(no subject)

[dreamer_easy]

Between The Girl and the Fireplace and The Shakespeare Code, I think the makers of Doctor Who are aware that there have been people of African descent in Europe for centuries, and that they hope to gently correct our usual lily-white idea of the past.

Black people have been present in Britain and on the Continent for hundreds of years, in every walk of life: from the brothel to the royal court, in service, in all sorts of professions. But, until the Casanova miniseries and Girl in the Fireplace, I had no clue this was the case. (Casanova really did have a Black manservant.) My former ignorance disqualifies me from judging anyone else who just didn't know, and angrily blamed "political correctness" (or, more gently, said they weren't worried about historical accuracy in a fantastical show).

While reading up on the history of Blacks in France, I encountered the remarkable Chevalier de Saint-Georges, who reminds me a lot of Casanova, and about whom I hope to learn a lot more. Reading through fannish discussions online, he's been mentioned more than once as an example of a real-life Black man present at the court of Versailles. That's him in my new icon, to be used for postings and comments about race.

Comments

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Yes. I remember that. I was impressedthat you included such a character in the novel.