One of the perils of writing fiction is getting distracted with various research rabbit trials. I came across this gem the other day, finding one of those rare rabbit trails that bear unintended fruit.
It is one of the oldest arguments that exist between mother and daughter. I have had it with Kayla, my mom had it with all three of her daughters, and I’m willing to bet that she had the discussion with her mother also. It always begins with a variation on the question, “You aren’t going to wear that, are you?” I have also run across versions of the argument in mystery novels when characters include a mother and a daughter.
I was struck with the agelessness of the argument when I came across the following excerpt from a letter written by the Empress Maria Theresa of the Hapsburg Empire to her daughter, Marie Antionette in the late 1700s. It was published in the Sep./Oct. 2016 issue of National Geographic History as a sidebar to an article written by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro called “Rococo Revolution: Marie Antoinette’s Courtier Couture”, pp. 10-13. The Empress wrote the letter to her daughter after she received a painting of her daughter after Marie became queen of France.
As you know, I have always been of the opinion that fashions should be followed in moderation but should never be taken to extremes. A beautiful young woman, a graceful queen, has no need for such madness. On the contrary, simplicity of dress is more befitting and more worthy of a queen. I love my little queen and watch everything you do and feel I must not hesitate to draw your attention to this little frivolity.
And no, I didn’t get any more writing done that evening, but I still feel like I gained something.
What interesting rabbit trails have you encountered while writing?
