|
Can I believe myself, that exactly four
months ago, after we had met our most
favourite author Juliette Benzoni the
first time - I am writing a new report? That
my dear friend of the French Juliette
Benzoni Website, Frédérique and me, were
invited to travel to Saint-Mandé last Sunday
February 28th anew?
The dream which began for Frédérique and
Mistral last October, continues! As I had
informed all of you faithful "Juliette
Benzoni" readers, it was already in plan
that we should go to our dearest friend
Juliette soon again.
Juliette Benzoni had just finished her
newest book
La Dague au Lys Rouge, which will be
published on May 2010. When she called my
friend and informed her of this exciting
news. Inviting us at the same time, to come
to Saint-Mandé, which we more than happily
agreed to do as soon as possible. For weeks,
we had been dreaming of that astonishing
moment, when we should again ring that bell
in front of the gate in Saint-Mandé. Nothing
could stop us - but the "force of nature"
almost upset our plans to travel in the
direction of Paris last Sunday! We admit,
the wind and the rain and the cold was
scary... but then... with the help of the
wind... we could travel even faster to
arrive at Juliette and her daughter Anne's home!
We entered the house and... it was as if not
four months had gone by, since we last sat
in that beautiful living room with the large
windows. With Oliver the golden retriever,
who seemed to recognize us and wagged its
tail joyfully. We were received like nieces,
who come to see their absolutely most
beloved aunt.
With the now already obligate Champagne and
delicious little nibblings, our newest
unforgettable dreamlike afternoon began. We
sat relaxed in the beautiful and
comfortable divan, gazing at our friends, we
had not seen since last October. This time
we had prepared some questions to ask
Juliette. But honestly, did we need them?
You can take my word for it, talking with
this remarkable and wondrous woman, it is
not necessary. She is so amazing in her
profound
knowledge of History facts - of her books -
of what is going on in the world. Making a
little joke about "George Clooney” for
example? Wanting to know how we wanted our
coffee? Never letting us feel for one
instant, how immense her profound knowledge
is of all she knows. Having at times, a
touched smile on her beautiful face - when we
got almost too excited in our eagerness, to
know so many details. Be this in Frédérique's case about all of Juliette's
books (and it is my turn to bow before
JouJou, who has read now ALL of Juliette's
75 books!!) or in my case about our
"Catherine de Montsalvy".
|
Frédérique's
dedication |
Like last time...we asked and were given
answers...all the while dear Anne,
spoiled us with a selected meal - coddling
us in every fashion. And I cannot wait to
taste next time the dessert from Lenôtre in
Paris! Who was to bring that dessert again
dear Frédérique ;-) ?
|
small image
- click -
large image |
So then... what did Mistral want to know
urgently? For some time, I thought it would
be fun to know when Catherine or Arnaud's
birthday could have been! Of course when I
asked the question, I felt for a tiny
second, it might be silly what I wished to
know! But far from it... with her eyes, all
smiling so wonderfully, we learned that the
birthday of our heroine is on 27 October and
that Arnaud de Montsalvy's, on 3 September!
And your webmistress - let out a cry...or
did I faint or just stare open-mouthed? Why,
you might ask? I swear I would never tell
the whole world, when my birthday is... but
ladies... my birthday is on 3 September!!
Our dear Juliette smiled and said, she
always chose the date of her children for
her heroes! I promise you, on my next
birthday I shall toast to that "impossible,
arrogant, handsome" Arnaud de Montsalvy :-)
and just in case... I always knew...that
date was special! ;-)
One of my next questions I asked; "who was
Michel de Montsalvy’s Godfather"? I have
mentioned in the
Lexicon,
that I presumed it was Jean de
Xaintrailles and I was correct. Was it
planed that there be right at the beginning
seven Catherine books? The answer is NO...
did Arnaud de Montsalvy return to war?
Ah...this is a question we all wanted to
know for how many years! We all know the
answer, do we not? He could not resist the
call of war... to join his friends
Xaintrailles and La Hire. His love for war
was stronger than his promise to
Catherine..! How could a man in full
possession again of his health, stay home in
the little village of Montsalvy?
Last October I had told you that I know now
how "Arnaud de Montsalvy" looked like in
Juliette Benzoni's mind! With the
exceptional permission of the author I can
lift the secret! May I present to you, whom
we can say thank you for having such a
dashing, unforgettable, valiant and proud
hero! Her husband Count André Benzoni!
|
small image
- click -
large image |
It crossed my mind, that for our next visit, you
can send us your questions and we will
deliver them to Juliette Benzoni. I cannot
promise if they will all be answered...but
we can give it a try ;-) I shall take the
best questions with me.
The afternoon went by and already it was
getting dark outside. Like last time, we
decided we cannot tell all we learned! I am
sure Juliette would not mind...but what I
want to share with you, is a newer photo of
Pierre-Marie Escourrou and a brand new press
article about
Gérard
Chambre's show at
Maxim's, giving to me by Juliette. She is
still very fond of the actors who played her
characters in Marion Sarraut's
TV-Adaptation’s and some of them are still
in touch with her, a fact that makes her
extremely happy.
To our great satisfaction, we learned that
Juliette Benzoni will soon be on television!
We shall inform you of the precise date of
the transmission. Frédérique was given a
preview of the two temporary book covers of
La Daque au Lys Rouge, Juliette
Benzoni's next book - plus a short summary
of the story. Can you believe the joy of
JouJou? Knowing so early what the story is
going to be about? What the names of the
main characters are going to be?
|
small image
- click -
large image |
We would like to give Juliette our heartfelt
thank you, for sharing all those news with
us. Me, for the unbelievable present I was
given, for which I am still overwhelmed
after four days. I have the very great
honour, to be in possession now, of the
absolutely first "Catherine de Montsalvy"
book cover!
What can I say - I am still
voiceless! This unique cover will be put
into a frame and I shall treasure it, like
Gollum (Lord of the Rings) his
precious! When I was given the book cover,
Juliette told us that this was not her most
favourite cover of Catherine. Simultaneous
offering me her preferred cover of
Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour! Sharing
insider news, like the designer of the 1968
book cover, was none other than the same
person, who painted for Juliette Benzoni the
magnificence portrait of Catherine de
Montsalvy! The portrait which has its place
of honour in her house in Saint-Mandé!
Needless to say, that my dear Juliette,
presented me to my great gratification with
another beautiful dedication with the 1968
edition.
Frédérique and I, with mutual agreement
like to share all these terrific happenings
with Juliette Benzoni's fans all over the
world. How could we be so selfish and keep
everything to ourselves? Not telling
Juliette Benzoni's faithful readers, for example that already three more
books are planed? This signifies that the
next two years, our adored author is very
busy indeed!
The hours went by like the wind, which was
passing through Paris and the rest of
France. It was again time to say good-bye to
our dearest friends. We shall be welcomed
with open arms very soon again. We embraced
and waved good-bye and a piece of our hearts
stayed with Juliette and Anne.
|
LaLuna's
creation for
Juliette |
3 March 2010
Mistral webmistress of the Swiss Juliette
Benzoni fansite
Frédérique webmistress of the FrenchJuliette
Benzoni fansite
"The Girls" for Juliette and Anne
|
