture which were used in Franco Zeffirelli’s wonderful 1968 film.  The courtyard, which is free to enter, is home to a bronze statue of Juliet (no doubt a reference to Lord Montague’s promise to “raise her statue in pure gold”), and is overlooked by a small balcony which is accessible from inside the house.

A couple of blocks away, on Via Arche Scaligere, is the Casa dei Montecchi (Romeo’s House).  This impressive-looking fifteenth-century building is believed to have been the original home of the family who became the Montagues in Shakespeare’s play.  It is now a restaurant.

The other main attraction is the Tomba di Giulietta (Juliet’s tomb) – a fine red marble sarcophagus which can be found in the medieval cloister of a former Capuchin monastery.  This is the scene where, in the original play, Friar Lawrence’s plan to reunite the lovers goes so horribly wrong.  In my version of the story, however, events take a slightly different turn…

But Verona isn’t just about Romeo & Juliet; visitors who can tear themselves away from the story of the star-crossed lovers will find lots of other things to entertain them.  The amazing Roman Arena, which flanks one side of the Piazza Brà, is now home to the annual Verona Opera Festival.  Other attractions include the Giardino Giusti  gardens, the Roman Theatre, the historic Castelvecchio, and an awesome array of fascinating churches.  One of my favourites is San Zeno Maggiore - a spectacular medieval basilica boasting some amazing frescos of the Last Supper, at which the Disciples appear to be eating roast scorpions washed down with pints of Guinness.

My personal favourite place in Verona is the discreet spot where tasteful homage is paid to the English playwright who placed the city so firmly on the literary map.  In one corner of Piazza Brà, adjacent to the large arched portal which marks the start of the road to Mantua, is a small bronze bust of Shakespeare himself.  Alongside, in English and Italian, are inscribed the words spoken by Romeo on receiving the news of his banishment from Verona:

             There is no world without Verona walls,

But purgatory, torture, hell itself,

Hence banishèd is banished from the world,

And world’s exile is death.

Although the other venues may be spurious, this one provides a genuine and tangible link to England’s greatest writer – and a sign that his works are truly appreciated in the city which provides the setting for one of his most famous and best-loved works.

So, Sue, what's the name of your novel about Romeo and Juliet?

Yes, I can recommend The Ghostly Father as a very good read, easily available on Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats.

Author of the award-nominated historical fantasy The Ghostly Father and the romantic intrigues Nice Girls Don't and The Unkindest Cut of All.

The Ghostly Father: Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Nook, Apple iBooks
Nice Girls Don’t: Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Nook, Apple iBooks

The Unkindest Cut of All: Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Nook, Apple iBooks

Editor at Crooked Cat Publishing

Enjoy!

Thanks Sue for sharing a slice of Shakespeare and Verona with us.

24th April 2016

Some think that yesterday should be renamed Shakespeare Day in honour of his birthday and renown. Fame is a wonderful thing, earned or not.  Did you see Obama's speech on TV?  No-one can deny he has great charm and charisma. If you've to make a speech, you could do worse than copy this man's style:  slow, measured speech, with intermittent pauses for effect. Any friend of Churchill's is a friend of mine. And certainly he was able to show how wrong an Out vote would be in the June referendum, especially for future trade agreements with the US. Trouble is, globally, people are disappointed with him. When inaugurated, such high hopes for world peace. But, seemingly, he's been too weighed down with domestic policies to make the dream possible. And then I read that here in France Mme Le Pen is planning a trip to the UK to canvass for an Out vote. Don't be fooled:  her only objective is for France to follow the UK's lead so that the EU will be broken up completely, she can rule her own country, and we can all start fighting each other again. Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more? Only the British can stop it on 23 June.
N.B. Want to know more about what happened in France in the war? Come to my free, online Facebook party this Friday. On the day click on this link and enjoy French singers/videos of the 1940s era and win fab. prizes
https://www.facebook.com/events/670363729772093/

29th July 2012

Last week we were in England - bombarded by Olympics' news everywhere.  As expected, M25 traffic at a standstill, then had to pay for the privilege at the Dartmouth bridge toll-booth.   Inner-city road lanes much too narrow for our French left-hand drive car. The people - as usual, depressing self-deprecating characters everywhere - and that was just in our car! 
And then I saw the Olympics' opening ceremony.  That showed exactly what it's like to be English - completely mad, off-the-wall but brilliant.  No other country could have devised such a thing. 'Normal' countries would've produced something like youngsters training to be fit for the future and linking all 5 continents in a blaze of fireworks or something, but we don't seem to do 'normal'. The English production could've been a disaster but wasn't. I loved the way it moved from rural to the industrial age, using characters like Brunel, Shakespearian words and actors, reminding the world of our heritage. Fantastic. And when a torch-holder was asked how it felt, he said 'hot'! But then I saw yesterday's usual British sporting disappointments. Same old, same old. Him Indoors says our competitors must've been told to '..go Fourth and multiply...'!