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anotherhumaninthisworld · 4 months

Note

hebert had a wife and daughter?

Indeed he had!

Hébert’s wife’s name was Marie Marguerite Françoise Goupil. I haven’t found better information regarding her birth more than that it happened in Paris in ”the first days of 1756” (she was in other words one year older than her future husband). I also haven’t found out which of her three names was her first name, though all texts I’ve checked settle on Françoise, so I’m also going to call her that.

Françoise, according to Paris révolutionnaire: vieilles maisons, Vieux papiers (1903) was the only child of Jacques Goupil and his second wife Marie-Louise Morel. The former had been the owner of a not very successful lingerie business which his wife then took over after his death. When Marie-Louise died as well, on July 16 1781, she had for a while lived with and worked as a nurse for the abbot Vaudair, who it is possible her daughter then turned to when she a while later started working for religion. Françoise became a nun of the Couvent des Filles de la Conception on rue Saint-Honoré, the same convent where Élisabeth Duplay claimed she and her three sisters took their first communion.

In June 1790, municipal commissioners presented themselves at the convent to hear its inhabitants’ declaration on whether they would stay there or leave. Out of the 24 nuns, only Françoise responded that ”she could not make up her mind at the moment,” the other 23 declaring that ”faithful to their wishes, they wanted to live and die in their state as nuns.” A year later, July 1 1791, Françoise’s name no longer featured among the convent’s inhabitants, meaning she had left it, be that out of free will or her sisters kicking her out for what she had said the previous year.

Hébert’s fellow journalist Louis Marie Prudhomme claimed in his l’Histoire générale et impartiale des erreurs, des fautes et des crimes commis pendant la Révolution (1797) that it was while at La Société Fraternelle des Patriotes de l'un et l'autre sexe Françoise for the first time met her future husband. Their wedding was held in the parish of Saint-Gervais on February 7 1792 (see the image below). After the marriage, the couple settled on Rue Saint-Antoine.

According to the same Prudhomme, Hébert was however not heads over heels in love with his wife:

[Hébert] married more to appear to have carried out an act of good citizenship than out of esteem and love for his wife. Nevertheless, they got along quite well, although she was ugly. It was a large spider that came out of the convent of the Assumption or the Annunciation. […] A wonderful revolutionary frenzy took hold of the couple, and they were faced with the people, who shouted bravo!

Hébert’s own letters would however appear to contradict this:

My situation, although difficult given the immensity of occupations with which I am responsible, becomes happier every day. I must inform you, my good friends, of the alliance that I am contracting with a very amiable young lady of excellent character. It would be enough of these advantages and were she devoid of all resources, the one I love would not be any less dear to me; but to fill my happiness I find enough fortune with my wife to be reassured about her fate if death separates us. I therefore ask you, my dear sister, to give me your approval and to ask the same from Boissierre. […] I am very assured that you will sympathize with my lovable pretender. She is very spiritual. Speaking in the old style I would say that she is comme il faut, but as I have been assured that you are as patriotic as me I only use constitutional expressions. This demoiselle is called Goupil: she has spent her entire life in the convent up until now. By her personal qualities and by the advantages she enjoys she could claim to someone much richer than me; but my good fortune gave me preference over several competitors. You see, my good friend, that not everything in life is bad and that fate has finally tired of persecuting me and through consistency I have been able to create a pleasant and lucrative position for myself. Hébert in an undated letter to his sister, written somewhere in 1791

I am healthy and very happy. United with a woman who combines all the good qualities with the charms of the mind, whose education is completed, whose character is perfect, I lead the sweetest and most peaceful life. Hébert in an undated letter to his sister, written somewhere in 1792

Réné Desgenettes, who in his memoirs claimed to have met Hébert in late 1791 (though it was most likely early 1792) also hints at a loving relationship:

After my return to Paris, by the end of 1791, I had met at la Grave, or rather under the Saint-Jean arch, my fellow patriot and almost fellow student Hébert, who showed me with satisfaction his feelings over seeing me again, how much he had often regretted that I had been absent from the capital during the first days of the revolution. ”You would have surely played an important role,” he told me, ”but now that you’re here everything is almost over. I live pretty close to this place, rue Saint-Antoine, opposite the passage of this name, which leads to rue du Roi des Deux-Siciles. My little apartment is on the third floor at the front. I have not at all forgotten your constant kindness or what I owe you. I want to speak of money so generously lent, because I would not dare to recall and could not count how much you often gave me at the traitors of the rue de la Parcheminerie, de Mâcon and de la Grille du Carrousel. Without you and the honest patriots from rue des Noyers, I would have starved to death… I can’t say, monsieur, which hours I will be at home, where I still dine everyday, and where I would consider myself both happy and honored to find you. But you will be sure to always find my wife there, because I’m married. Madame Hébert is a former nun from Conception-Saint-Honoré, young and very spiritual. Despite her burning patriotism, she has kept a lot of piety, and considering I love her so much, I never contradict her on this point, contenting myself with a few jokes.” I never answered to this invitation, nor did I find the occasion to see Hébert again after the end of 1791.

From the summer of 1792, we have two letters Françoise wrote to her husband’s sister, which they too seem to indicate a happy marriage:

To mademoiselle Hébert the older in Alençon Paris, 24 July 92 We were firmly convinced, my husband and I, that you received the newspaper as well as Mr. Desnos. M. Hébert had taken all the necessary means for this; but we had the misfortune of associating ourselves with the biggest rascal in Paris, who deceives us in every way. It is therefore not surprising that you were deprived of the papers he was responsible for sending you. We are ready to leave him and you will receive what you want without fail, I hope. We would already be on top of our affairs without this man, hardly worthy of a partner as upright as my husband, who has been fooled ever since he started working; but whose well-known probity and frankness made an infinitely honest young man desire his association. So we will work through new charges and I hope that this time we will not be unsuccessful. If M. Hébert is good enough to make his happiness consist in having me, it is indeed me, mademoiselle, who without grace can certify that I am perfectly happy with he who never ceases to everyday give me new proofs of his tenderness. I have carried a precious token of him in my belly for three months now, he wants the child to look like me, and I want it to look like its father, this, mademoiselle, is the continual subject of our differences. We agree more willingly on the desire to have you as a witness of our love, it will not be up to us unless it happens soon. You are very worried about the dangers of the fatherland. They are imminent, we cannot hide them: we are betrayed by the court, by the leaders of the armies, by a large part of the members of the assembly; many people despair; but I am far from doing so, the people are the only ones who made the revolution. It alone will support her because it alone is worthy of it. There are still incorruptible members in the assembly, who will not fear to tell it that its salvation is in their hands, then the people, so great, will still be so in their just revenge, the longer they delay in striking the more it learns to know its enemies and their number, the more, according to me, its blows will only strike with certainty and only fall on the guilty, do not be worried about the fate of my worthy husband. He and I would be sorry if the people were enslaved to survive the liberty of their fatherland, I would be inconsolable if the child I am carrying only saw the light of day with the eyes of a slave, then I would prefer to see it perish with me. I gave Mde Pelletier the papers for you that I haven't through up much since M. Desnos left. I have the most ardent desire to see you. Mademoiselle and dear sister Your very humble servant Goupil… Hébert My husband tenderly embraces you as well as your sister, whom I beg you to accept the assurance of my very sincere feelings.

To Mademoiselle Hébert the older. Rue de la Mairie, Alençon, département de l'Orne. Mademoiselle and dear sister-in-law, I don't know what to attribute your long silence since last time I had the pleasure of writing to you; but it surprises and distresses me, I would have already complained if my since five months back very bad health would have left me that possibility. My husband, who was chosen by his section to serve as city commissioner on the night between August 9 and 10, has run the greatest of risks. He had the pleasure of rendering services to his fatherland, and always with that noble disinterestedness that you know from him. He has done and still does good without respite, he has seen and still sees intrigue rise up, and modestly remains Père Duchesne, a poor newspaper seller. He stood for election and was undoubtedly well worthy of becoming a member of the Convention; but he believed he had to hide nothing of the truth, more than once he made the intriguer who enjoyed a great reputation turn pale, he seemed too pure and too formidable to those who had influence in the nominations, and to the great astonishment of the brave sans-culottes, he himself is still a brave sans-culotte, which is enough for my happiness. Satisfied to know my husband was worthy and capable of doing anything to be satisfied, his hands remained pure like his soul and were not soaked in the blood that flowed in the prisons. For my part, I suffered from such a great horror that I almost lost my life; I believe that the law alone can strike down the guilty, and until then I will cover them with my body. All that can console me in this tragic event is that the names of those who are its authors are already in execration and that history by transmitting them to posterity will justify the people of Paris who has lost nothing (it must be said) of its urbanity. You would oblige me infinitely if you could tell me if the former Viscount the huntsman Lord of Carrouge has emigrated. I suspect that he has and if I was certain of it I would put an opposition against his property as he owes le 600 livres. My husband, who loves you very tenderly, says a thousand tender things to you and to your sister, and I ask you to believe me, both of you, with a very sincere attachment. Mademoiselle and dear sister-in-law . Your very humble, . Servant G... HÉBERT. My address from now on will be: Cour des Miracles rue de Bourbon Ville Neuve.

A few months later, Réné Desgenettes claimed to have run into Hébert and been invited to dinner yet again, and this time he did follow through with it, resulting in this very long anecdote:

On February 24 1793, I spotted him, on rue Saint-Honoré, part of the procession bringing the remains of Pelletier de St-Fargeau to the Panthéon. […] Hébert, who had noticed me as well, dispatched himself from the group, approached me, shook my hand roughly and said: ”Where in the devil’s name do you live?”

”Rue du Paradis au Marais, n. 3.”

”I have important things to tell you and still live on rue St-Antoine.”

I still refrained from visiting Hébert. However, after a very few days, I learned that a gentleman of fairly good appearance, well dressed and calling himself substitute deputy of the Commune, had come to ask for me, and that he seemed upset for not having met me. Thinking there was no way to back down, the next day, around five o’clock, I went home to Hébert, where I found his wife, the former sister Goupille [sic], who, while waiting for her husband, occupied herself with preparing a rather delicate dinner, because the orator loved good food. Madame Hébert received me very well and told me her husband so many times had spoken of me with affection, that we were two old acquaintances. I approached to contemplate an engraving based on the beautiful painting by Titian or Paul Veronese, showing Jesus Christ with two of his disciples at Emmaüs’, when I noticed that Hébert below it had written: the sans-culotte Jesus dining with two of his disciples in the castle of a ci-devant…

”Here you see,” Madame Hébert told me, ”one of these bad jokes my husband often allows himself to make against religion, as a result of a detestable habit I have no hopes of curling him from... I am, monsieur, very much attached to Christianity… It’s our religion at its most beautiful, because I don’t subscribe to everything… I preach to the Jacobins, in the society of our sisters, the same doctrine that abbot Fauchet preach to our brothers at their reunions. He is a great and true apostle who inspired me with a perception of the enthusiasm which animates him, and I have reason to believe that he is also not dissatisfied with the zeal with which I seek to imitate him. I know all the advantages that the Bishop of Calvados has for me; he owes them to nature and to his superior talents, because he is a very handsome man, and everyone agrees that he is also very eloquent.”

Hébert arrived at six o’clock. Before sitting down at the table, where we then stayed for three hours, he took from a secretary a certain number of gold francs, which he handed over to me like an old debt with a thousand thanks. […]

Let us [said Hébert] speak a bit about Alençon and the first time of our youth. Madame Hébert will see that I have hidden nothing from her about the time of my life when it has been claimed that I was a scoundrel. You surely remember, monsieur, that upon leaving college, where I quite simply had the well-deserved reputation of being lazy and mischievous, I had the misfortune, or perhaps the good fortune, to fall out with la justice?

R.D.G: I remember it well.

Madame Hébert: But that is always very grave.

Hébert: This was also very grave, because the bailiwick of Alençon condemned me to banishment; but I appealed to the parliament of Rouen, which did not confirm the sentence of the first judges.

Madame Hébert: I’ve only ever known of this in a rough and very imperfect way.

Hébert: Well, you will know, my good friend, that in the town where monsieur and I were born, women have always had a great reputation for gallantry. Now the widow of an apothecary, who had been accused of bigamy, had in turn many lovers. In the front line there was a doctor who was very handsome, and after him, living under the same roof as the lady, was her premier garçon, as they expressed it then, and then finally the man who managed the very busy pharmacy. A rivalry which existed secretly between the doctor and the pharmasist broke out one day with so much fury that the doctor murdered his rival...

Madame Hébert: The horror! How did he kill him?

Hébert: The doctor took an iron or copper pestle, and delivered several strong blows to the head and across the face of my poor friend L..., who was on the point of being trepanned. However, even before public rumor got around, the king's prosecutor was seized as suspect in this criminal matter, it was dormant or rather stifled by a transaction which was attributed throughout the city to the conciliatory spirit of M. Desgenettes, your respectable father. Doctor Cl.... however, had aggravated his crime, because he was closely pursued, it is true, sword in hand, by the brother of L..., employed on the farms, he had tried twice to kill him. Outraged with rage upon learning that just revenge was going to elude the L... brothers and their friends, I drew up a note which was posted at the doors of the main church, the commissary, the courts and other places.

Madame Hébert: What did it say on the note?

Hébert: It said: ”Sentence rendered to the Supreme Court of Honor which condemns Doctor Cl... to the pillory of infamy, for compensation, etc. Then I drew two bloody knives in a saltire, with this motto: Olim veneno, nunc cultro.”

Madame Hébert: Which means?

Hébert: Formerly with the poison, now with the knife.

Madame Hébert: Is that right, M. Desgenettes?

R.D.G: Yes, madame, and if you want a different version: ”He has replaced the knife with the poison.” Nevertheless I must have the honor of observing to you, as your husbands already knows, that the doctor did not use the knife.

Hébert: The knife made Cl... more odious, and that's what I intended. The assassination is therefore tolerated by a court which had just hanged two unfortunate people, for having burglarily stolen forty sous from a church trunk, which I would happily call provocative, since it jutted out onto a main road. The veil of oblivion is extended over a crime that was to be punished by the torture of the wheel, and here I am, for a placard which repaired the wrongs of justice, extraordinarily prosecuted, and decreed for personal adjournment . This is not yet enough, and both God and the devil are invoked against me.

Madame Hébert: You are aware, my friend, that all justice emanates from God; but the possible intervention of the devil in a judgment rendered by men is a superstition that I reject, although you have sometimes regarded me as superstitious. Monsieur, she said, addressing the author of these Memoirs, I am not superstitious, but no one is more penetrated than me by the power of God and the ineffable benefits of the religion of Jesus Christ... Is it not the Savior who said to men: You are the children of the free woman? I have never blushed over my [connection to] the first estate, and admit it in front of everyone. I still keep, and you have it before your eyes, the bed that I had at the Assomption; when it becomes that of a mother, it will change in neither shape nor color... My principles are still the same as those of Sister Goupile [sic]. But, tell me, Hébert, please, how was Satan brought into your business?

Hébert: Because it was brought before the official of Seez, and the general vicar and canon of the cathedral, who presides over this ecclesiastical tribunal, launched a monitory against me. This act fulminated in the sermon in the parish church of Notre-Dame d'Alençon, with an apparatus and ceremonies borrowed from the inquisition, which filled the common people with terror, and part of the population barricaded themselves in their homes, at the the onset of night, while the proud men of the city, and especially the armed butchers, searched everywhere for the werewolf. You know, monsieur, that they are a brutal and even ferocious type of man. The fanaticism of butchers has long been maintained in our city, by making them appear with their cleavers and their dogs in the procession of the little Corpus Christi, in memory of the assistance they had given, in 1500, to the Catholics against the Calvinists, then very numerous and very powerful in our country. Do you remember, monsieur, seeing this ceremony?

R.D.G: Yes, monsieur, and to have seen at the head of the butchers, with his sword raised and his arm bare, a Malêfre. This gentleman who, I believe, lived in Seez and had a stronghold at the gates of Alençon, was descended from the one who first commanded the butchers in this ceremony. The dogs had been removed, because they bit those of the assistants who stepped on their feet, and because they howled in a terrible manner when the culverines of the castle came to shoot to salute the Blessed Sacrament.

Hébert: If the butchers, who were pleased by my known cheerfulness, had suspected me of being the author of the placard, I would have been very uncomfortable, and if they had been convinced of it, I would perhaps have been treated like the werewolf that they wanted to skin like a calf... Barricaded at the house of my poor mother, who borrowed books for me from all directions, I acquired this profound knowledge of history that deigned to grant me. My misfortunes in Alençon, repaired a little in Rouen, led me to Paris, and you know, very roughly, what the rest of my life was like.

Madame Hébert: It was during your debut in Paris, my dear friend, that you were the most silent…

Hébert: However, I had no reason to keep silent about the fact that for a long time I had struggled with the devil by the tail, even up to the time when I obtained a small job as a tobacconist at the Théâtre des Variétés. Yes, I suffered from hunger, thirst and cold for a long time. You are not unaware of the services rendered to me by Monsieur; I also had many obligations to the Parisot hairdresser on rue des Noyers, as well as to his wife. This graceful couple reminded us of the wigmaker, the Love of the Lutrin, and his wigmaker... We still had charming neighbors, the two daughters of the butcher across the street from Saint-Jean-de-Beauvais... Then, close to that of the English, this woman who loved you so much...

Madame Hébert: Is it so, monsieur, that you also have a good friend (girlfriend) in the quarter?

R.D.G: No, madame, but I often chat with a rather laughable old woman, who ran a tobacco shop and housed two or three students. The house, which was no more than fifteen feet wide, as deep, and yet five stories high, had belonged to the father of J.-B. Rousseau, who was born there on April 6, 1671. The good woman in question, who daily and naively repeated that she had once been young and had always haunted minds, had written on her door: This is where Rousseau was born.

Arriving quickly at the first days of the revolution, Hébert began to talk about how he had determined to write in a genre which was neither in his taste nor in his habits, but which he considered as having a powerful effect on the popular masses. Everyone believed that Père Duchesne was an essentially crude man; one will believe that by reading his papers, and one will be wrong, because he was, on the contrary, very polite. The conversation, which changed subject at every moment, because Hébert had little consistency in ideas, focused on Louis XVI and his family, whom the substitute of the commune had seen very often since August 10 at the Temple. At first he spoke of the dethroned monarch as a vanquished man who did not inspire him with any kind of interest. However, the day when Garat the younger, as minister of justice, and Grouvelle, as secretary general of the executive council, notified and read the final judgment to Louis XVI, he shared the emotion that this great misfortune caused them... He attended the execution, and recounted the circumstances with marked infidelity... After believing for a moment, he said, that he was going to persuade the people, Capet showed the greatest cowardice and began screaming like a calf... He had to be dragged to be placed under the blade…

R.D.G: What you say, monsieur, is in complete opposition to what thousands of men have seen and heard... The resignation of Louis XVI is a historical fact which cannot be altered, and we will not forget this resignation more than the sublime words of Father Edgeworth, which must have inspired him.

Madame Hébert: This is true, and if Louis Capet, like we believe, was a tyrant, we must today, and after his death, consider him as a martyr to his position, and I too would perhaps invoke him.

Hébert: My good friend, what extravagances... Women almost never listen to anything other than imagination and rarely to reason. Anyway, he said (and he pulled a bloody handkerchief out from his pocket), look at his blood… I gathered it while it was flowing from the scaffold… I won’t believe, monsieur, in the success of the revolution, until I’ve seen that the Swiss have been disarmed and had their throats cut, that the statue of Henri IV has been toppled and the head of Louis XVI off. […] In desiring, monsieur, to have the honor of speaking to you, I was moved by a motive more important than the subjects of which we have spoken so far. My gratitude to you makes it my duty to warn you of what is happening regarding Mr. de V..., your uncle, and his friends. You are perhaps aware that they have declared themselves enemies of the municipality of Paris, which has little fear of them and accepts combat, even to the death.

R.D.G: Monsieur, I am not in my uncle's political confidence... He has the rigidity of a Cato, and I cannot tell him anything.

Hébert: The statesmen, sir, have spoken of our heads... The municipality will ask for theirs, if necessary, and the people will grant them.

R.D.G: I thank you, monsieur, for your communications, but I cannot use them and consider them useless.

When we seperated, it was more than nine o’clock, and I never saw Hébert or his wife again.

In his testament, François Chabot, who was among the ”indulgents” executed on April 5 1794, claimed that Françoise was ”very close with [Joseph] Delaunai's [sic] mistress for more than two years as far as I’m aware, and my brave colleague Forestier saw them together occupy themselves with my trial at the time when the faction doubted my will to serve it…” How much truth there is to this is probably impossible to know.

On March 14 1794, four a’clock in the morning, Jacques-René was arrested and taken to the Conciergerie prison. Françoise stayed behind at their apartment, watched over by a guard as seals were placed on her husband’s papers. However, at six o’clock the same evening, she too was arrested and brought to the women section of the same prison as her husband. Before leaving, she handed over her watch and a pair of earrings to her ”woman of trust” Marie Gentille.

I’ve not been able to track down the arrest warrant for Françoise, but I suppose it was issued by the Committee of General Security, as I couldn’t find anything in Recueil des actes du Comité de Salut Public. The act of accusation proclaimed her suspected of being ”conspirator with her husband, immediate agent of the system of corruption imagined by the horde of foreign bankers against a few unworthy representatives of the people, accomplice of Kock, du Frey, Despagnac.” The draft of the public prosecutor's indictment did in its turn state that ”The widow Hébert has, I do not say perverted her husband, whose immorality has been demonstrated to you, but supported with all her means the liberticidal projects of this monster.”

Ten days after the two had been arrested, March 24 1794, Jacques-René was executed alongside 17 other ”hébertists.” In Paris révolutionnaire: Vieilles maisons… there is to read (though without any source cited) that with her husband dead, Françoise asked to go back to their child, but that this request was ignored. Two weeks later, April 9, Françoise was joined at the Conciergerie by the fourteen years younger Lucile Desmoulins, who had been arrested on the fourth and widowed just a day later. The two women supported each other and became friends despite the antagonism their husbands had held for one another while they were alive:

A few days later we saw her arrive, [Desmoulins’] widow so lovely and so gentle, she was still inside the vertigo and pain, she walked and watched like Nina. Oh what bizarre a game revolutions are! The widow Hébert and the widow Camille Desmoulins, who’s husbands had just been sent to the scaffold, often sat together on the same stone in the heart of the Conciergerie and cried together. Mémoires sur les prisons (1823) by Honoré Jean Riouffe, page 66.

I saw at the registry of the Conciergerie, the day after their appearance at the hearing, and the very day of their trial, the wives of Hébert and Camille together. Hébert’s wife said to Camille’s wife: ”You are real lucky, you, there was not a single statement against you yesterday; no shadow of suspicion cast upon your conduct; you are no doubt going to go out by the main staircase, while I will be sent to the scaffold.” The wife of Camille, no doubt imbued with the atrocity of her judges, did not raise her eyes, showed neither fear nor hope, but modestly awaited her judgment. She went up a few minutes later; the debates had been closed the day before; the hearing was held only for the pronunciation of the judgment; she was condemned like the others and executed. I recall this conversation as precious, because in coming from the mouth of the wife of Hébert, in the presence of several people, it has a character of truth which gives an idea of the innocence of the wife of Camille, and of the barbarism of the court. A witness during the trial of Fouquier-Tinville 1795. Cited in Histoire parlementaire de la Révolution française… volume 34, page 427

Françoise and Lucile were both part of a group made up of 26 people, all accused ”of having, in complicity with the infamous Hébert, Clootz, alias Anacharsis, Ronsin, Vincent, Mazuel, Momoro, Camille Desmoulins, Danton, Lacroix and others, already struck by the sword of the law, conspired against the liberty and security of the French people, by wanting to trouble the state through civil war, by arming the citizens against one another, and against the exercise of legitimate authority, as a result of which, during last ventôse and current germinal, conspirators were to dissolve the national representation, assassinate its members and the patriots, destroy the republican government, seize the sovereignty of the people, and give a tyrant to the state.” Their trial began on April 10, and continued for three days. Looking over the protocol, these are the only times I’ve found where the proceeding concerned Françoise:

Louis-Claude Adnet, cavalry captain, testifies that, during Momoro's arrest, the latter told him that Barras was a good citizen; that Hébert’s wife was asking for news the day before it; that it is absolutely true that this Barras should have been made lieutenant-colonel of the gendarmerie, as a price for his crimes, and that he bragged about it to several people.

These facts are denied by Barras and Hébert’s wife, who are convinced by other statements to the same effect.

[…]

Finally, from the last depositions in this affair, it appears that about two months ago Chabot said: You are complaining about the scarcity of provisions, about their lack of arrival. If you sincerely want to put an end to all these evils, to bring back abundance, arrest the leaders of the conspiracy, who are Hébert, his wife, and Baron de Batz. The same witnesses declared having found themselves at dinner with Hébert and his wife, and having heard them utter the most atrocious insults against Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety; that Hébert’s wife in particular indulged in the most indecent rants against the Committee of General Security and all kinds of authority; that in a session at the Cordeliers, where the question was raised as to whether the Rights of Man would be unveiled; on the petition of Collot-d'Herbois, representative of the people, sent commissioner on this subject, she said to the people placed near Hébert, on the questioning made to her relating to said Collot-d'Herbois and his patriotism: This Collot is nothing but an intriguer, an actor who comes to try his talent for theatrical stunts; he is paid by the Jacobins to demand the uncovering of Rights of Man; but we who are not millionaires do not pay; finally the same witnesses said that the wife of Hébert daily preached the sation and subversion of the most sacred principles, and spoke about the revolution as being the first of its declared enemy.

Hébert’s wife was content with denying all these facts; she claimed to have never known her husband to be a conspirator, if he was he would have died by her hand; and the witnesses for their part persisted in their statements against Hébert’s wife.

Immediately after this last deposition, the debates were closed and sentences handed out. The tribunal found Françoise and 18 of the other accused guilty of being part of a conspiracy attempting to ”trouble the state through a civil war, by arming the citizens against each other and against the existence of legitimate authority, as a result of this, as a result of which, in the course of the last ventôse, conspirators were to dissolve the national representation, assassinate its members and the patriots, destroy the republican government, seize the sovereignty of the people, reestablish the monarchy and give a tyrant to the state.” They were sentenced to death and to have their belongings confiscated by the state.

Shortly after the sentences had been passed, Françoise did however declare herself to be around three months pregnant:

Second year of the French Republic 24 Germinal, half past four in the afternoon. On the notice given to the public prosecutor that the widow Hébert, who has just been condemned to death by today’s judgment, had a pregnancy declaration to make, we, François Joseph Denizot, judge at the revolutionary tribunal, assisted by Robert Wolff, clerk commissioner, in the presence of Citizen Nautin, one of the public prosecutor’s substitutes, are transported to one of the rooms of court house of the Conciergerie where said widow Hébert had been brought. She declared that her name was Marie-Marguerite-Françoise Goupil, widow Hébert, and that she is approximately three months pregnant. She signed with me, the aforementioned Clerk and the other aforesaid. / Widow Hébert

This claim was however quickly dismissed and/or disproven, and Françoise got driven to the scaffold the very same day, dying at the age of 38. The execution got described the following way in number 146 of the journal Nouvelles politiques et étrangères (April 15 1794):

The conspirators condemned by the Revolutionary Tribunal were executed yesterday [sic] at a quarter to seven [in the evening]. Chaumette, sitting next to Gobel, replied with a smile of rage to the reproaches of atheism that were made against him; Gobel was gloomy, silent, downcast; pale Dillon sat beside Simon; the actor Grammont next to his son; the widow of Hébert and that of Camille Desmoulins, elegantly dressed and maintaining composure, were chatting together. Gobel and Chaumette were the last to suffer their ordeal. Chaumette's head was shown to the people, to the sound of applause and cries of "Vive la République.” The wife of Hébert and the wife of Camille Desmoulins were the first to climb the scaffold, they embraced each other before dying.

The Héberts only child, Scipion-Virginie, was born in February 1793. Her birth record (cited within Mémoires de la Société historique, littéraire et scientifique du Cher) goes as follows:

February 8, 1793, birth of an unbaptized female child who one wishes to call Scripion-Virginie, born on the day and time of yesterday, at 11 a.m, in Paris, Cour des Miracles, daughter of Jacques-René Hébert, man of letters and substitute for the Commune prosecutor, and Marie-Marguerite-Françoise Goupil, his wife. First witness: Anaxagore Chaumette, man of letters and prosecutor of the Commune, living in Paris, rue du Paon n 3. Second witness: Scipion Duroure, man of letters and municipal officer, living in Paris, rue de Buffaut, faubourg Montmartre, n° 506, designated godfather. Third witness: Marie-Jeanne Doity, widow of Paul-François Maillard, living at Grande-Rue, faubourg Saint-Martin, n° 37, designated godmother. Signed, M.-J. Doisy, Scipion Duroure, — Hébert, — Bourner, — p. g. Anaxagore Chaumette.

According to the article La Fille d’Hébert (1947), Scipion’s godfather (who, as it can be seen, was also the one she was named after) was imprisoned just four days after her parents (he would however escape the guillotine and be set free on September 27 1794). After the death of her mother and father, Scipion-Virginie was therefore taken in, not by him, nor by her godmother, but instead Françoise’s older half brother J-J Goupil. On March 12 1795 we do however find a decree handing tutorship over to ”Jacques-Christophe Marquet, printer, Rue de Vaugirard,” and it was under the eyes of him and his wife Anne (married August 29 1794) that Scipion-Virginie grew up. On October 7 1808, at age 15, she got baptised in a religious baptism as seen by the following decree:

On December 9 1809, at the age of 16 years and ten months, Scipion married the nine years older priest’s son Léon-Frédéric Née from Bohain. She was by then working as ”institutrice” at the home of a priest by the name Masson. Scipion and Léon-Frédéric moved to Marsauceux, where the latter exercised the functions of ”minister of Saint Evangile” and where they had six children, half of which died while in infancy. Of the surviving children, Paul-Emile-Frédéric died in Paris in 1829, aged 17, Timothée died in Marsauceux in 1843, aged 19 and Frédéric-Auguste died in 1877, aged 63. The latter was the only one to marry and have a child, a son born in October 1841 that lived for less than a year. As a result, no decendant of the Hébert lineage exists today. Scipion-Virginie herself died on July 11 1830, aged 37, one year younger than her mother. Her husband remarried six years later, but did not have any more children. He died himself in 1856.

#frev #hébert #french revolution #lucile desmoulins #not the happiest story to share on christmas day but what can you do…#atheist hébert’s religious wife and deist camille’s sceptic wife becoming friends during their last days in life #despite what their husbands felt for each other #may just be my favorite bittersweet and/or so ironic it’s true fact from this period #but now i really wish robespierre being horace desmoulins ’ godfather wasn’t just a myth #so that ”my child’s godfather got arrested a few days after me.”#”well my child’s godfather signed the arrest warrant for both me and my husband”#would have been a possible conversation between françoise and lucile #ask

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yr-obedt-cicero · 1 year

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History Dad!

I'd like to know ALL the Laurens children + their deaths, please?

The things that I do for you kids.

Eleanor and Henry had many children, I think the official estimated number was 14 altogether, but I will only be writing of the ones who had actual significant accounts about them.

Henry Laurens Jr. the first

Henry Laurens Jr. was the firstborn of the Laurens children, and was born sometime in 1753. Apparently, he was close with (John) Laurens at a young age. He then died in August 1758, at age five.

John Laurens (Jack)

Laurens was tutored at home alongside his two younger brothers; Harry and Jemmy. He was a young artist, and began to draw, study, and learn French;

John Laurens by Charles Wilson Peale in 1780

Laurens was born October 28, 1754. He was the eldest of the five children who survived infancy. Because of this, he was his father's greatest hope at a hier, and was put through much pressure, expected from an eldest son of their days.

“Jack improves greatly in the art of the Pencil & he is diligent in all his studies & promises with great care, a capacity for making at least a good farmer.”

(source — Henry Laurens to John Lewis Gervais, [April 18, 1766])

Laurens worryingly was not showing interest in women;

“Master Jack is too closely wedded to his studies to think about any of the Miss Nanny’s I would not have such a sound in his Ear, for a Crown; why drive the poor Dog, to what Nature will irresistably prompt him to be plagued with in all probability much too soon.”

(source — Henry Laurens to James Grant, [October 13, 1767])

In the May of 1770, at age 39 years old, Eleanor Ball - Laurens's mother - died during the birth of her youngest daughter and last child, Mary Eleanor Laurens. The death largely affected Laurens;

“Poor Jack is much to be pitied. He has been almost inconsolable for the Loss of his Mother; and now he sees that another Loss must be sustained in Consequence of the first, the Loss of a year at College in Great Britain. I should have sent him there or have gone with him if this interruption of our Happiness had not prevented it.”

(source —Henry Laurens to Henry Humphreys, [May 19, 1770])

After the death of their mother, Henry took his three sons to England for their education.

In October 1771, Henry then moved with his sons to London, and Laurens was educated in Europe from the ages of 16 years old, to 22 years old. For two years beginning in June 1772, Henry placed Laurens and Harry at the home of Jean-Antoine Chais, a descendant of French Huguenots. Laurens was required to study French, Latin, and Greek and to take instruction in drawing until the end of October. During that time, he would decide whether to remain in Geneva or return to England to enroll at either Oxford, or the Middle Temple in the Inns of Court. Laurens was also now Harry's guardian, and acted as surrogate father for him.

While studying in Geneva, Laurens made a close friend and possible crush, Francis Kinloch. Whom also lived in South Carolina, but there is little that implies they met prior to their studies in Geneva, although their families were close business partners. Kinloch arrived in Geneva two years after Laurens did, in 1774, as Kinloch had recently graduated from Eton College.

Laurens's letters to Kinloch were quite affectionate. And many have compared the similarities to JL's letters with FK to AH, were much of the same emotional language and affection was used.

“It grows so late that I must bid you Adieu. Kiss all the pretty Genevoises for me, and don’t delay to write to your affectionate John Laurens.”

(source — John Laurens to Francis Kinloch, [August 23, 1774])

It seems Laurens had taken interest in becoming a physician or studying medicine, but later he submitted to his father's demand that he becomes a lawyer and study law in August 1774, when Laurens, Harry, and Jemmy would return to London. During November, Laurens began his legal studies at the Middle Temple. Henry returned to Charleston, which left Laurens as guardian to both of his brothers, who were both enrolled in British schools. And Laurens began debating with his father on the topic of emancipation.

On September 5, Laurens was out of the house to send a letter to his father when he heard from William Manning's clerk that Jemmy had been playing and jumped from a high height resulting in a fatal injury to the head. Laurens stayed with his younger brother until he died the next day. This death weighed heavily on Laurens, and he seems to have placed some blame on himself since he was taking care as Jemmy's guardian at the time. And his father seemed to have faulted him as well. Laurens spiraled into a depression, and eventually fell ill during the September-October.

Unfortunately later on, Kinloch and Laurens would come to have major disputes and political disagreements as their correspondence grew, since the American Revolution was beginning to brew and the conversation of republicanism and monrachy were more discussed than ever. Laurens was an avid patriot, but Kinloch was a loyalist. The two would engage in a series of debates over loyalty to the king and a democracy government, through April and September of 1776. The clashing viewpoints would soon be the downfall to their long-term relationship, and the friendship was cut off.

On October 26, 1776, Laurens married Martha Manning. The two were friends, as Manning came from a family that also conducted business with the Laurens'. Yet, the marriage was loveless and seems to have only been a cover-up to protect Manning's honor from what was likely a drunk one night stand, as Manning was pregnant with their only child;

“I should inform you of an important change in my circumstances. Pity has obliged me to marry but a consideration of the duty which I owe to my country made me choose a clandestine celebration, lest the father should insist upon my stay in this country as a condition of the marriage the matter has proceeded too far to be longer concealed, and I have this morning disclosed the affair to Mr. Manning in plain terms reserving to myself the right of fulfilling the more important engagements to my country. It may be convenient on some accounts that the matter should be kept secret till you hear next from me, & you will oblige me by keeping it so.”

(source — John Laurens to James Laurens, [October 25, 1776])

Marriage record for John Laurens and Martha Manning

Laurens was still itching to leave England and was determined to join the Continental Army and fight for the American cause. So, rather than to complete law school in England and raise a family there. Against his father's wishes, Laurens packed his things and took a ship for Charleston in the December of 1776, leaving his pregnant wife behind in London with her family. Frances Eleanor Laurens, the only child of Manning and Laurens, was born sometime in the January of 1777. Laurens arrived at Charleston in April, during the summer he accompanied his father from Charleston to Philadelphia. Where his father was to serve in the Continental Congress. Henry, having given up on preventing Laurens from enlisting, used his influence to obtain a position of honor for his son. Then George Washington invited Laurens to join his staff in early August, as a volunteer aide-de-camp;

“I mean to delay the actual Appointment of my fourth Aide de Camp a while longer; but if you will do me the honour to become a member of my Family, you will make me very happy, by your Company and assistance in that Line as an Extra Aid and I shall be glad to receive you in that capacity whenever it is convenient to you.”

(source — George Washington to John Laurens, [August 5, 1777])

Upon joining the army, Laurens became close friends with many of his fellow aide-de-camps. But was particularly close with Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette. Laurens also then quickly became known for his reckless conduct, and passionate courage. As his first display of battle on September 11, 1777, at the Battle of Brandywine during the Philadelphia campaign. Lafayette claimed; “It was not his [John Laurens's] fault that he was not killed or wounded at Brandywine, he did everything that was necessary to procure one or t'other,”

This rash pattern of gallantry continued as Laurens was wounded at the Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777;

“Washington's forces surprise-attacked the British north of Philadelphia. At one point, the Americans were stymied by a large stone mansion occupied by the enemy. After several attempts to take the building failed, Laurens and a French volunteer, the chevalier Duplessis-Mauduit, came up with their own daring plan. They gathered some straw to set on fire and place at the front door of the house. According to another officer's account of Laurens's actions that day, ‘He rushed up to the door of Chew's House, which he forced partly open, and fighting with his sword with one hand, with the other he applied the wood work a flaming brand, and what is very remarkable, retired from under the tremendous fire of the house, with but a very slight wound.’ Laurens was struck by a musket ball that went through part of his right shoulder, and he made a sling for his arm from his uniform sash.”

(source — Valley Forge)

Laurens also would begin the fondest relationship of his with Hamilton. They exchanged many flowery letters during the several years when different assignments. While emotional language was not uncommon in romantic friendships among those of the same gender in this historical period, Hamilton biographer, James Thomas Flexner, stated that the intensely expressive language contained in the Hamilton-Laurens letters “raises questions concerning homosexuality” that “cannot be categorically answered”.

“Cold in my professions, warm in ⟨my⟩ friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it m⟨ight⟩ be in my power, by action rather than words, ⟨to⟩ convince you that I love you.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [April 1779])

Laurens's bravery must have been promising, as just two days after the Battle of Germantown, on the 6th, Laurens was given his official appointment as one of General Washington's aides-de-camp, and was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Between November-December, Washington and several aides, including Laurens, were quartered at the Emlen House, north of Philadelphia in Camp Hill, which served as Washington's headquarters through the Battle of White Marsh.

The horrid winter at Valley Forge came between 1777–1778, where Laurens met Baron Von Steuben and seemed to have admired him some;

“Baron Steuben is making sensible progress with our soldiers. The officers seem to have a high opinion of him…It would enchant you to see the enlivened scene [of camp at Valley Forge]…If Mr. [Sir William] Howe opens the campaign with his usual deliberation, we shall be infinitely better prepared to meet him than we have ever“

(source — John Laurens to Henry Laurens, [April 1, 1778])

In early 1778, Laurens advised his father to use forty slaves he stood to inherit as part of a brigade. Henry reluctantly granted the request, but with reservations that caused postponement of the project.

Laurens marched with the army to New Jersey with the rest of the Continental Army at the end of June 1778, to face the British at the Battle of Monmouth. Near the start of battle, Laurens had his horse shot out from under him while he did reconnaissance for Baron von Steuben.

The Battle of Monmouth was a messy battle, and one that caused disputes between loyal followers to Washington and others who sided with Charles Lee. After Laurens heard Lee's slander and offensive remarks of Washington's character, a duel was challenged. And on December 23, 1778, Laurens engaged in a duel with General Lee just outside Philadelphia. Lee was wounded in the side by Laurens's first shot and the affair was ended by the men's seconds, Alexander Hamilton and Evan Edwards, before Laurens or Lee could fire a second shot.

“You have seen, and by this time considered, General Lee’s infamous publication. I have collected some hints for an answer; but I do not think, either that I can rely upon my own knowledge of facts and style to answer him fully, or that it would be prudent to undertake it without counsel. An affair of this kind ought to be passed over in total silence, or answered in a masterly manner.”

(source — John Laurens to Alexander Hamilton, [December 5, 1778])

In 1779, when the British threatened Charleston South Carolina; Governor John Rutledge proposed to surrender the city, under the condition that Carolina become a neutral state in the war. Laurens strongly opposed the idea and fought with Continental forces to repel the British. On May 3, 1779, the Battle of Coosawhatchie took place; where Colonel William Moultrie's troops, outnumbered two to one, faced 2,400 British regulars under General Augustine Prévost, who had crossed the Savannah River. Laurens was wounded in the Battle, and his second in command fell back to the main force at the Tullifinny, where Moultrie was compelled to retreat towards Charleston.

And in the fall Laurens fought at Battles of Savannah and Charleston, where he commanded an infantry regiment in General Benjamin Lincoln's failed assault on Savannah, Georgia.

Laurens was soon taken prisoner by the British in May of 1780, after the fall of Charleston. As a POW, he was shipped to Philadelphia, where he was paroled with the condition that he would not leave Pennsylvania, which was generous due to his rank. Laurens became severely depressed during his capture. In Philadelphia, Laurens was able to visit his father. But when Henry would soon take ship for the Netherlands as American ambassador, in search of loans — during the voyage to his post, Henry's ship was seized by the British, resulting in his own imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Laurens was determined to return to South Carolina, and in the expectation of being freed by a prisoner exchange in November 1780, Laurens wrote to Washington and requested a leave of absence from his service as aide-de-camp, to which Washington accepted.

But after such Laurens was unwillingly appointed by Congress in December 1780 as a special minister to France. He wanted to return to the South, as he had originally refused the post and proposed Hamilton as the more suitable candidate. Yet, despite all his efforts; Laurens was ultimately persuaded by both Hamilton and Congress to accept the post.

The following year, in March, Laurens and Thomas Paine arrived in France to assist Benjamin Franklin, who had been serving as the American minister in Paris since 1777. Together, they met with King Louis XVI, among others. Laurens gained French assurances that French ships would support American operations that year; the promised naval support was later to prove invaluable at the Siege of Yorktown.

Laurens returned from France in time to see the French fleet arrive and to join Washington in Virginia at the Siege of Yorktown. He was given command of a battalion of light infantry on the 1st of October, 1781, when the previous commander was killed. Laurens, under the command of Hamilton, led the battalion.

Unfortunately, August 27, 1782, at the age of 27 years old; Laurens was fatally shot from his saddle during the Battle of the Combahee River, as one of the last casualties of the Revolutionary War. Laurens prior had been confined to bed at Wappoo Creek with a raging fever for several days, possibly due to malaria. When he learned that the British were sending a large force out of Charleston to gather supplies.

Eleanor Laurens (Nelly)

Nelly was born in 1755, and died in April 1764.

Martha Laurens (Patsy)

Martha Laurens by John Wollaston in 1767

Martha was born November 3, 1759. As an infant, she almost died of smallpox and was nearly buried actually, but the doctors determined she was alive last minute;

“In the first year of [Martha’s] life she had the small pox so severely that she was supposed to be dead, and as such was actually laid out preparatory to her funeral. This was done under an open window, instead of the close room in which she had been kept, according to the absurd mode of treating the small pox in 1760. Dr. Moultrie, coming in at this crisis, pronounced her to be still alive, probably recalled to life by the fresh air of the open window. Under other circumstances she would shortly have been buried, as was then commonly done, with persons who died of the small pox in that year of extensive mortality. A valuable life was thus providentially saved for future usefulness.”

(source — Memoirs of Eminently Pious Women of Britain and America, Volume 1)

Patsy was eager to learn from a very young age, and could read by age three. She learned basic colonial women education and manners;

“Patsy is forward in her learning, she reads well & begins to write prettily, is not dull in the french Grammar, & plays a little on the Harpsichord, but better than all, she handles her needles in all the useful branches & some of the most refined parts of Womens work & promises me to learn to make minced Pies & to dress a Beef Steak.”

(source — The Papers of Henry Laurens)

After her mother's death in the May of 1770, her older brother, John Laurens, began to teach her, and even helped her dabble in art;

“I feel an irrestible pleasure result from seeing him act the part of a kind & able friend & Brother to a Sister of 11 Years Old who is now advancing fast in French & is as much a Mistress of English Grammar as any Girl of her age through his assistance. Besides this he brings on a little Harry & Jamie in their learning too.”

(source — Henry Laurens to James Grant, [November 24, 1770])

She was very smart and ambitious despite the restrainment of her sex.

But shortly after, Patsy was sent to live with her uncle, James Laurens. In 1775, Martha and her younger sister, Mary Eleanor Laurens, moved to England with their uncle. However, when the politics became overwhelming, they moved to France.

Though due to Patsy being away in Europe, she wrote and experienced little of the American revolution. During the war, her father, Henry became president of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia 1777-1778. Later on, while on a diplomatic mission to Europe, he was captured at sea by the British and imprisoned in The Tower of London. In 1782, after his release, Henry joined Patsy and the rest of the family in France. Martha spent 1783 and 1784 with her father, assisting him with treatment of his gout. And helped console him with depression after the death of John Laurens.

She described his depressive states as;

“I can perceive his heart is bowed down, & he does indeed stand in need of some kind friend to soothe his Sorrows, I wish I were more adequate to the task, but notwithstanding my sincere desire to be his Comforter, my own heart is so heavy, that it is sometimes as much as I can do to appear tolerably cheerful. You know how greatly I was affected by the late melancholy Event in our family. Time, instead of alleviating this Grief, makes me every day more and more feel my loss.”

(source — John Laurens and the American Revolution, by Gregory D. Massey)

David Ramsay by Charles Willson Peale, 1771

In 1784, Patsy sailed back to Charleston, where she met her father's physician, David Ramsay. They were married on January 28, 1787. They had twelve children, with only eight surviving. Patsy was described as being a very patient, affectionate, and educating mother. She taught her children French, and the virtues of Locke and Witherspoon. She was also very religious, and raised her children under strong Christian beliefs and values.

As Ramsay's wife, Martha experienced financial hardship; Ramsay declared insolvency in the late 1790s, and was sued by Martha's brother, Harry, in bankruptcy proceedings. She felt that her faith was being tested, leading her to a sense of religious resignation.

Patsy and her husband adopted her niece, Frances Eleanor Laurens, the daughter of her late brother John Laurens, after his death as one of the last casualties of the Revolutionary War and his wife's death in Europe.

Martha died around 4pm, June 10, 1811 in Charleston, at the age of 51 years old. She was buried in the churchyard of the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston. Six weeks after her death, her diary and private letters were published by her husband, under the title Memoirs of the Life of Martha Laurens Ramsay.

#I will have to reblog this with the rest of the kids because Tumblr is crashing too much to load this whole ass thing #amrev #american history #american revolution #historical john laurens #john laurens #history #henry laurens jr the first #martha laurens ramsay #patsy laurens #Eleanor laurens #queries #Cicero's history lessons #sincerely anonymous #laukids #laurens family #laurens siblings

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pilferingapples · 2 years

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Les Mis in Real Time: The Impossible Readalong

I can’t believe I’m trying to figure this out but:

Myriel still starts the novel! Sometimes there’s one a day, sometimes there are months between them. But it’s a pretty reasonable pace until--

JUNE 15-18, THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, a huge chunk of chapters over three days! The Entire Digression Goes Here!

Months later, Valjean shows up and there’s several chapters a day for a couple of days until he robs Petit Gervais. The last email ends with him kneeling outside Myriel’s house. The next chapter, a few weeks later, is “ Madeleine” , which mentions several years at once but starts in 1815 I guess??

Sprinkled in among these are also chapters about a little kid named Marius and his frankly messed up family situation. They crop up with very confusing timing, but at a certain point they’re the only sign the story hasn’t stopped until...

TWO YEARS LATER it’s The Year 1817(in 1817, when it was 1817). The next day, all of the chapters of Fantine in Paris arrive. Readers are left hanging on learning that Fantine has a child.

Ten Months Later: One Mother Encounters Another. We get the rest of Fantine’s chapters spliced with the rest of the Madeleine chapters, up to Fantine’s arrest, over the course of the next four years

With the night of Fantine’s arrest, we get multiple chapters at once, then a pause of TWO MONTHS after “Now, Rest”

Then, early March: How Jean May Become Champ. The entire Arras arc is sent out over just a few days. It ends not with Fantine’s death, but with Boulatrelle seeing the devil in the woods. In July there’s the newpaper discussion of Valjean’s arrest.

November 17, Jean Valjean falls off the Orion. THAT’S IT UNTIL DECEMBER.

December! Christmas Eve! Over two days, Valjean and Cosette meet and escape the Thenardier house together.

Several days later, Valjean and Cosette move into the Gorbeau house. Over several weeks they settle in. Weirdly, we suddenly get a chapter about that Gillenormand dude from the Marius story now YEARS ago; apparently he’s paying for a couple of kids who aren’t his?? Chapters get more frequent as Valjean realizes Javert is tracking him. In March, There’s a few days of several chapters a day as Valjean and Cosette escape to the convent , carry out the Great Coffin Escape, and settle into convent life.

The Convent Digression is almost the only posted reading for the next four years, with chapters spaced out seemingly at random. Towards the end of the third year, suddenly, that Marius kid and his messed up family show up again! And his dad is dead, dang. And now it is 1828!

NEXT YEAR: we enter the blessed land of Almost Chronological Order chapters for a while! Elapsed Readalong time so far: THIRTEEN YEARS.

#The Impossible Readalong #IF I'D STARTED THIS IN 2013 I WOULD STILL BE IN M-SUR-M

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tollundmen · 1 year

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les mis stage show thoughts (as promised) (it’s long) (and unedited)

Lost the playbill so I can’t credit the actors by name but Valjean and Eponine both had incredible voices

Before Valjean goes into Digne, he passes by Petit Gervais and steals the coin. Nice little easter egg that I could annoy my sister by pointing out

I’d forgotten how overtly Christian the musical is. Like, Jesus references everywhere. I guess this element is present in the book and all adaptations, but I think the musical lacks depth and complexity in its religious metaphors since it effectively cuts out the social commentary. Not begrudging the musical of this—I think in order to make an entertaining musical you’re going to cut out Hugo’s polemics—but still an observation.

What Have They Done To My Girl Fantine

^^This is one of two major complaints I have with the musical. Obviously, Hugo’s writing is riddled with strange misogyny, both unique to him and typical of his time. However, I’d argue he does try to portray his women sympathetically. Despite the ultimate message of lower-class women as victims of upper-class male society, the book’s Fantine does have agency. She is desperately trying to life a live free from the patriarchal realities of her day. The musical robs her of this agency. I may be misremembering, but I don’t believe the foreman wants to fuck her in the book, and I don’t think that builds resentment between her and her coworkers. You could maybe argue that this relationship between her and the foreman takes the narrative place of her relationship with Thomolyes, but I don’t think that’s a strong argument. I dislike how involved and kind she is with Valjean. I think it’s crucial to his relationship with Cosette that Fantine is effectively a stranger to him. I also dislike how she leads Valjean to heaven at the end of the musical. Again, I think it weakens her character because she becomes a supporting character to Valjean. But I digress.

Also I still think it’s weird to reverse Fantine’s descent into prostitution and the Fauchelevant cart incident. Not that problematic, just weird.

Who Am I is a great song though. Like watching it happen onstage is just fantastic. I adore a scene where you can see the characters running through time and space. It’s one of those scenes that can only happen in musicals, I think. Just super cool.

I wish it was insinuated in the musical that Javert’s appearance killed Fantine. But the choreography with Javert and Valjean during The Confrontation is sick as fuck. During this production, they did stuff with a chain.

I forget how valverty the musical is

The woman behind me kept laughing really loud at the Thenardiers. I forgot where the homophobic line is so I was distracted during those parts instead and forgot to laugh.

Mdme Thenardier is an interesting character because her writing is like sooooo misogynistic, dude. Not the musical’s fault here, though.

Little Cosette was cute.

Political background of the musical is not really explained at all. The audience is just expected to know about the June Rebellion and General Lamarque. Didn’t realize this until my mom asked me about it afterward (unfortunately I’ve developed a reputation for knowing things like this… not sure how). But now that I think about it, Les Amis and the barricade does seem super random. I think this has to do with nearly completely cutting out the whole class struggle part of Hugo’s Les Mis—or at least skimming over it or making it comedic. Pretty hard to cut it out completely. Honestly, I think the playbills should just come with a brief overview of French political turmoil at that time & that could solve a lot of issues.

Actor who played Grantaire was a good actor (maybe I was just highly attuned to him, though). All of his movement seemed to circle around Enjolras. He played the part of the cynic really well. I’ve read some other people’s reviews of the current US Tour that have said they’d heard Grantaire picked up inspiration from fic, and I could definitely see it here. Not just the whole Enjolras thing, but because he took a lot of care of Gavroche during the whole show. Maybe that’s an established stage Grantaire role, but I still enjoyed observing it.

But Maybe I Just Love Gavroche

However, What Have They Done To My Girl Eponine

^^This is my second major complaint with the musical. Reread everything I said for Fantine. The musical completely replaces her class struggle plot line with a romantic struggle plot line with some class difference undertones. Idk. I wish her relationship with Marius was explored differently, is all. She becomes an underutilized supporting character for Marius.

However, On My Own goes hard. I already mentioned that her actor just had a fantastic voice. She was incredibly talented, and I really wish I still had that playbill.

Where the fuck does Marius comes from? I didn’t realize that in the musical this is not explained at all anywhere. He’s just some random dude until he and Cosette have this lavish upper-class wedding. Kinda funny.

I also think it’s funny how politically involved musical Marius is. He’s not a loser at all! Poor guy. He’s noble and stuff. What a chore.

Drink With Me fucks incredibly (except the second part where Marius gets all sad and stuff). Grantaire put his everything into his lines—delivered with such vitriol toward Enjolras, but I have to give credit to Enjolras’s actor for displaying such complicated emotions toward Grantaire in their little stage time together. You could tell he cared for Grantaire deeply. They have several moments where they pressed heads together, shared long, meaningful looks, etc. Nice to see.

Bring Him Home was delivered so so well, but I can’t help but laugh a lil. His ass does not see him as the son he never had.

Woman behind me was WEEPING when Gavroche died.

The lighting during the barricade was absolutely incredible.

Grantaire was the last to die, and he did so in the same position as Enjolras had a few moments ago. The also pointed/saluted each other a lot. Again, nice easter eggs for those of us who Know. also he never touched a gun during the whole show. I think he’s handed one once but quickly passes it off. nice touch.

The staging during the sewers part was super cool. There was a projection on the back wall of the stage that moved and really created the illusion that Valjean and Marius are trudging through this long tunnel.

The rest of the musical I didn’t have much to say. I already said my piece on Fantine/Valjean.

To love another person is to see the face of God does kinda kill me right in my heart though (good way) (almost joined the woman behind me in tears)

#les miserables #les mis us tour #also i was like way in the back and without my glasses so i couldn't see great #don't ask me what anyone looked like i have no clue

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tellthemeerkatsitsfine · 1 year

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I like going back to old pages on comedy message boards, as part of my general obsession with the idea that everything is better and makes more sense if understood in its full context. Also, I find it a combination of interesting, enlightening, and straight-up funny to read early reactions to comedy things that we’d now think of as classics. Look at something that now is a cool vintage thing where knowing about it means you understand this influential piece of comedy history, and see that when it first came out, it was dismissed as newfangled nonsense that doesn’t have any of the heart or talent behind earlier stuff and comedy isn’t what it used to be.

It's not just comedy, this applies to everything. The Beatles were dismissed by many Serious Music Critics, in their day, as shallow teen heartthrob pop music (as opposed to what they were, which were perpetrators and enablers of domestic violence). Bob Dylan was famously dismissed as a sellout in 1965 by some Mancunians who, when I listen to the kind of shit that’s come from a revolution that began by plugging in guitars, I sometimes think may have had a point. I am now just barely old enough to hear some music getting called cool “classic”, when I can remember that music being new and considered shitty pop music that will never be as good as classic rock.

I think I like those in particular for all the above reasons, but also because there is something comforting in seeing someone say something that made total sense given the information they had at the time, and turn out to be wildly wrong. Makes me think about all the things that seem obvious and definitely correct to me now, given all the information I have, and maybe someday, it’ll turn out to all be wrong. Most of the things I think are true now are pretty depressing, so it’s nice to think maybe no one’s ever really right about everything.

There are a lot of comments along these lines in old comedy forum archives, but my favourite by far of all the lines to have not aged well is the person who said in June 2005 that: “Comedians often seem to be of the ‘world owes me a living’ type - no matter how many times they fail, they'll never jack it in and work in an office. Yes, I’m looking at you, John Oliver.” Honestly, doesn’t that give you hope for the future? If you ever feel like you’re so bad at something there’s no point in carrying on and you should give it all up, remember that person who said that in June 2005. If you just keep working at it for another year or so, you too could have Ricky Gervais mention your name to Jon Stewart one time and get to leave everyone who didn’t like you behind.

Anyway, I came across something today that I’d not seen before, which is an article in The Daily Telegraph from August 2005. This is different from other stuff because it’s not just comments from random people in a place where anyone can post, it’s an actual publication. A shit publication, but still, people get paid to write for it. And in 2005, they wrote an article called “Politics kills off comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe”.

The judges have been lamenting the "soul-destroying" lack of humour at this year's award, the comic centrepiece of the Edinburgh Festival which, over its 25-year history, has previously uncovered talent such as Hugh Laurie, Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan, Jimmy Carr, Frank Skinner, The League of Gentleman and Graham Norton.

When judges meet for the first time today to draw up a long-list for the £7,500 prize, they are expected to be "hard pressed" to find acts to fill all 30 spaces.

Yesterday, they described this year's shows as "silly", "flat" and "of the level of fifth-form humour", and complained that they concentrated too much on politics, particularly on Tony Blair, George W Bush and weapons of mass destruction.

John Pidgeon, the head of entertainment at BBC Radio and chairman of the judges, lamented the "remarkable overuse of the 'C' word".

In 2005, comedy had gotten too political, too sweary, had run out of steam, would never again be great like it was when it was bringing in giants of hard-hitting, seriously talented stand-up like Graham Norton; epitomes of comedy with a real heart and soul like Jimmy Carr; and noted guy who married a teenage student at the place where he was teaching, Frank Skinner. That list of white men is the greatest comedy ever got, and now all this new stuff is just kids trying to be cool with their c-words and their political material but it will never measure up.

I really enjoy this bit from later in the article:

The judges were at a loss to explain why 2005 was so short on talent. Graham Smith, Channel Five's commissioning editor for comedy, last judged the competition in 2003. "You could say there was a surfeit of rich comedy that year. The winner was Daniel Kitson and - just to illustrate how strong it was - Jimmy Carr came second. Any other year the runners-up would have been winners."

I like that paragraph because:

1) Apparently the decline of comedy took exactly two years; it was at the top of its game back in the glory days of 2003, and was dead by 2005.

2) Apparently the likes of Jimmy Carr only coming second is a sign of the incredibly deep talent pool in a comedy competition, that’s how strong the field was back then!

3) They’re talking about the Perrier Award, which Daniel Kitson won in 2002, over fellow nominee Jimmy Carr. In 2003, Demitri Martin won it. I should know, there’s a video on YouTube from 2003 of Adam Hills yelling about Demitri Martin beating him for the Perrier Award while they destroy a cow. Get your facts straight, people.

That aside, I was amazingly not at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival, so I guess I can’t really say whether it was any good. I’ve seen/heard a number of shows that were done there (Tim Minchin’s Darkside, bits of the Zaltzman and Oliver Show, two Daniel Kitson shows, I’ve seen some of what Flight of the Conchords did there that year, Phil Nichol’s Nearly Gay, I’ve seen Dara O’Briain’s 2006 DVD and I’m pretty sure that’s mainly taken from his 2005 Edinburgh show, I've seen shows by Demitri Martin and Flight of the Conchords that would have also been taken from 2005, 2005 had a Mark Watson 24-hour show), and have enjoyed all of them. But also, the ones I’ve seen/heard are the ones that were good enough for someone to still have heard about and bothered to seek out in 2022/2023, I’m sure there was a lot of shit going on in that year too.

So if anyone ever tries to tell you that comedy, or for that matter anything else, had “classic” years and they just don’t make the great stuff the way they used to anymore, remember that people were already complaining about comedy “getting too political these days” by 2005. I’m continually amazed by how often you can go back years, and find the complaints about “look at the problem with [anything] these days, it’s not great the way it used to be” stays exactly the same.

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blog-nstuff2 · 8 months

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Love on tour wembley June 2023 back muscles, Harry has worn Loewe way before dating Taylor Russell, casual harry Gemma Jan 2023 or dec 2022, Italy Olivia May 2022 sunglasses, bag gym la April 2023, Harry and Taylor and lambert walking possibly with someone who works for British vogue, swimming shirtless sept 9 ish 2023 London. Last two are comments abt Harry swimming likely at the men’s bathing pond near hampstead, Benedict cumberbatch Ricky gervais

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lgbtqreads · 2 years

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Fave Five: Adult Fiction Set in the 1980s

My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson (NYC) Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski (Poland) No Other World by Rahul Mehta (US, India) The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst (London) Jobs for Girls With Artistic Flair by June Gervais (Long Island)

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#1980s #80s #Alan Hollinghurst #Jobs for Girls With Artistic Flair #June Gervais #My Government Means to Kill Me #No Other World #Rahul Mehta #Rasheed Newson #Swimming in the Dark #The Line of Beauty #Tomasz Jedrowski

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queermtl · 9 months

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QUEER MTL THINGS TO DO: August 2023

August doesn’t mean the end of the summer in Montréal. Here, the streets are full of queer joy as Pride (or Fierté as we call it here) takes over the city! This month, Montréal is stuffed to the brim with events, parties and unique experiences painted in all the colours of the LGBTQ+ rainbow. From drag to community, circuit to underground, here’s some of our picks for the best LGBTQ+ things to do in the city. For further announcements, follow QueerMTL on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr! Got an event coming up? DM it our way!

EVENT OF THE MONTH:

🏳️‍🌈 This month, there’s so much to do we couldn’t narrow it down to just one! Montréal’s biggest annual celebration Fierté Montréal / Montréal Pride returns August 3 to 13, 2023, with a packed schedule of events, exhibitions and parties that’s sure to be one for the record books. We’ve pulled out some of our top tips throughout the guide below, but the full schedule can be found on Fierté’s website here. Running later in the month, the volunteer-driven Pervers/cité brings the Underside of Pride into the light with community-driven activities ranging from back alley parties to workshops focusing on BIPOC, trans, non-gender conforming and queer experiences. Keep tabs on their social media platforms for their evolving schedule.

EVENTS

✊The Archives gaies du Québec hosts The Aesthetic Activism of ACT UP Montréal: a history in photos and posters from June 13-August 13, 2023, spotlighting an important piece of both HIV/AIDS and Montréal’s activist history. The co-curators will be in attendance on Community Day, Saturday, August 12, 2023 to discuss the items on display in both French and English.

✨ Bijuriya and Emmötional Damage host Slaysians on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Cabaret Mado, featuring performances from Lia Jasmine, Joy Rider, Suri Racha, CC Channel, Komodo, Manny, Kajol and Rico Love.

✍️ HommeHomo brings Drink & Draw back to Bar Le Cocktail on Wednesday, August 2, Wednesday, August 16, and Wednesday, August 30, 2023, featuring live models and drink specials.

✨ The official Opening Ceremony of Pride Montréal held at Jardins Gamelin on Thursday, August 3, 2023 features Cercle Indigiqueer, Kaniehke’haka elder Tealey Ka’senni:saks Normandin, Nina Segalowitz & Sierra Segalowitz-Clabaux, Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo & Marshall Kahente Diabo, Moe Clark & Weather Beings and a DJ set from LaFHomme.

🎥 Drag king extraordinaire Charli Deville presents A Night at the Movies: Fantasy Edition at the Wiggle Room on Thursday, August 3, 2023 with Lulu les Belles Mirettes, Enshantay, Charli Deville, Gigi Marx and Just Horny.

🍑 Blending burlesque, comedy, gogo and pole dancing, Peach Club kicks off Pride at Café Cléopatra on Thursday, August 3, 2023 with appearances from Tranna Wintour, Zach Poitras, Lucy Gervais and Rachelle Elie.

📚 The Violet Hour presents In translation, a special edition of their monthly queer literary series at Stock Bar on Thursday, August 3, 2023 featuring readings in English and French from books available in both languages, featuring Jonathan Bécotte, Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay, D.M. Bradford, Nicholas Dawson, Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch and more.

😆 Hosted by Chiquita Mére and Sami Landri, ME JOKE-TU? brings a batch of queer comedians to the stage of Le National for a night of fun and laughs on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

🇮🇹 The Violet Hour co-presents the exhibition Unveiling the Queer Italian-Canadian Experience, a collaboration between photographer Vincenzo Pietropaolo and poet Liana Cusmano at Casa d’Italia from August 3 to 20, 2023.

🎥 The Image+Nation LGBTQ2SQUEER Film Festival presents a special program of shorts entitled 11 Revendications=11 Court-Métrages for Pride online from August 3 to 13, 2023.

🏳️‍⚧️ The Trans+Archive presents Our existence in South America through the decades online throughout Pride, August 3 to 13, 2023.

🏳️‍⚧️ The TransFormative Day of Justice brings a line-up of panels and workshops to the Centre communautaire LGBTQ+ de Montréal on Friday, August 4, 2023, creating space for trans/feminist discourses and reflections. Find further information here.

🏳️‍⚧️ The Them Fatale cabaret shines a spotlight on gender non-conforming trans and non-binary cabaret artists including Gay Jesus, Jake DuPree and Nox Falls under the guidance of Rosie Bourgeoisie on Friday, August 4, 2023 at Le National.

🐶 Montréal’s puppy community comes together for the Pup Montréal 2023 Contest, taking place from August 4 to 7, 2023 at Bar Le Stud, aiming to crown the genderless title of Pup Montréal 2023.

🎤 XOXO presents a roster of some of Montréal’s top up and coming talent including Chivengi, Kinkead, hadaxxah, SCARY and G.Mako takes the stage at Jardins Gamelin on Friday, August 4, 2023.

🏳️‍🌈 Support 2sLGBTQ+ artists and artisans at PRIDE Market hosted by MFF and L’Euguélionne at L’Euguélionne bookstore on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

✊ Feeling alternapride? Check out Slag Pride at Bar Le Ritz PDB on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

🏳️‍⚧️ The Trans March is one of August’s most important events, starting from Dorchester Square on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 2:30 PM. March in solidarity with under this year’s theme Because Our Joy is Priceless and don’t miss the Trans Community Party gathering in Jardins Gamelin which follows.

🏳️‍🌈 To be a Lesbian and …: Inclusive Perspectives on Lesbianism at the Hyatt Place Montréal offers an open and respectful place to discuss lesbian experiences and diversity on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

🏳️‍🌈 Stella hosts The Criminalization of Sex Work and the Daily Life of 2SLGBTQIA+ Sex Workers at the Hyatt Place Montréal aims for exchange and solidarity between community and sex workers on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Running concurrently, the Photo/Voice Project: Sex Work presented by RÉZO and Julie Deslandes Leduc compiles local sex work experiences.

🏳️‍🌈 Labour Pride: Past, Present and Future. What Our Unions Have Done For Us explores labour unions’ role in working for recognition and advancement of LGBTQ+ people’s rights. At Hyatt Place Montréal on Saturday, August 5, 2023.

👠 Montréal’s ballroom community comes together for A Family Affair Kiki Ball at Le Club Soda on Saturday, August 5, 2023, inspired by family representations in movies and television shows.

🎤 If you’ve ever asked what could possibly make karaoke even better, the popular Bareoke: Strip Karaoke at Café Cléopatra on Saturday, August 5 and Saturday, August 19, 2023 is your answer!

👑 Misty Waterfalls pulls double duty on Sunday, August 6, 2023 with Le Brunch aux Folles at 13h00 and Le Souper aux Folles at 17:00, both featuring Petula Claque and Lana Dalida at Bar Social Verdun.

😆 A Very Pretentious Comedy Show #7 features Tranna Wintour, Clara Olshansky, Estelle Davis, Walter Lyng and others at Café La ligne verte on Sunday, August 6, 2023.

📚 Literary Pride presents War of 2SLGBTQ+ Words at Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal on Monday, August 7, 2023 in which four panelists defend a literary work written by a 2SLGBTQIA author in front of a live audience, with one work eliminated every 20 minutes until only one book remains. The following evening, Glitter-ati! hosted by Barbada will present four emerging authors and their work on-stage. On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 they’ll host Diversity Spelled Out, Transpoetry / An Evening of Poetry on Thursday, August 10, 2023, and an Outdoor Book Fair on Friday, August 11, 2023. Before each event, the Safer Literary Space creates room for authors and writers who cannot or do not want to be public about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

😆 Very Pretentious Comedy presents a Queer Comedy Night at The Diving Bell Social Club on Monday, August 7, 2023 featuring Clara Olshansky, Eve Parker Finley and more!

💜 The Transmasc Choir of Montréal hosts the Chosen Family Conference at Hyatt Place Montréal on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 including live Q&A and resources.

🎶 Discover a world of new talents at ImmiX, presented by ICI Musique on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Esplanade du Parc olympique featuring Blxck Cxsper, Cassa, Coco Belleveau, Edith Butler, Jade Above, Joe Bocan, Kanen, Klô Pelgag, Lumière, Naomi, River and Samuele.

✍️ Join Queer Bodies for Life Drawing Community featuring live models at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Wednesday, August 9 and Friday, August 11, 2023.

🎶 The 14-piece chamber pop ensemble the Queer Songbook Orchestra brings their heartbreakingly gorgeous selves to the Esplanade du Parc olympique featuring Safia Nolin and Martha Wainwright on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

🕹 Gaymers gather at Brouillon café-buvette for Remous vol. 2: Pride x Pixel for a night of gaming, music and dancing on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

🧺 The Québec Lesbian Network hosts the 3rd edition of the Lesbian BBQ on the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Thursday, August 10, 2023, featuring the DJs and artists of FeminiX (including JU!CE, Narcisse, Barbara Butch and BLK PRL) and the KING POUR A DAY: Drag King Performing Art Workshops.

🐶 Hosted by Pet Play Québec, Meet the Kink Collective promotes visibility and education of the fetish world on Thursday, August 10 to 11, 2023 at the Esplanade du Parc olympique.

✨ Celebrating Our Spirits marks a day of presentations around Two-Spirit, Indigenous LGBTQ+ and Indigiqueer identities, featuring Tealey Ka’senni:saks Normandin, Scott Wabano, Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Jo-Marie Einish and John Sylliboy at Hyatt Place Montréal on Friday, August 11, 2023.

🏳️‍🌈 Embrace Community Days on Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12, 2023 in Montréal’s Village neighbourhood, when organizations and businesses active in the LGBTQ+ community take to the streets with booths and activities down Sainte Catherine Street.

🎶 DistinXion brings together a varied group of artists sure to leave an indelible impression including Idman, Vivek Shraya, Time Simone, Nakhane and Mýa at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Friday, August 11, 2023.

🎶 Celebrate BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ performers at Xcellence, featuring DJs, musicians and unmissable performers including TEYKIRSI, Honeydrip, pony, A$H BANKS and San Farafina at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Friday, August 11, 2023.

🎶 Fugues magazine presents SuXession at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Saturday, August 12, 2023 with a full lineup of rising stars of Montréal’s queer underground scene including Chris Cool, Artin Avaznia, Miss Chris Marlot, Mossy Mugler, Ms. Boogie, Myst Milano, sam blake, Sisi Superstar and Syana.

👠 Mama Cuarta Mulan curates QUILT-ED, a Kiki Ball—A celebration of ACCM’s 35th anniversary inspired by the iconic AIDS quilt at Cabaret Lion d’Or on Saturday, August 12, 2023.

🎤 Miss Meow Productions presents the Lana Del Rey Burlesque featuring Roxy Torpedo, Avecti Cutthroat, Honey Lustre, Little Galaxia, Rosie Bourgeoisie and Zyra Lee Vanity at Café Cléopatra on Saturday, August 12, 2023.

🥞 Native Montréal is hosting a Native Montréal Pride Brunch for all Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ community members before the Pride Parade on Sunday, August 13, 2023.

🏳️‍🌈 The Pride Parade winds down Boulevard René-Lévesque on Sunday, August 13, 2023. You won’t want to miss the moment of silence in acknowledgment at 2:30 PM of those lost to AIDS, lesbophobia, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, as well as a time to commemorate the lives of missing or murdered Indigenous women, girls, children and Two-Spirit or LGBTQIA+ people, during which you can hear a pin drop in downtown Montréal.

🎥 REEL GAY hosts a screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch with host Mary Fagdalene at The Diving Bell Social Club on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.

👠 Twice a month on every second Tuesday, Bring It! hosts an OTA night of ballroom and vogue with commentator and DJ. Follow their Instagram for dates and details.

🤔 Every Wednesday, Bar Champs hosts Wednesday Trivia Night at Champs with Quiz Master Brian.

🎾 Throughout the month, Tennis Lambda hosts LIGUE DE DIMANCHE outdoor tennis on the courts at Parc Louis-Riel. Check Eventbrite for full dates and details.

🚲 Montréal Queer Bike Polo meets on Thursdays! Find details and directions on their Instagram.

🏐 Les Ratons-Chasseurs (Montréal’s LGBTA dodgeball group) holds regular events. Keep an eye on their Facebook for upcoming opportunities to join in and play.

🤠 The long-running Club Bolo offers open country music dance classes every Friday evening at the Association sportive et communautaire du Centre-Sud. Find more details at their website.

🕹Montréal Gaymers hosts regular gatherings including board game nights and gaming gatherings. Check their Facebook for what’s next!

🎤 Most Tuesdays, check out Stand Up St. Henri Open Mic at Impro Montréal, focusing on women, non-binary, queer and allied comedians.

🏃🏾Join the Out-Run run and workout club for people relating to the queer / sapphic experience. Details on their Instagram!

💃 Tango/Salsa Queer’s continue, with Salsa Queer on Saturdays from 13:30-14:30 and Tango (beginners/intermediate) on Saturdays at 12:00-13:30. Contact [email protected] or call +1 (438) 930-8529 for prices and signup information.

🐦 Bird lovers should keep their eye on Queer Birders' regularly scheduled birdwatching events and excursions. Join the Facebook group and get those binoculars at the ready.

PARTIES 🥳 Queer-pop party extraordinaire Glitterbomb takes to Jardins Gamelin on Thursday, August 3, 2023 for their special Pride edition, featuring DJ sets from Awwful and DJ Jeffany and live performances from Big Sissy, Maryze & Sam Blake, Aizysse Baga, Jaqq Strapp and others!

🥳 Ellelui presents HEATED, a not-to-be-missed evening for lesbian, queer and trans partiers at Le Club Soda on Friday, August 4, 2023, featuring performances from Pu$$yrap, Zepkin$, Ms. Baby, A$h Banks and Litney Worldwide.

🥳 The DJs behind Balls Deep Disco and West End Gays join forces at Pleasure Dome at the Société des arts technologiques’ La Satosphère on Friday, August 4, 2023 with a night of classic queer anthems.

🥳 Jhalak Montréal and the South Asian Pride Collective present CHUTNEY: A South Asian Cabaret & Pride Party on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Cabaret Lion d’Or. Post-showcase, the night transforms into a dance party with food and henna artists!

🥳 Promising the ultimate 360 club kid experience, Unikorn’s Pride edition on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the SAT Satosphere brings DJs Sonikku and That Kid together for a night of projections, rave and guaranteed euphoria.

🥳 Blush celebrates their fourth anniversary at Jardins Gamelin on Sunday, August 6, 2023 with a night of dance and union for queer women and gender-nonconforming people featuring DJs Grapes, G L O W S I, La Niña Kiwi and Pituca Putica.

🥳 Barbada will get the crowds dancing with a DJ set at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

🥳 LuvHaus presents LuvHaus Édition Fierté on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Blockhaus in Hochelaga.

🥳 Spend the day partying by the poolside at La Piscine on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Club LaCité.

🥳 Studio ZX shows off some of Montréal’s most creative nightclub figures with Club Kids on Wednesday, August 9 and again on Sunday, August 13, 2023 at the Esplanade du Parc olympique.

🥳 Be plastic and fantastic, pink and proud at The Pink Airline with DJ Kev J on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at Newspeak. First 50 costumes get a free drink!

🥳 The party continues at After-Xcellence in SAT’s Dôme with dance party sets from DJ Karaba, Pierre Kwenders and Kid Crayola on Friday, August 11, 2023.

🥳 MPU: Loud & Proud turns up the queer at Le Belmont on Friday, August 11, 2023, featuring appearances from Barbada, Kimmy Couture, Lady Boom Boom, Denim and DJ Pøptrt alongside DJs Fantastik and Jeffany.

🥳 The circuit takes over Bain Mathieu on Friday, August 11, 2023 when Locker Room kicks off featuring DJs Danny Verde, Leo Blanco and adult film performer Drew Dixon.

🥳 Majlisna presents Mubaadarat, a gathering of LGBTQ+ people from Arabic-speaking regions. Bring outfits and make-up and meet in the QTBIPOC Safer Space at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Saturday, August 12, 2023.

🥳 Highlighting Montréal’s lesbian / sapphic and BIPOC talent communities, Sweet Like Honey hosts its Edition Fierté at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Saturday, August 12, 2023 with special appearances from Marlyne, MS. BABY and DJ Lax.

🥳 Queen&Queer presents their dance party for queer women at SAT’s La Satosphère on Saturday, August 12, 2023 with DJs Ticky Ty, DJ Sam and DJ AQ.

🥳 Discoõ returns on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at the SAT featuring DJ sets from Argentina’s Ms Nina, Litney, Luisa, Empress, Jerico and Jashim.

🥳 Distrct events presents Inferno featuring Henrique Viana, Sagi Kariv, Alain Jackinsky, Adriana the Bombshell, Paskal Daze and Cindel at Telus on Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am!

🥳 Following the parade, the Esplanade du Parc olympique morphs into the world’s biggest dance floor for the closing T-Dance, featuring DJ K.Nox, DJ TDon and Kampire on Sunday, August 13, 2023. Up-and-coming Montréaler RÊVE will cap the festivities with a closing performance.

🥳 THIRSTY brings its closing party to Bain Mathieu on Sunday, August 13, 2023, with DJs Andrei Stan, Diskommander, K.Nox and D’Jimi.

🥳 The Afropride AfterParty fills Club Sky with afrobeats and Caribbean music from DJ Buhbuhlo, Maddy Phillips, DJ Jayson, DJ Blaster and DJ Kid on Sunday, August 13, 2023.

DRAG

👑 Rainbow presents Le Bingo Show, dedicated to everyone’s favourite numbers and luck game, at Cabaret Mado on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

👑 The Pride Party with Barbara and friends takes over Le National on Saturday, August 5, 2023, including musical, drag and dance performances. Attendees are requested to wear their most colourful costumes for a surprise group activity to close the night.

👑 Michel Dorion hosts the night of comedy Les succès oubliés at Bar Le Cocktail on Sunday, August 6, 2023, featuring Jean-Marc Reid, Chibouki and Érica.

👑 Rawxy & cie brings local favourites Kiara, Kelly Torielli and Jessie Précieuse to the stage of Cabaret Mado on Monday, August 7, 2023.

👑 A popular annual favourite, The High Heels Obstacle Race (on Sainte Catherine Street East, between Alexandre DeSève and de Champlain streets) sees Village businesses and community organizations competing in an obstacle course in the highest of heels on Monday, August 7, 2023.

👑 A match made in queer heaven, Drag’Opéra brings together three opera singers and three drag artists presenting new renditions of opera and musical theatre at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

👑 Drag goes well with dinner, and the Drag’N’Burger Show featuring Milady Nicole, Eva Moist, Mister Boogie and Lady Boom Boom at Notre-Bœuf-de-Grâce on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 is a sure match in heaven.

👑 Master of diva impersonation Jimmy Moore brings a special pride edition of Jimmy Moore personnifie Madonna: The Blond Ambition Tour to Cabaret Mado on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 and again on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

👑 One of the biggest nights of the Pride calendar, Drag Superstars at Esplanade du Parc olympique on Thursday, August 10, 2023 includes performances from Rita Baga, Alexis Mateo, Aquaria, Drag Couenne, Envy Peru, Gisèle Lullaby, Heaven Genderfck, Heidi N Closet, Icesis Couture, Jimbo, Johnny Jones, Kerri Colby, Lady Boom Boom, Landon Cider, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Océane Aqua-Black, Vanessa van Cartier, Vanity Milan, Will Charmer and Yvie Oddly.

👑 Cabaret Mado hosts the Cabaret Queer on Thursday, August 10, 2023, featuring performances from Tracy Trash,Frigid, Scott Fordham, Miami Minx, Fabien L’amour, Bobépine and others.

👑 Like breakfast? Into drag? You’ll love the Pride Anthem Drag Brunch with Lady Boom Boom, Kiara and Kimmy Couture on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Resto du Village. And there’s three seatings to meet demand!

👑 Celebrate local drag with MajestiX at the Esplanade du Parc olympique on Saturday, August 12, 2023 hosted by Rock Bière and RV Metal and featuring Bambi Dextrous, BiG SiSSY, Bijuriya, Bobépine, Clay Thorris, Elle Dare, Fabien L’Amour, Foxy Lexxi Brown, HercuSleaze & The Mythos Ensemble, Jessie Précieuse, Johnny Jones, Kitty Glitter, Little Star & Mike Oxlong, Manny, Marla Deer, Miss Dupré Latour, Moxxi Hollow, Peggy Sue, Pétula Claque, Rainbow, Tracy Trash and Walter Ego.

👑 Jimmy Moore pays on-point tribute to Taylor Swift with two Gay Pride editions of his Jimmy Moore personnifie Taylor Swift on Saturday, August 12, 2023 and Sunday, August 13, 2023 at Cabaret Mado.

👑 Montréal’s premiere drag king night ManSpread returns for its Pride Edition on Saturday, August 19 at Bar le Cocktail on Saturday, August 19, 2023, featuring Slick Hardwood, Yikes Macaroni, Zyra Lee Vanity, Mr./Mrs. Sauga and Charli Deville.

👑 Our favourite evil divas come to life on Saturday, August 26, 2023 when Disney Villains takes over the stage at Bar Le Cocktail.

👑 A night of drag and striptease, Les Folies Draglesques hosted by Miami Minx brings Cervena Fox, Gigi Georgette, Heaven Genderfck and others to Cabaret Mado on Thursday, August 17, 2023.

👑 Celebrate two of Montréal’s hardest working queens at the Barbada & Kitana Birthday Bash at Cabaret Mado on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Happy birthday, ladies!

👑 Jimmy Moore continues to work, work, work, work, work it with Jimmy Moore personnifie Rihanna at Cabaret Mado on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

👑 On Friday and Saturday nights, the legendary Mado Lamotte hosts Mado Reçoit at her namesake club, Cabaret Mado. Each week, she shares the stage with a hand-picked roster of queens.

👑 Every Tuesday, Canada’s Drag Race season 3 winner Gisèle Lullaby hosts Full Gisèle at Cabaret Mado. Tickets and schedule at Cabaret Mado’s website.

👑 Bar Le Cocktail’s regular weekly events include Butterfly de nuit with Miss Butterfly every Thursday, Vendredi Fou with Michel Dorion on Fridays, Drôles de Drags with a rotating cast of queens on Saturdays and Dimanche Show with Michel Dorion on Sundays.

👑 Every Monday at the Diving Bell Social Club, Bambi Dextrous hosts Trivia Night! Be sure to book your team table in advance.

👑 Every Thursday at Complexe Sky, check out the Jimmy Moore Drag Show at 10 PM, sure to feature eye-popping costume changes and dance moves that don’t quit. Free with club admission.

👑 Sunday nights brings the amazingly hilarious Tracy Trash’s Le Tracy Show to Cabaret Mado.

#mtlmoments #lgbttravel #2slgbtq #drag #montreal #dragqueen #queermtl #lgbtq #drag queen #nightlife

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alexsaxonexposed · 2 years

Text

Alex Exposed Timeline (Long Post Warning

I'm just gonna call it that. That's a good enough title. There has been a recent small influx of people just learning this information. Especially after a recent tag from @bess-turani-marvin (ty for the mention). I did realize that something like this might be helpful for people who missed out on some of the stuff that went down.

This is all off the top of my head, so if I miss anything or misremember something. Feel free to let me know

Under the thing, because I cannot, in good faith, post something this long without one.

TL;DR: Alex Saxon is a bad person and has been for a while. Not everyone wants to believe that, but others have accepted it. It's kind of a mess. A big helping of yikes all around

December 2021 - January 2022: I, Lachesis, downloaded the shinigami eyes filter after it was recommended to me. I was playing around with the random people I saw on social media (checking them out, checking out people they follow, checking random posts, what have you), and Alex Saxon happened to be one of them.

His follow list, simply, was a mess. Many of the typical, bigotted alt-right pipeline starter pack kind of jerks were there. As I was already telling Clotho (the other mod) about how I was playing with the extension, I ended up telling her about what I found with Alex. We made the decision to create this blog and compile the google doc.

At first, we got a few mixed responses. Some people believed this was a weak attempt to "cancel him," others were thankful but disappointed because of the information, and others just ignored us. Fine. Kind of expected.

The next couple of months: Kind of quiet. Occasional hate. Again kind of expected when revealing stuff about some people's favorite actor.

June: So early June is when shit really hit the fan. Apologies for cursing, but that is the most accurate descriptor. Alex liked a tweet from a known homophobe/transphobe that he had been following for quite some time. The tweet was a video from Ricky Gervais' "comedy" special. Specifically, it was just transphobic jokes.

This is that tweet. The red is from the Shinigami Eyes filter, labeling Zuby and Ricky as known transphobes. Additionally, Aja's name is filled with TERF signals. The gender signs and the colors of the three hearts.

Alex forgot that likes are public and that his followers can see them. So when a few concerned former fans of his were on Twitter, they saw this on their timeline. Naturally, the ones who were either trans themselves or allies of the trans community were concerned. They reached out to Alex, expressing disappointment or confusion on why he would like this tweet. Many of them hoped that this was a mistake of some kind.

Instead of answering or reassurance that he has any support of his trans fans, he blocked them. He blocked anyone who called him out on this and said absolutely nothing. The only other thing he did was quietly remove his like from Zuby's tweet.

A lot of people were angry. Understandably. Some because they were upset that he would support a transphobic "joke" in any capacity and others were mad at trans people/allies for being mad at Alex. There was a lot of arguing, and people exposing their true colors.

I ended up being called to Twitter towards the end of the climax after being notified on here about what was happening. Just some of the things I saw

People being openly transphobic, as though Alex liking that tweet gave them the go-ahead to spew hate speech at any trans person they saw.

A self-proclaimed "bleeding heart liberal" who tried to play devil's advocate and actually spewed a lot of transphobic rhetoric while defending (but saying she wasn't defending) her favorite white man and telling trans people they were overreacting to a "joke" made at our expense

Some rant about cancel culture that had no point and wasn't actually relevant. Exposing the fact that anyone agreed to it, didn't actually know the difference between "cancel culture" and accountability

People pulling every excuse possible out of thin air. Such as "he was hacked" about a pattern of behavior he has been shown to routinely have over the course of 4/5 years.

People who claimed to be trans allies openly defend transphobic people and their rhetoric, claiming that it was a defense of Alex. Also continued to openly interact with said transphobes from bullet one.

Trans people who no longer felt safe in this fandom

Trans people who no longer felt safe to even watch the show or to ship nace/like Ace as a character

People condemning Alex for his behavior and explaining exactly why it is bad and harmful. Shout out to that one person who reminded me and others in the fandom that Alex once played a trans woman on a TV show, and now is supporting hate speech made against them. Putting profit over progress.

Also trying to explain that in following these people and liking their tweets he is supporting them, their ideas, and giving them a platform to spew their hatred.

Idiots who think that comedians framing bigotry as a joke isn't actually harmful. Calling what we do "Toxic PC bullshit." Failing to understand the difference between punching down and punching up. I've said it before and I'll say it again being a comedian doesn't give someone a free pass to make fun of the issues in marginalized communities

Other idiots who fail to understand that racism, transphobia, and other forms of bigotry aren't just someone wishing death/pain upon the minority they hate and enacting that wish for themselves.

Yes, that is the short version of some of the worst things that I saw. Also more or less, a summary of the things that happened.

We were also accused of causing his girlfriend to break up with him and delete any photo of him on Instagram. I guess they didn't think that we would check because we did and neither of those things is true.

Where we are now: Things are quiet. I think people have more or less chosen their side when it comes to this and stuck to them. I, and a few others, are not letting these issues be forgotten as though they were a typical fandom debate. It's more than that.

Additionally, from what I know, no one on the cast/crew/whatever has spoken up about this behavior. Such as active support of trans lives in a way that specifically is denouncing the hate speech that Alex is supporting. If anyone has done anything without a reference to Alex or his behavior, that's great.

Just for the record, I care more about spreading this information around than I do about getting him fired/replace/killed off. I do support people who do want that because they are valid for having those feelings. I don't have a horse to bet on for this. If any official action from the show is made in regards to this drama, it's their decision. Not mine. Not anyone else's.

Here is another link for the google doc for the people just coming into this situation through this post or others who just feel like looking at it.

TW for transphobia, racism, ableism, eugenics, sexism, antisemitism, and even some islamophobia.

As usual, I do encourage and support those who want to go to Alex's likes or follow list for themselves. There are a few people that are not on the google doc, but fit in with the people on there. I will give you an additional TW for domestic/spousal/child abuse from some of the people on there as well as sexual assault mention

Thank you for reading this far (if you have). Have a safe and wonderful evening

~Lachesis

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