Of course I had the title backwards--it's Auvergne and Its People written by Frances Marion Gostling, published in 1911 by Methuen & Co., London. I have a facsimle copy published by Elibron Classics.
www.elibron.com
This is the first paragrapgh of the preface in all it's flowery (and somewhat condescending) glory:
This book is about an undiscovered country. I find that many English people scarcely realize the difference between Auvergne and Brittany; only the other day a friend of mine asked me when my "new Breton book would be out!" So it is surely quite time some one took in hand the task of opening up this romantic and beautiful land, le Centre, as the French call it, the Heart of France, whence flow most of the fertilising rivers on which the prosperity of the country depends.
The book has reproductions of the original plates, both color and black and white, as well as being printed in the font obviously used in the original edition, so it's interesting from that point of view, too.
Miss Gostling travelled about the area speaking to people and collecting local legends--and while the writing is somewhat distracting (flowery & condescending as noted) there is a lot of information in the book. It's annoying how she speaks about the people there, more like they are quaint objects of curiosity than actual people, but then, I expect that was only the time she was brought up in. It's worth a read, though.
I received the volume as a gift from a woman who likes my fics: she and I have written exhaustive emails back and forth regarding Lestat and his familial line--she's a librarian and has some pretty good theories :)
When I read the lines I thought they looked sort of Italian (though I know very little of the language) but I'll take your word for the Catalan connection. That made me happy because that connects to my love of Patrick O'brien's work--nothing makes me happier than connections like that, as tenuous and odd as they may be :)
no subject
www.elibron.com
This is the first paragrapgh of the preface in all it's flowery (and somewhat condescending) glory:
This book is about an undiscovered country. I find that many English people scarcely realize the difference between Auvergne and Brittany; only the other day a friend of mine asked me when my "new Breton book would be out!" So it is surely quite time some one took in hand the task of opening up this romantic and beautiful land, le Centre, as the French call it, the Heart of France, whence flow most of the fertilising rivers on which the prosperity of the country depends.
The book has reproductions of the original plates, both color and black and white, as well as being printed in the font obviously used in the original edition, so it's interesting from that point of view, too.
Miss Gostling travelled about the area speaking to people and collecting local legends--and while the writing is somewhat distracting (flowery & condescending as noted) there is a lot of information in the book. It's annoying how she speaks about the people there, more like they are quaint objects of curiosity than actual people, but then, I expect that was only the time she was brought up in. It's worth a read, though.
I received the volume as a gift from a woman who likes my fics: she and I have written exhaustive emails back and forth regarding Lestat and his familial line--she's a librarian and has some pretty good theories :)
When I read the lines I thought they looked sort of Italian (though I know very little of the language) but I'll take your word for the Catalan connection. That made me happy because that connects to my love of Patrick O'brien's work--nothing makes me happier than connections like that, as tenuous and odd as they may be :)
You can find the book on Amazon, too.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1402153155/ref=nosim/librarythin08-20