When I read Laura Frantz' The Colonel's Lady I wanted to live during the Revolutionary War on the Kentucky frontier. When I read Lynn Austin's Candle in the Darkness, I wanted to go back in time to the Civil War Era on a southern plantation. And when I read my all time favorite series by Maud Hart Lovelace (Betsy Books) I dreamt about living in a Minnesota town during the Turn of the Twentieth Century - if only for a day.
The beauty of a book is that it transports you to a different time and place, without the discomforts of reality.
To be honest, I like the idea of living in those time periods, but if push came to shove, I'd probably stay where I am. Because who would have chosen to live through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars when our country was being ravished and lives were being torn apart? And who would want to live during the Turn of the Century when there were no microwaves or dishwashers? Although, I think I could have managed if I had a servant.
Hindsight (and the skills of a talented writer!) can make any era look attractive over time. Who knows, maybe someday people will wish they could have lived during 2012. Maybe.
If given the chance to go back in time, I would choose to live during the period between 1890-1915. What's not to love about this time? It was a fun and exciting period in America History. Inventions were making life easier for the common man and allowing people the freedom for leisure activities. Clothing was beautiful, automobiles were all the rage, singing and dancing around the piano on a Saturday night was the norm and attending a movie matinee on Sunday afternoon was a weekly occurrence. Not to mention, servants were abundant! Side note: what ever happened to servants???
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| The closest I'll ever come to living during the Turn of the Twentieth Century. This is a picture of me reenacting Evangeline Lindbergh in 1917 at the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site. |
If given the chance to go back in time, I would choose to live during the period between 1890-1915. What's not to love about this time? It was a fun and exciting period in America History. Inventions were making life easier for the common man and allowing people the freedom for leisure activities. Clothing was beautiful, automobiles were all the rage, singing and dancing around the piano on a Saturday night was the norm and attending a movie matinee on Sunday afternoon was a weekly occurrence. Not to mention, servants were abundant! Side note: what ever happened to servants???
What about you? Have you ever read a book and wished you could step into that time and place? If you could choose one era to visit for a day, which would it be and why?
I read a LOT of Janette Oke growing up and always, always wanted to live in pioneer times. I still think it would be awesome for a day, but now that I have come to realize how hard of a life that was (partly through playing Oregon Trail on the ol' Apple II, "you died of dsyentry"). Our ancestors sure worked hard! I still do have the desire to live in the country / on a hobby farm....maybe someday :)
ReplyDeleteJanette Oke was my first glimpse into Christian Historical Fiction and I fell in love! I still remember the day my aunt gave me the Love Comes Softly book. I loved playing Oregon Trail in grade school, too! For some reason I would always lose everything while crossing a river.
DeleteIt would be fun to go back to the pioneer days - at least for a day. :)
Love the post and pic of you, Gabrielle:) You really are passionate about history and it shows! This is probably a no-brainer but I'd love to flash back to the 18th-century though I didn't like the lack of sanitation and such. But those gowns and hats and shoes! OH MY!!!
ReplyDeleteWhile working at the Lindbergh House I had a chance to wear a real corset. The next day my abs felt like I had done a thousand sit ups! I love the clothing during the 18th century, but it would take some getting used to. :) One of my favorite exhibits at the Smithsonian are the gowns of the Presidents'. Mary Todd Lincoln, Martha Washington, Jackie Kennedy, they're all there and breathtaking.
DeleteI love the P&P time period in terms of living in the beautiful English countryside and wearing fun outfits, and having lots of time to sit around reading. Still, I think it would be boring after awhile. I just love my busy, Internet-filled life. ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
I agree, Lindsay. I remember watching all the Jane Austin movies as a child and wondering what they did all day! Although, I love their gowns and the English countryside is beautiful, I think that lifestyle would be a hard one to adjust to.
DeleteHappy Friday to you, too! I hope you have good weather for your hubby's party tomorrow. :)
Like you, Gabrielle, I'm a fan of historical romance. It's what I read and what I write. If I could go back in time for one day, I'd want to stand on the historic main street of my Gold Rush-era town of Placerville, California in the year 1870. Since I set my stories in this area and that period, I'd be able to experience what life was like for my characters, making me better able to capture the sights, sounds, and smells on the pages of my books when I returned.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be amazing! I've thought the same, too. I write about my hometown and there are a few historic buildings left and the town is generally set up the same, but to see it and hear it and breath it would be priceless as an author. I also include some real people in my stories and I'd love to be able to interview them.
DeleteI am counting down the days until A Bride Open's Shop is released!
Gabrielle, I love your blog. And you and I really are kindred spirits. I LOVE Maud Hart Lovelace's books. I personally own the books written about the girls' high school/college/married years. I reread them every few years or so. You're the first person I've come across who even knows about them. I'm like you, love historical fiction, and whenever I finish a story I long to be transported back in time to see what it was really like.
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking forward to reading your Wildflowers from Winter story on the May 4th blog hop.
Teri
Yay! Another Maud Hart Lovelace fan!! Her books have inspired me to write about my hometown. I love the ones about her highschool years - they are my favorite. I own all of them, too, and reread them every couple of years. I've been going through the Little House on the Prairie series with my girls, but the Betsy-Tacy books are next! Followed by the Anne of Green Gables series. :)
DeleteI live about 140 miles northeast of Mankato, in Minnesota, where Maud grew up and I had the chance to go there and do the Deep Valley tour. I was able to see all the houses where the "real" people from her stories lived. It changed my internal "movie screen" when I read the stories now. :)
So happy to have met you on Katie's blog today. I'm looking forward to May 4th!
I'm also a Little House fan. Reread those every few years too. How awesome to have gotten to do the Deep Valley tour. Glad to have met you today too. Will be watching for your May 4th post.
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