I don't often write romance, but this short story is perhaps the exception to prove the rule. A Silent Romance Amongst Words was written for the Books and Borrowing project, and did rather well 😊 It was inspired by the loan sheet from Innerpeffray Library - a venue which held one of my book launches way back in 2017! If you would rather, you can read it in-situ here ! A Silent Romance Amongst Words It had been a long winter. Kitty Duff’s hand rested on the books in her lap, willing herself to believe in them. It had been almost four months since Mister Grenville had recommended them to her. She could still remember his expression. He had smiled, a squint smile which had allowed it to remain hidden from Kitty’s chaperons. That week, they had been her guardian’s gardeners, who had as little interest in books as any men could. She had picked out volumes for them, recommending books with enough pretence of interest to satisfy them. But her books had been chosen very carefully. She
#HistFicThursdays - Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (1st Earl of Minto) - The Burden of Bridging Eras
While the technological advancements of the past century have been so rapid we've all been left with a bit of whiplash, the late eighteenth century was also a time of significant change in western Europe. For many in that generation who lived across events such as the French Revolution, they saw their understanding of the world upturned, and had to quickly learn to adapt to this new world.
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound was one such individual.
At first glance, Elliot appears to have been one of those members of the upper class for whom everything naturally fell into place. Born to a baronet, educated to the highest standard, given post after post by those in power. But, delving a little bit deeper, there was more to him than first meets the eye...
Friendships he formed in his youth were to be shattered in later life, and he became the champion of failed attempts. The French Revolution saw him torn between early friendships and patriotic duties, and his attempts at command were perhaps hindered by his split loyalties. In all, despite his wealth and power, he was a man who lived with one foot in the dreams of what might have been and another in what he actually had - perfect for introducing into a story!
By the time he appears in book Day's Dying Glory, Elliot was an older man, just a few years before his death. By this time, holding the position of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William (India), he had reached lofty heights. This was his swansong. In the book he is argumentative and deliberately obstructive, carrying the weight of all the ups and downs which shaped his life. Bitterness is creeping in and, when confronted by a man who had taken all the opposite choices to himself, is short to the point of rudeness.
It can't have been easy to have lived a life which bridged either side of that period of revolution. It took a certain type of person to make that transition smoothly and, tragically, there were many more who could not. Despite appearances, I think Elliot was one of the latter.
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