Hello everyone! It’s weird to be back blogging in these
absurd and totally unexpected days, but it can be very comforting, nevertheless. Going back to the good old times may help us all. When @Natazukii on Twitter surprised
us with the idea of a Richard Armitage Blogger Reunion,I first wondered, am I in the mood to do it? Because being at home
for months and teaching remotely endless hours, with zero social life and with worrying, awful news thrown at us all the time, has not been easy at all.
But here I am, happy to be still part of a loyal community
of RA well-wishers and curious to know what they all have been doing meanwhile. Now, what am I going to tell you about RA or about me?
Spring 1763. Career diplomat Alec
Halsey returns to London to the shocking news his estranged brother, the Earl
of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but is engaged to the woman
Alec hoped to marry. The dead man’s mother wants Alec to investigate, so he
reluctantly attends a weekend house party celebrating the engagement.
Houseguests get more than they bargained for when a lady’s maid is murdered,
the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead. Uncovering a connection
between these sinister acts and his brother's duel, Alec confronts a cruel
twist of fate and why his brother will go to any lengths to ruin him in Polite
Society.
The Alec Halsey mysteries explore
the darker side of Lucinda Brant’s deliciously romantic 18th century world.
Along with her trademark wit and high drama there are deeper subplots and even
quirkier characters that will have you shuddering and laughing in equal
measure!
My musings
Alex Wyndham reads Lucinda Brant's books
Deadly Engagement and Deadly Affair are truly intriguing ones! Real page turners. They are the first two books of a three-part mystery series set in the Georgian Era, in England. If you dream of books with a gorgeous hero, thrilling emotions, romance and intrigue, wit and elegance, silk and powdered wigs, you won't be disappointed, I'm sure you'll enjoy Lucinda Brant's DEADLY ENGAGEMENT and DEADLY AFFAIR pretty much. Moreover, you can't miss the rest of the saga! Deadly Engagement andDeadly Affair are already out, but there's another one, book 3, Deadly Peril, coming soon. I love the perfect blend of history, romance and mystery of Lucinda's Alec Halsey Mystery series. The first two novels have now become audiobooks read by British actor, Alex Wyndham and, I can assure you, they are terrific fun!
Steven A. Mc Kay was my guest back in September 2013 with an interview in which we discussed the first instalment of his The Forest Lord Series, Wolf's Head and his choice of writing a new saga focused on an old legend: Robin Hood. Steven is my guest again to present his new book, The Wolf and the Raven and to give you the chance to win a copy (book or audiobook at winner's choice). Read the post and good luck in the giveaway contest!
The Forest Lord series, so far, comprises two novels: Wolf's Head and The Wolf and the Raven. They are my take on the age-old Robin Hood legend, written in a modern style, with plenty of action and adventure while still (hopefully) being historically accurate and closer to the “true” Robin than any of the fictional versions that have been done before. Be warned though, this version of the legend is not for children – there's a lot of violence, bad language and the odd bit of sex. Just like real medieval life!
I've been definitely seduced by two libertines. Two, not one. And , more or less, at the same time. They are expert in the art of seduction so I think I must be forgiven. These two are... tall , dark and handsome and these are already features I can hardly resist. Then they've got piercing blue eyes and a deep velvety caressing voice ... who could have resisted their subtle tricks?
I couldn't. So I surrendered to the two of them.... yes, even to the devilish one. Well, yes, I forgot to say that one is more like Casanova knowing his "victims" weaknesses and likings and trying to win them on those.The other one is more a wicked Don Juan , achieving victory over innocent naive victims. The more naive and resisting they are the more he wants to have them. But he , even in his devilish nature has got his charm.
Here I am again. The usual silly ramblings when starting an RA Friday post. But any time Richard is involved , my self - control is hardly proved.
Maybe you have already understood I 'm talking about Damerel, the hero in Georgette Heyer's Venetia and Robert Lovelace the rascal male protagonist in Richardson's Clarissa. I've just finished reading /listening Venetia last night. And I loved episode two of BBC4 radio drama Clarissa so much that I re- listened to it several times. Richard and all the cast gave amazing performances. Have you listened to Richard singing? What a stunning baritone voice! Is there anything this talented actor cannot do well? Nothing so far.
Georgette Heyer's VENETIA - A short review
An inescapable wish for escapism has characterized this latest period of my life. A recurrent attempt to find a virtual place to forget my stressful days. I've turned to delightful , amusing readings /listenings and I’m so glad I did! I read Heyer’s Venetia and listened to an abridged audiobook just released by Naxos narrated by a brilliant Richard Armitage.
Georgette Heyer with her Regency romances full of witty comedy can be a perfect remedy to stress and distress. And an intelligent one. Her fascinating characters, her humorous portrayals, her witty style, her passionate romances can make your night even after an awful day!
Venetia is an enchanting young lady, bold, independent, well-read and learned and extremely beautiful who manages to catch and tame a notorious libertine, handsome “wicked baron” Damerel.
He’s a libertine with an infamous reputation but his love for Venetia gives him a new outlook on life. He’s ready to sacrifice his love for Venetia’s happiness and social welfare.
Literary quotations in their verbal interactions are what I liked the most. Since their first (un)fortunate meeting at the Priory Lord Damerel and Miss Venetia Lanyon use a very informal, intelligent, spicy exchange of speech based on literature: Shakespeare, Thomas Campion, Ben Jonson.
Their ability at communicating in this way indicates the affinity and understanding between them.
My favourite moments in the novel are the Venetia /Damerel ones. Especially the first meeting at the Priory, the scene of the barn, the proposal, Damerel explaining what was wrong in young Oswald's attempt to kiss Venetia. Well, what can I do? I know. I’m an incurable romantic.
Libertinism
Both Lord Jasper Damerel in Venetia and Robert Lovelace in Richardson’s Clarissa are libertines.
But who exactly is a Libertine? The term is usually considered a synonym of rascal or rake. And that is correct. But a libertine was both a real fashionable gentleman and literary type, a figure who embodied the desire to react and contrast the Puritan period (1647-1660) with an extreme desire for freedom (liberty).
In fact, the rise of Libertininsm dates back to the period of the Restoration of the Monarchy by Charles II Stuart (1660).The phylosophy of the Libertines went beyond simply living a life of pleasure. Libertinism was in many ways a disruptive social force. The aim of the Libertines was to experiment with the limits of individual freedom; to do the unthinkable and say the unspeakable; to reject the moral framework of the social order that supported their privileges. Defiantly irreligious and aceptical about the claims of rationalism, the Libertines wanted to see how far they could go in disrupting the norms that governed the rest of society. Pastimes included casual adultery and seduction, gambling and fighting duels.
Libertine ideas not only form an important part of literature and drama in the Restoration, but they also provide a cultural framework for the subsequent rise of the novel.
Libertines were both male and female. They did as they felt but, in literature, they are too clever to be punished for their sins.
This is not the case of Richardon’s Lovelace, though. He ruins the model puritan heroine, Clarissa, and he can’t escape his fate in the end. He even seeks his own death as an act of atonement. He is also a tragic hero, not only the villain in the novel, and this is totally different from libertines in the Restoration comedy and literature.
See you next Sunday, then.
3 p.m Greenwich time, on line to follow CLARISSA episode 3 on BB4.
(thank you Annette !)
Me, that's certain. What is it that brought me to start listening to audiobooks? RA. Never done it before. Honestly, I even considered it a bit boring. But, since I really like listening to RA’s voice and he did pretty much and well in the audiobook recording field, I started. Mind you, it’s a bit like watching N & S. ... quite risky. Once you’ve started it’s difficult to stop and you want more and more. His voice is so deeply involving, it’s like … caressing velvet and shivering.
Have you also got a crush on someone’s voice? Have you ever listened to any of Richard's recordings, voice over and audiobooks?
1. All of them? Great! You are fan n. 1
2. Just some? Most but not all of them? That’s Ok!
3. NONE YET??? If your answer is the last one, then, this posting of mine may be helpful...These are only short excerpts, just to have a start.
Now, I've got a visual help for your listening to THE LORD OF THE NORTH: Richard Uthred by Vivayn.
Does Richard really like doing this kind of work or does he do it just to ... pay expensive bills , like some malicious voices whispers at his accepting voice overs (ads and documentaries) and audiobooks from time to time, instead of aiming at Hollywood stellar contracts! Read what he himself says:
a. (interview from the audiobook Parent - Hood)
"I was very lucky recording an audiobook for something which I’m working very closely with at the moment because I still had all those characters very clearly in my head, although I didn’t really try and do impressions of the actors that I was working with," he said. "You just have to have an idea of the story that you’re trying to tell and the most clear way you can tell it. It’s very difficult moving between different characters; you have to just pitch very specifically and commit to what you’re doing and know exactly whose voice you’re doing, when you’re doing it, whether they’re male or female, where they come from."
b. (interview in THE SIEGE – Audiobook)
“To sit still with just a page in front of you and really create a whole world of pictures and voices and characters and... actually, it’s quite a challenge . And I think it’s a good thing for an actor to do because you only have your voice and nothing else. And so, for a start, it makes you become kind of more literary aware , you know, with regards to what works, what doesn’t work and more discerning when it comes to looking at a script as well. So, you know, I really enjoy doing it. It’s quite exhausting, as well. Probably more so than trying yourself around in a forest... " (my transcript from the audiobook, hope it is correct)
HERE'S A LIST OF ALL RICHARD ARMITAGE'S WORKS ... FOR VOICE ONLY
In October 2006, Richard Armitage read audiobooks of the novelisations of the first four episodes of Robin Hood.
2. 2007, Empire's Children, Channel 4
Richard Armitage was the narrator of Channel 4's six part series about the British Empire, broadcast in July and August 2007.
3. 2007, The Lords of the North audiobook
Richard Armitage reads Bernard Cornwell's The Lords of the North for Chivers Audio Books, released in July (on cassette) and August (on CD) 2007.
4. 2007, The Ted Hughes Letters, BBC Radio 4
This is a video I made some months ago with an excerpt from Richard's compelling reading and some bits from the film Sylvia.
Richard Armitage read from the letters of poet Ted Hughes in an Afternoon Play for BBC Radio 4, broadcast in October 2007.
5. 2007, A War Less Ordinary, BBC Radio 2
I also made a clip - well, a photo album with music - with an excerpt from this recording. Here's my post about it and here is the video
Richard Armitage was one of the readers in a programme of poetry, songs and archive recordings commemorating the work of non-combatants in wartime. It was broadcast in November 2007.
6. 2009, New Homes from Hell 2009, ITV, narrator
Richard Armitage narrates a three part series about the disasters people have had with new homes. It begins on ITV1 (repeated on ITV2) in March 2009.
7.2009, The Great Sperm Race, Channel 4, narrator
In March 2009, Richard Armitage narrated this documentary about human conception.
8. 2009, Robin Hood audiobooks (series 3)
My video made with and excerpt of the audiobook THE WITCHFINDERS and bits of RH 1/3 is HERE. In the box above you can also listen to a fragment from THE SIEGE.
Richard narrated two original audiobooks tied to series 3 of Robin Hood, that were released during the transmission of the third series of the TV show on BBC One.
9. 2009, Sylvester audiobook
In July 2009, Naxos Audiobooks released Richard Armitage's recording of Georgette Heyer's Regency romance novel. My personal review of this audiobook is HERE.
10. 2010, Santander television advertisement
Richard Armitage provided the voiceover for a UK television advert for the Spanish bank Santander. It first ran on 11th January. It can be seen HERE.
11. 2010, Venetia audiobook
In April 2010, Naxos Audiobooks release Richard Armitage's recording of Georgette Heyer's novel. You can pre-order it here .
12. February 2010 BBC Winter Olympics trailers
Watch and listen to one of the trailers HERE and another one HERE
The experience of reading and at the same time – but not simultaneously - listening to SYLVESTER or the Wicked Uncle has been a delight!
It is my first Georgette Heyer ’s novel and I admit that I approached it partly prejudiced (romances!), partly curious, but completely unaware of what expected me. I didn’t want to read much about the writer nor the about the plot before starting. I carefully avoided any review or comment on the book. Then I did something I had already tried with “Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen addict”: I put aside my academic way of reading and went back to when I read just for pleasure. It is not that simple: old habits are hard to remove, but I succeeded again and I owe Mrs Heyer several happy hours in these late summer days. I AM sorry, it is happening again. I tend to write more about my feelings and emotions before/ while/ after reading or watching something than just write a “prim and proper” review . Maybe I’m too self-focused – and this is not good – but it is just my way of analysing myself, knowing myself, through literature and cinema. I only hope you don’t mind it too much or that it doesn’t disturb orthodox reviewers too much. Now, back to the point! This story contains all the romance, humour and satirical traits of an Austen’s book but it is a witty novel of manners set in the Regency Era but published in 1957. With its unique juxtaposition of light-hearted romance and meticulous historical accuracy, it succeeded in convincing a “ disbeliever” like me!
THE PLOT
Wealthy Sylvester, Duke of Salford, is looking for a wife and has very particular requirements. Phoebe Marlow is suggested as a possible bride to Salford by her grandmother who is also his godmother. Sylvester doesn’t remember Phoebe though he has already met her at a ball .He, finding her dull and insipid, hadn’t even recognized her the second time they met. Phoebe, instead, found him so arrogant and insufferable that she decided to model the villain of her gothic novel on him: she makes him her Count Ugolino, the wicked uncle in THE LOST HEIR. Not the right premises for a good match, apparently- or just the opposite?
So, when Phoebe’s father and her step-mother want to force her to marry Sylvester and he arrives at Austerby to propose, she runs away with her life-long friend, Tom. But fate throws Sylvester on their way to London. Phoebe and Sylvester, stuck by the snow in the same lonely country inn for a week, begin to understand each other better. But, unfortunately, Phoebe's novel is published and soon all of fashionable London recognise Sylvester as the villainous 'Count Ugolino'...
In 1816, less than two years before the events in the novel take place, a strikingly similar scandal occurred that both delighted and horrified ‘society’. Taking her revenge against Lord Byron after their affair ended badly, Lady Caroline Lamb published Glenarvon – a Gothic novel featuring satirical depictions of well-known society figures and, in particular, a bitter, thinly disguised portrait of Byron himself. Although the novel was published anonymously (and became wildly popular), Lamb had her Almack’s voucher rescinded and was exiled from fashionable society. Phoebe would have been aware of the furore – would probably even have read the book – and she would have known of Lady Caroline’s fate.
THE WRITER With her wit, her page-turning writing ability, and her genius at bringing characters to life, Georgette Heyer still brings new admirers to her novels more then 30 years after her death. Have a look at this site dedicated to this so-much loved writer. Click HERE. There is also a perpetual challenge going on. If you are interested, you can take part in it. Just click HERE.
THE AUDIOBOOK
It consists of 4 CDs , total time 4:51:46 . It is, of course, an abridged version of the original novel. It is not Richard Armitage’s first experience as a reader. He has also featured on BBC Radio 4’s The Ted Hughes Letters - giving an excellent moving performance - as well as recorded several audiobooks among which THE LORDS OF THE NORTH and others linked to Robin Hood series 1 and 3. ( I’ve posted about these audio-materials HERE, HERE and HERE) . For more information about SYLVESTER recorded version read THIS at Naxos Audiobooks site.
