Tag: history

• The Secret Slang of Paris’ Butchers

  One of my favourite things about writing historical fiction is the research. To me, it’s like detective work: inevitably, I end up taking deep dives into a particular subject. (I just spent two days reading about the changing judicial system and socio-economic make-up of the Paris police force at the start of the Second Empire…

  lauramadeleine

  March 10, 2020

  Research

  19th century, butcher, food, historical fiction, historical food, history, Les Halles, louchebem, Paris, Research, slang

• Fig Cake with Fig Leaf Cream

  In Tangier, at the very edge of the casbah overlooking the strait, is a house called Dar Zero. An old property, with white, crenelated walls, this is where Samuel Pepys lived in 1683, during the English occupation of Tangier (1661-1684), when he was employed as a secretary to George Legge, Lord Dartmouth, who had been…

  lauramadeleine

  September 30, 2019

  Recipes, Writing

  author, baking, books, cake, cake recipe, fig, fig leaf, food, historical fiction, historical food, history, recipe, seasonal, tangier

• The Secrets Between Us: Bibliography

  Author’s Note & Bibliography (This author’s note can also be found at the back of The Secrets Between Us, but I’m posting it here too for ease of sharing links). The Secrets Between Us is a fictional work inspired by true events that took place in the Alpes-Maritimes during the summer of 1943. From February…

  lauramadeleine

  April 19, 2018

  Writing

  bibliography, France, history, Italian occupied France, jewish refugees, Research, saint-martin-vesubie, the secrets between us, world war two

• Les transbordeuses: the forgotten female activists of Cerbère

  He had brought a large basket with him. From it came tumbling oranges, impossibly bright against the old, scrubbed wood. ‘Where did these come from?’ I asked Clémence, fetching a clean knife to copy Aaró’s peeling and slicing. ‘I haven’t seen any groves.’ ‘Spain. They’re why this town exists. Buy an orange or a lemon…

  lauramadeleine

  September 4, 2017

  Travel, Writing

  books, Catalan, Cerbere, female, France, history, labour, Roussillon, strike, Travel, women