Tag: French Revolution

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The Tartan Pimpernel

How many of you have read The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy? Probably not many. It’s the story of the wealthy but foppish Sir Percy Blakeney who leads a double life. He is an accomplished swordsman, master of disguises, escape artist and as the “Scarlet Pimpernel,” Sir Percy rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine blade during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.

Today, we are going to focus our attention on a Scottish pastor who led the Paris parish for the Church of Scotland. Rev. Dr. Donald Caskie’s wartime exploits for rescuing downed Allied airmen and leading them to safety through the Pat O’Leary escape line earned him the nickname, “The Tartan Pimpernel.”

I will be the guest speaker for Bonjour Paris on 6 December 2023 for a Zoom presentation to their members and others. The topic will be “Walking History: In the Footsteps of Marie Antoinette” and I will take you on a walk along the exact route in Paris that the queen’s tumbrel took to the guillotine. I invite you to join us for the discussion and slide show.

Bonjour Paris (click here to visit the web-site) is a digital website dedicated to bringing its members current news, travel tips, culture, and historical articles on Paris. I have been a member for more than ten years and have found its content to be quite interesting, practical, and entertaining.

 I will have a direct link to sign up for my presentation at a later date. There is no cost to Bonjour Paris members and €10,00 for non-members. The time of the live presentation on 6 December will be 11:30 AM, east coast time.

Did You Know?

Did you know I could probably write enough blogs on World War II traitors to fill an entire year? Today, I decided to call-out a particular British traitor who was quite dastardly and frankly, a lousy human being. Harold Cole (1906−1946) ⏤ a.k.a. Harry Cole, Paul Cole ⏤ began his criminal career as a teenager. Released from prison shortly after the war began, Cole enlisted in the British army and was stationed in France. Considered handsome with an appealing personality and sharp wits, Cole was never without female company. It didn’t take long before he was caught stealing from the army and jailed. Escaping, Cole was apprehended and thrown into jail once again. As the Germans overran France, Cole was released by the military but rather than returning to England, he remained in France. Read More The Tartan Pimpernel

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The Marvelous Madame Hamelin

I have commented many times on women in Paris who in their day became very famous for their exploits inside and outside the bedroom. (Click here to read, Cyndi Lauper and the Naked Princess, and here to read Grace Under Fire, and here to read American “Grande Horizontale” and Nazi Collaborator.) These courtesans traveled in the highest levels of society and had affairs with well-known politicians, soldiers, authors, and wealthy men. One common trait they shared was a lack of shyness. Like many of today’s celebrities, these women knew their livelihood relied on publicity.

Our subject today, Fortunée Hamelin, is the “poster child” for what was considered outrageous behavior at the time (today, I suppose her antics would seem quite docile). She entered Parisian society during the final years of the French Revolution and gained her notoriety during the Directoire period (1795−1799). Fortunée became the “toast” of Napoléon’s empire and lived through the restoration of the French monarchy, and the subsequent establishment of the Second Republic.

Fortunée was a high-spirited, intelligent, and beautiful woman. She was considered one of the free-wheeling Merveilleuse, or loosely translated as “Marvelous of the Directory.” She was also called the “greatest rascal in France.” Today, I have no doubt that Fortunée would be a regular in celebrity publications as well as social media.

“Incredible and Wonderful at the Royal Palace.”
Incroyable et Merveilleuses au Palais Royal, or “Incredible and Wonderful at the Royal Palace.” Illustration by anonymous (date unknown). www.neufhistoire.fr.

Read More The Marvelous Madame Hamelin