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].