The magic of Silk

 

SILK, originally spun only in China, 

was gradually traded as far west as Persia, before Medieval rulers managed to acquire silkworms and mulberry trees to set up their own silk industries - in Lebanon, in the Byzantine Empire and much later in Europe. 

The trading routes from China to the Mediterranean and into Europe soon became known as the Silk Roads as silk was the main product. 

Valued for its lustre and texture, silk rapidly became a symbol of luxury, wealth, power and social status. It was a major industry, bringing in much wealth.

The city of Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. It was the centre of silk production and trade from early medieval times. 

    In 1490, Sultan Bayazit ordered the construction of a caravansaray, called the Koza Han, in Bursa.

The vaulted corridor around the courtyard of the Koza Han

[photo courtesy of Wikipedia]

This caravansaray provided lodging for merchants and their animals and goods, as well as workshops for the weavers and offices for business. In the 16th Century the commercial agent of the Medicis of Florence had his office in the Koza Han

Nowadays there are 300 small shops in the corridors of the han, plus this little mosque and a cafe.

In an absolute Ali Baba's cave of beautiful treasures in the Koza Han I bought this silk scarf. It's one and a half metres wide but the silk is so fine the scarf slides easily through my wedding ring. 

       

And then there are the Huguenot Silk weavers of the Cevennes - but that's for another post.

Remembrance Sunday

 

Armistice Day

Writing advice from C S Lewis

 C.S. Lewis responding to a letter from an American schoolgirl asking him for some writing advice. [1]

Which points do you consider most useful?

For me it's numbers 3 and 5

[1] credit to creator of the clip - although it has been shared many times.

'Know your characters,' they said....

Advice to New Writers : "Before starting to write your novel 

you must know all about

 your main characters " 

That advice seemed very helpful. 

Back in the day when I was a beginner at novel writing, I diligently wrote a profile for my two main characters, mentioning all the items suggested in the advice.

pet hates, favourite activities, any strengths, flaws, relationship with family, and so on - and on. 

Well, that novel was written long ago but although it earned praise from editors and critiquers, it was never accepted for publication. Other stories fared better but one day I came back to this tale, my first and most precious to me. 

Now a seasoned writer and editor myself, it was easy to see ways to improve and polish the story.

I dug out the folder of notes and information for the tale. And in amongst all the plans, pictures, buildings etc, were the notes for the main characters. 

The heroine's notes ran to eighteen A4 pages, all handwritten. It was almost a mini-novel in itself. And like all research, very little of that went into the actual novel.

                                           

 The hero had sixteen pages of notes about his life, etc. 

     

Maybe I know more about these two than about members of my own family.

Now I smile at my earnest innocence. But it brought them to life for me, and their hair-raising adventures make a thrilling read, even if the story remains unpublished.

A Summer Holiday at the Seaside

              It's summer -  so time for sea air 

- and where else but Brighton, especially when the Prince Regent is in residence at his Summer Pavilion. 

Little does he know that his fondness for sweet cakes could be the end of him. 

Among the visitors is Anna, rushing from one near-disaster to another, and Lord Giles Maltravers, the ton's most dangerous Rake, who by mischance has to act as her chaperon. 

An amusing frothy tale with cricket, races, concerts and fashion - and more besides.

                                                   The Rake's Challenge    

Sea bathing on the ladies' beach - but note the men with telescopes.

The Steyne, Brighton.
Donaldsons shop and library at left, the Pavilion in the background .
The Prince Regent on horseback [white trousers].

A PERFECT GENTLEMAN?

 Joachim de Montailhac

In Spring 1818, 27 year-old Joachim is delighted that this year, for the first time he is in sole charge of running the family estate. This is a great challenge. As the youngest of five children, he has always had to fight for his dignity. So with this new responsibility he is determined to do as well, if not better than his two brothers.

Flocon, Joachim's faithful old lurcher

Athletic, handsome and always a gentleman, he is devoted to his parents, plays the violin like a dream, rides and shoots well, goes fishing with his father and is very much a hands-on worker.

Attempting to equal his brothers, he made a few bad mistakes growing up. Ten years after one episode he still feels guilty at the effect his actions had on family and close friends. It doesn't help that the other person involved in that scandalous episode has no shame and continues to torment him over it.

Just when he needs to give his full attention to running the estate, his problems multiply.

A big disappointment is the arrival of his mother's guests. Having two young ladies to stay was meant to be a pleasure but very quickly Joachim considers them to be the visitors from Hell. Being gentlemanly becomes a struggle, especially when he is so busy.

A Merens horse

  

The estate consists of the family chateau and a vast stretch of lands in the foothills of the Pyrenees. As well as livestock - horses, cattle and sheep - there is an iron mine on the estate, worked by tough, independent minded peasants, as proud as they are poor. Joachim is determined to improve their lives but so far they resist any change.

The iron Mine

New gallery at the Mine

Desperate to find more iron ore, the miners hastily dig a new tunnel. A week of heavy rain causes the roof to collapse, and four men die, others are badly injured. Joachim does all he can to help in the aftermath. 

To complicate his life, his tormenter from ten years ago is stalking him again.

And worse still, he becomes the victim of a kidnap and is badly injured.

When will his luck turn? 

Even when life calms down, something occurs that stirs his resentful temper - for even a gentleman has some character faults and Joachim has reached overload.

How will it all end....?  

BREAKING FREE by Beth Elliott

(c) Beth Elliott

TREES

 The SWWJ recently ran a competition for a 500 word story

 with the title 'TREES'.

I submitted a bit of whimsy about the fair maid Solveig saved from marriage to Gunnar King of the Trolls by a friendly Birch tree Spirit.

My entry was the runner up [out of 31 stories entered]

That was pleasing enough, but the real reward is the judge's comments. 

'This had shades of 'Lord of the Rings' and I liked it for its originality and beautiful prose, which completely pulled me into the magical world of fjords, trolls and a birch spirit.'