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Anne Golon

Our first ever contact with Anne Golon's spokeswoman - her daughter Nadja. It was on 30th August 1998 via a blog (the original link is now broken, but a reproduction of the screen and dialogue can be found here

How I met Angélique: (From the 'World of Angélique' web-site - currently unavailable)

"Who Needs Biology?"

I only discovered recently that my belief that I did not start reading the books until I was 17-years-old was a gross miscalculation. It was a big enough shock to find out that I was only 15 and an even bigger shock to discover that I was reading the first of the series when I should have been doing my biology revision. Thank heavens my mother never found out.

Needless to say, I never passed, nor to my recollection, sat the biology examination.

My sister, who always had a big influence on my reading, introduced me to the books, having found the first in a motorway shop when we stopped on a journey down to London. The rest, as they say is history.

We followed the series, buying two sets of the books up to and including Angélique in Love. After that it was left to me to search for any follow-ups - although we first took 'Countess' out of the library as we wanted to get on with the series. It was a long, long time between Demon and Ghosts and even then when I picked up the paperback of 'Ghosts' I had to read the dustjacket to make sure it really was a continuation.

What almost prevented me from buying the book was the wholly inappropriate cover, now immortalised by Harvey J Adkins (President of Friends of Angélique) as 'Ghostslut'.

As this book ends with Joffrey pronouncing "Let the festivities begin..." it was very apparent that there was more to come ..... regrettably not in the English language. Some years later, our friend in Paris sent a magazine cutting advertising latest publications. She states to this day that it was not intentional, that the article on the other side was what she intended us to read.

Nevertheless, there it was, 'J'ai Lu' advertising Angélique in Quebec. We waited and no sign of this book appeared in the UK. I wrote to friends in the States and Australia to look out for it, but to no avail.

Eventually, having plenty of time on my hands (I was having an unnaturally long stay in hospital) I wrote to Heinemann's (as publishers of the previous hardbacks, the paperbacks to follow after an interval of 12-18 months) to ask when we might expect to see 'Quebec' translated. They replied (I'll give them that, they did actually reply) to the effect that "they were not commissioning any further translations due to lack of interest."

I'll never forget that phrase. My immediate reaction was - well, if there's no interest, what about me? Don't I count? Evidently not.

Some years later, in Paris, I decided to buy the book in French - might as well see the adventure to the end - so I purchased 'Quebec' parts 1 and 2, Route de L'Espoir and Victoire (of whose existence I didn't know until I started going round the bookshops). I poured over the sleeve jackets and died a quiet death when I read 'dernier adventure' on 'Victoire'. The French, like the English, can put several meanings to one word and this one did not necessarily mean 'last' as in 'final'. This definitely smacked of 'latest' - so was my quest to continue?

On entering the world of the internet, I eventually hit Harvey's page and I realised I was not a dinosaur after all - and not the only one looking for a conclusion (preferably in English) to a fascination that had started all those years ago when I should have been revising for my exam. Since then I have had the privilege of meeting Anne Golon on several occasions and being complimented by her on a variety of my activities. My most cherished compliment is the fact that she not only approves of the design of the Friends of Angélique logo which was inspired by nothing other than my thought of the Sun King and Angélique being irrevocably linked.

Probably, somewhere in the depths of my art history background (you see, biology would have been of no use to my chosen career after all) I may have drawn on some knowledge of the period, but Anne showed me exactly what the logo reminded her of and she knew instantly where to look for it in her mountain of reference books (namely the library in Versailles). And finally, thanks to all this, I'm getting my cake and eating it - because, having struggled to read the books in French, my reward is the great privilege of working in tandem with one of the translators and typing up her work.

And as a postscript (2011), I have now read all the books in Polish which has given me a greater insight and lots of new information!

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From Joyce Murphy, President of the 'Friends of Angélique'

How I Met Angélique.

Funny how some episodes in your life stand out.

It's remarkable how I remember exactly where I was when I met Angélique. My adored older friend (who treated me like a little tag-along, but of course I just basked in her shadow) showed me the book she had gotten out of the Fitchburg Massachusetts Public Library, and was bringing it back. I had just 'graduated' from the children's library to the grown-up main library, and was a freshman at Fitchburg High School. This was Fitchburg, Massachusetts in the United States.

It was probably - now that I look back – one of the very few books my friend ever read. She was one of the ‘popular’ crowd, I was a lower classman, and she was not really a scholar. I clearly remember we were standing on the corner at the library, ready to go in, and she raved on and on about what a great book she had just read, about this woman whose husband won her by pretending to be a stranger who was a guitar player and singer. We usually went to the library just to extend the time we had before going home, as most teens will do.

At that time, 1967, Beatlemania was in full swing, and anyone who could play guitar and sing was just 'happening.’ I had always loved to read, being an 'army brat' and my best friends were the books I read, while moving around the United States.

I got my adult library card that same day, and Angélique was my first book out of that adult library. I checked it out as soon as she turned it back in, and there the story begins in more ways than one. It became a sort of cult classic with the crowd we were hanging around with then and was probably the only book most of that crowd read voluntarily.

I grew away from that crowd, and grew up to be an avid reader, and of course, as many avid readers are, an honors student, while most of that old crowd didn't even finish high school.

Unfortunately, at that library, there was only one book available in the series, and I had no inkling there even were more. I went on to read all kinds of biographies about the kings and queens of England and France, hiding the books and covers. If my father, an alcoholic, had ever known that I read a book called The Bastard's Queen (Matilda, William of Normandy's wife), I probably wouldn't be alive today to write this. That title would have sent him into one of his rages.

All those historical books were an escape for me. I never realized there were any more of the Angélique series until in 1971, my oldest brother had the choice so many of our brothers had then - enlist or be drafted to eventually end up Vietnam. He fortunately never went there, but cruised around the Virgin Islands, courtesy of the U.S. Navy. I used to take him to the bus stop during leave weekends when he came home and while waiting with him, there just happened to be a bookstore there, The Corner Bookstore in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. I started browsing and came across the Angélique series. Oh joy! At first I didn't believe they were part of the same book I had read a few years back - all seven of them in one place, and I never knew the story had continued past the first book, but once I read the name "Joffrey" on the back cover, I immediately realized I had missed a lot of that wonderful story.

I gathered all of my babysitting money and the next time we were at that bookstore, purchased all seven of them, hiding them from my father, due to the very risqué, at the time, covers. One of which is the now famous "bra-strap" cover, Angélique in Revolt.

I still have all of those original seven books, in various states of condition due to the countless times I have read them, and have never let them out of my possession, always recommending them to friends and relatives, but telling them to go hunt down their own copies! Of course now, due to the world wide web and such sites as eBay, ABEBooks.com, Amazon.com and a host of others, I have been know to finally lend out copies, but still never those that I bought first, these originals will always remain my favorites and hold a pride of place. They were $1.25 each, so an investment of $8.25 plus the dreaded Massachusetts sales tax was quite a chunk of change to someone earning 50 cents an hour from babysitting back in 1971.

That was about a week's pay that summer. I later found the other two, Demon and Ghosts, in used book stores sometime around 1980, and was quite surprised that the series had continued, always checking in the 'G' part of the historical romance section, and also discovering the wonderful books of another of my favorite authors, Roberta Gellis, and of course, grieved at the passing of Serge when I read about it on the covers of those last books.

When I came to the frustrating ending of Angélique and the Ghosts, the American publication of what we know now is the first half of Angélique in Quebec, I just put it down to Anne not being able to continue without her soul mate, and perhaps (horrors!) someone else had to finish writing, a ghost writer. Of course, we all know the truth to that now.

I have always felt very close to Angélique, living up here in New Hampshire. I now live on the Murphy 'estate', among five acres of dense woods, and sometimes imagine that I will turn around and stumble on the ruins of Wapassou, or see Angélique, as there are so many small lakes and ponds around here. That was the end of the story until, during one of my first Web experiences, I happened to discover that Amazon.com actually listed the Angélique books and invited people to write reviews about them - and that's how Harvey J Adkins (the first president of Friends of Angélique) found me.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would even have a chance, if I could come up with funding, to meet the author, never mind become part of the whole story, as it were. A lot of those reviews on Amazon.com were from us, her loyal supporters. I don’t believe those reviews exist anymore; if I am wrong on that, will someone please let me know? That is, in fact, what I had done on September 11, 1997 and it led Harvey to approach me, via email, to join the group, which was at that time a whopping 5 members. I of course was the sixth. I was the first person to review any of the books on Amazon, the one I did review was Angelique in Love. Not all of the books were listed, as I recall there was no mention of first book, "Angelique." We now have almost 500 members in the group.

Wow, almost 17 years have passed with wonderful and dear friends I have met, thanks to this wonderful group. Those years include also meeting people from all over the world, as far away, for me, as Japan and Australia and continuing with them to follow in the footsteps of Angélique and Joffrey in Massachusetts and Maine, and the experience of a lifetime, actually meeting Anne Golon and her wonderful daughter, Nadine in Paris, literally on the steps of Versailles.

Thank you friends, for all of the wonderful times we have had, and will look forward to continue to have.

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From Carol Jennings longtime supporter of Anne Golon :

Escapism at its best! Who wants television?

About a decade ago, on reading the stories of other Angélique readers on the old (just then found!) Friends of Angelique website I realised how similar were my own experiences to theirs. For example an Angélique book was a (unofficial) regular accompaniment to my Sixth Form General Studies classes!

In spite of the fact that I later specialised in other subjects, History was my favourite subject at school and I read many classic and historical novels as a result. However, it was not until my GCE (O’Level) year that I read for the first time the novels of a French author: Sergeanne Golon.

I read Angélique in Love first due to my weakness for always wanting to read the end of a novel before starting the beginning. I loved it! The bug had struck! I borrowed the first volume of Angélique from the library, started at the first page and the rest is history.

During the 1970s I read and reread the Angélique books and eagerly awaited each new title. I had given up hope of further novels when I received two copies of Ghosts for Christmas 1979 (complete with the abominable ‘Ghostslut’ covers which had nothing whatever to do with the content of the book). I eagerly awaited a continuation of the story, but as far as the English speaking world was concerned, a further novel never arrived.

In the years that followed I was too busy raising a family and studying to gain further qualifications to read many novels, so my old Angélique books remained on the shelf. Eventually I started a new career but I found myself working very long hours and having little time for anything else. After a while I rebelled! How? I took off the shelf my old copy of Angélique in Love and read it.

It being around 20 years since I had last read the books, I wondered whether during the intervening period further books had been published. I wrote an inquiry to William Heinemann but received no reply. I searched through the micro-fiches in the public library. They revealed a new title: La Victoire d’Angélique. I ordered it, but it never arrived.

That year we had already booked a holiday in France. If Victoire really existed I hoped to find it then. On our first day I found a rather tatty copy of Angélique à Québec in a small supermarket in Burgundy. I bought it and found out that there had, in fact, been three novels published after Ghosts. My then around 30 year old O’Level French was extremely rusty, but I realised that if I wanted to learn the rest of the story I would have to read it in French. I returned home with a copy of all the books except La Victoire d’Angélique which I finally managed to order through The French Bookshop in London.

I made up my mind that I was not only going to read and mentally translate the last three (unpublished in English) titles but all the books in the series. I can’t think of any other books that could have motivated me to do this! The task took me what little spare time I had for three years.

As a result I can now read French, if not fluently, at least easily and have learnt the (current) remainder of the story. I have always loved the books, but now I have an even greater appreciation of the series as a whole and of the work that went into writing them. In particular I refer to the enormous attention to historical detail shown by the author(s) providing a fascinating insight into the history of both France and the New World. Escapism at its best! Who wants television?

Another result is that I have been able to read of events in the first ten novels, that I had never had the opportunity to read before, because they had never been included in the English texts. I also found additional material in The Countess Angélique not present in its French counterpart, but for the most part it is in the English translations, in particular for the first four novels, that one finds evidence of considerable butchery. It angered me at first because I realised that readers of the English versions had been deprived of whole sections of the story. Later it was a protest reaction of the type that one would feel towards someone who had defaced a work of art.

I was so pleased when I learnt that, after many stressful years of legal proceedings against her former publishers, Anne Golon was at last awarded all her rightful legal rights to her own creation: Angelique and the Angelique series of books. I look forward to seeing all her books appear for posterity in their complete, unabridged, author’s cut (l’Intégrale) versions. I am of course particularly interested in future English versions, but my statement holds true for whatever language the books appear in. And last but not least, I can’t wait to read the long-awaited sequel(s) to Victoire, in English or in French!

Read a PS here which relates to the saga of the 'Angelique Legs' which can now be linked to the new Perfume page:

From Fb (March 2016):

Thank you J Anna Ludlow! It certainly gave me a smile to see this and brought back memories too! As to my story, well it was early 2002. After having read all my French Angelique books right up to and including ‘Victoire’, I was curious to see if I could find out any news of Mme Golon, whether she had continued the series and whether (or not) I was the only person out there who still loved and read the books. I had recently subscribed at home to the Internet, so I decided to make some online searches. Not at first I may say with any great success; I typed the keyword ‘Angelique’ into my browser but to my chagrin this only led me to many insalubrious sites, the most memorable one of which was called…….yes, you guessed it: ‘Angelique’s Legs’! It was a most frustrating, not to mention embarrassing site; it had nothing to do with the Angelique I was interested in (I leave it to your imagination what it was about!) and once on it, it wouldn’t let me off! I was stuck fast! Being before the existence of browser tabs the only remedy was to close down my browser and restart my search from the beginning.

Angelique perfume with legs

Fortunately ‘Golon’ was a more successful keyword and perseverance led me to Harvey’s Angelique website and eventually to that of ‘Friends of Angelique’. I was so happy to find that there were out there other Angelique fans like me who appreciated Mme Golon’s wonderful books, some of whom had even been able to meet Mme Golon herself. I saw J Anna Ludlow’s name on the FoA website, contacted her and told her my story, including that during my search of my encounter with ‘Angelique’s Legs’!

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From Marcia Moneymaker in the US one of the founder members of 'Friends of Angélique'

How I found Angélique

My sister came home to US from Turkey and had seen some of the Movies. She had read the books and said how wonderful the books were; we had to read them. She went to a local bookstore and bought a set of the first 5 books (books 1 & 2 were in one volume) for us to read. She loved the books! I read the books and loved them. I read the books taking place in early America and waited and waited for Angelique in Quebec to come out. Then I found out it had never been translated into English and there were other volumes in the series!

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From Janet Draper in the UK

I just remember seeing this massive book on my local library shelf with the iconic blond maiden on the front and booking it out. From then on I was hooked - I cannot remember how old I was - in my teens, I am sure. There were already a few volumes out at this time and I read them all again, each time a new one was published. It was always hardbacks in the libraries back then, I never found any paperbacks and I remember my frustration at the end of Ghosts that the story was never continued. I even wrote to Heinemann, the publishers but never got a reply. So Angelique stayed tucked at the back of my memory until I got my first home pc and started searching (it was Ask Jeeves back then) and came across the Friends of Angelique. I have tended to lose hope recently of the final volumes ever being officially translated into English (I know there are a couple of unofficial ones but very rough and stilted). There are a few who have gone on to learn french purely to help them read the final books Carol Jennings for one ) and I admire them for that but I have never been able to do so. Like so many others, I live in a hope that is dwindling.....

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From Sandra Taylor

When I was younger I remember that some of the Angelique books were in the home but I did not get around to reading Angelique books until much later ( a few years ago) because I was often studying at university and would often not find the time for reading unless in the holidays. I do a lot of reading now, though. I also read a lot when I was at school and read many of the classics. The Angelique books are wonderful and I also look forward to the day when the later books set in Canada and the New World are officially published in English, otherwise, like some of the other readers, I will have to improve my French and attempt to read them in this language. I did once find a book in Italian and believed I may be able to understand this with the help of a dictionary as I had studied Spanish at one time, but then I realised that even this would be quite difficult and time consuming.

I was once recommended to read Angelique and the King as there is also so much history of the Chateau of Versailles and the king in the Angelique stories.

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From Jill Jackson

Who reminded us of her own story when the 'Friends of Angélique' Yahoo and Fb members collected funds to buy Anne Golon a 90th birthday present (hence the reference to the groups in her story). The present was the Hermès scarf which features at the top of this page.

For those who are interested, I met Anne around 1963 when I was 15. I had got to know two of her nieces when they came to England to stay with my family as students wanting to improve their English, and I went to stay with them in return (to improve my French!) The second year that I stayed with them they were on their summer holidays themselves, and staying in Switzerland with their Aunt and Uncle. I also met a very young Nadja and her younger brother and the baby, Marina. I had no idea then that almost 50 years later my adventures would be of interest to a group such as this!

My story of how I first met "Angelique"

I was in my early teens (maybe even 12 when I think about it) when
like many other families in my home town we had a French student to stay for a few weeks during the Summer holiday. Her name was Marie-
Magdelene, and on learning that my father was a librarian she asked if he was familiar with the "Angelique " series of books because "They are written by my Uncle and Aunt!"

M-M came to stay with us again the following year, and then after a
gap of one year her younger sister Dominique came each Summer for two
or three years. She and I were much closer in age (even a year or two is a lot when you are a teenager) and we became great friends.

I in my turn went to stay with their family in the Summer of 1963.
Whilst I was with them there was an S.O.S. from their aunt in
Switzerland. She had been staying with an elderly relative who had been taken seriously ill; if she stayed on to nurse her, could Dominique and Marie-Magdelene's mother (her sister, whose first name
I am ashamed to say I have forgotten – she was always Mme. Phillippe to me) go to Switzerland to take care of the children? This we did and although I did not meet Anne that year I did stay at her house
and meet a very young Nadia? and her younger brother.

The following Summer I flew to Geneva ( a great adventure at the age of sixteen) and joined the Phillippe family for two weeks where they were holidaying with their famous – as I know now, but was sublimely unaware of then – relatives. Yes, that year I did get to meet Anne and Serge.

Dominique and I continued to write to each other for a while after leaving school, but lost touch eventually. But I still have fond memories of our friendship. I also have a confession to make. It was a strict rule of the Phillippe / Goloubinoff families
that "Angelique" was not to be read under the age of sixteen. I
started at the age of fifteen and a half.

(As you can see I queried the name 'Nadia.' Try as I might it did not ring a bell with me. It was some time later in the messages that she explained her name and why she had changed it. Then all became clear - when I met her as a little girl she was still 'Nadine!')

I'm afraid the story ends there really as far as Anne is concerned. After that summer we (the students) had all finished school, or perhaps more correctly ceased to study languages - I went on to do Physics at A level and then university, one of the two nieces went on to study law I believe, and I think the other went into medicine. But within a few years I'm afraid we lost touch.

But I was left with an lifelong devotion to Angelique. At the time, Yes, I was aware that Anne and Serge were authors, but not quite how famous! My father was a librarian, and when we had the first of the girls to stay she asked him if he was familiar with the Angelique series because "They are written by my Uncle and Aunt!" And of course I had not read any of the books myself then - they were classed as 'adult' books by Anne's family and not to be read under the age of sixteen.(I must confess I started on the first volume at fifteen and a half.)

Sorry to disappoint, but I never met Anne again. But there is still time!

You are free to use anything I have written if you think it of interest!
I live in Chislehurst, near Bromley, just south of London.

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From Marie-France Bernier the group's unofficial historian

A Conversation with Anne Golon

Many times over the years, while reading the adventures of Angélique, my thoughts would turn to Anne Golon.  And I wished, oh I wished, that I could tell this gifted woman how she had touched my mind and my heart. In August 2000 my wish came true: I had the privilege of a long conversation with her.  She is as warm, as vital, as everyone who has met her has reported, and totally unassuming.  Is that not the characteristic of the truly great?

My heart was beating very fast as I dialed the number, but Anne put me at ease immediately.  Her delight at having contacts with her fans is obvious and genuine.  She was isolated from her readers for so long that she still can’t quite believe that we have found her.  “Sometimes it feels like a dream, and yet it’s not a dream, we are really having this conversation. But it still feels new to me.” I told her how the books have been a part of my life ever since I started reading them as a teenager, and how I have been touched and influenced by the values they convey.  Surely a part of herself is in those books - it couldn’t be otherwise.  Beyond the character of Angélique, I have always felt a kinship with Anne herself, and that somehow we would find common ground if we ever met, in spite of differences in age, country, or life circumstances.  Over the years, through her books, I have developed a genuine affection for this woman who writes of life and human emotions with such sensitivity and wisdom.  Anne was most interested when I expressed this because it echoed some of her own feelings about her work and her relationship with her readers.  She explained that writing is a very solitary work.  The author is isolated during the creative process, and even after a book is published there are often few direct contacts with the readers.  When writing, Anne has always kept her readers in mind, putting herself in their place, trying to sense what they hoped to find in her books.  Although she would never know them personally, she was writing for “them”, communicating her thoughts, feelings, values, attempting to create a link and to touch all those people whom she would never meet. And she had always hoped that her readers would feel this.  “You are confirming that I was right all along - there is a real bond between us!” Anne told me that throughout her life she had had very few friends. Most people in her circle had never bothered reading her books, had never realized that they contained her heart and soul.  The books were mainly dismissed as light romance or adventure stories, and so the depth of their message and the value of their historical content went largely unrecognised by so-called intellectuals. But the books did have an audience - millions of people around the world - and this kept her going.  She received many testimonies over the years from readers whose lives she had touched.  Years ago a terminally ill woman wrote her that she did not want to die before finding out what happened next! She asked whether “Marie-France” was my true given name or if I had chosen it for myself.  “France” is not a very common name but it is my real name, and Anne saw in this an early sign of the connection she and I would eventually make, both through my affinity with her books and my involvement in the English translation of “Angélique à Québec”. Anne and her daughter, Nadja, have always known that the translation of the last three books into English was essential to the “rebirth” of Angélique, and they are very appreciative that this is now underway.  They have met Marysia Wariwoda and Anna Ludlow who are working on the “Path of Hope”, as well as Elaine Hanna who is translating “Quebec”.  (I have joined Elaine in this effort in 2000.) Anne and Nadja are aware that translating is not a simple process, and of utmost importance to them is the quality of the end product, and its faithfulness to the spirit of the original.  For instance, it is critical to respect the era when translating idioms, and a lot of research is necessary to translate properly nautical terms, various items of clothing, etc. We spoke at length of Quebec City and New France.  Anne spent two winters in Quebec City to do research for the books, living within the walls of the old city.  Walking through the narrow streets lined with historic houses, many dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, she felt the very spirit of the early pioneers all around her.  She found the French Canadians warm and friendly, and less inclined to formality than their European cousins. This made her feel very much at home in Quebec - in fact, she said, more at home than she has felt in Paris at times.  Anne loved the time she spent in Canada and remembers it fondly. That sentiment is certainly reflected in the book, as it is clear that Angélique is delighted with her winter in Quebec. We also discussed the French language as it is familiarly spoken here, which is very close to the French of the 17th Century. For instance, linguistic studies have established that our accent is the same as the King’s Girls’ (Filles du Roi), and several expressions now obsolete in France are still commonly used here. While in Canada, Anne was interviewed a few times and found that the media here treated her more seriously than in France.  For instance, interviewers would meet with her prior to the program in order to prepare properly. Anne confirmed that many passages which had been edited out of the original French series would be reinstated or rewritten. She and Nadja are planning to publish this expanded version at a later date under the name “L’Intégrale” (i.e. the complete and unabridged version of the work).  I remarked that it is really wonderful that her passion for “Angélique” still gives her so much satisfaction after so many years.  Anne agreed and said she feels very fortunate in this regard. Either good or evil, young or old, all characters in her books are extremely vivid and true to life. Is she inspired by the people around her? Or are the characters solely the product of her imagination? Mostly the latter.  “The characters come to me as they are needed in the storyline - in this resides the magic of writing.”  Anne has lived a long time and has observed human nature over the years. Human motivations have changed little through the centuries; her characters, however, must portray the mindset and ideas of the 17th Century. She confided that she has sometimes come across individuals who could have been transposed directly into the 17th Century… I imagined Anne face to face with such a person, her mind’s eye picturing that individual wearing a 17th Century wig!  Perhaps the very same thought occurred to her?  We simultaneously broke into laughter! Does she have a favourite character? “This is like asking a parent to name a favourite child!”  She insists that she loves all her characters, the favourite perhaps being the one she is developing at any given time. When pressed, however, she’ll admit that Angélique and Joffrey do have a special place in her heart - probably because they have been the most intense and constant of her characters. She finds it pointless to attempt answering questions dealing with “favourites”, e.g. favourite author, composer, food, etc., because nothing is static in life and tastes change over time.  What is a true answer today might be totally irrelevant tomorrow. A question that has puzzled me over the years is Angélique’s year of birth. The various clues in the books are sometimes contradictory and I was never able to draw a decisive conclusion, only coming to an approximation. Has Anne determined a precise date in her own mind?   No, she has not.  Angélique is a November Sagittarius, born in the late 1630’s, and Anne confirmed that she intentionally left the details vague.  She explained that her intent was to draw a portrait of the 17th Century and, to that end, the storyline had to coincide with certain historical events.  But she was writing a novel, not a history book, and had not felt bound to build her characters around precise dates.  However, Nadja chimed in from the background that “L’Intégrale” might include a more precise timeline… The books refer several times to Angélique being a Sagittarius, but nothing is said of Joffrey’s astrological sign. Did Anne have one in mind when writing about him?  Again, no.  Some fans who were very much into astrology had once  determined Joffrey’s sign based on his characteristics, and had sent Anne their analysis.  She could not remember what they had concluded, but says that she had not been totally convinced because “some things did not fit”.  Amused intervention by Nadja: “it could be because of his ascendent!” 

As awesome as we find the adventures of the Marquise of the Angels, for her part Anne is amazed at how the Friends of Angélique came to be - “that is quite a story in itself”.  She compared her fans and the support they have provided in the last couple of years to “angels coming to her aid” after many years of darkness. It has now been a few months since we spoke, but Anne’s passion for her work, and her sense of commitment and responsibility toward her readers are still with me. She feels that she owes it to them to bring Angélique’s story to an appropriate conclusion - there are still too many unanswered questions… And it still touches me to recall this remark made in a half statement, half question: “I think that you are Angélique’s friend?”  Yes, I am, dear Anne - and yours as well.

Marie-France Bernier November 2000

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From Jana Kratka,
Czech Republic

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I am truly my mother's daughter - and I thank her for introducing Angélique to me.

She discovered Angélique through the movies. She was 12 and went to the cinema every weekend. She remembers that it was almost a ritual. And when she was about 16, she found the first six Angélique books. But they were published only in Slovak (Slovakia was part of the former Czechoslovakia). Her schoolfellow got the books from Slovakia, where she had some relatives. There were only a few books from the series which my mother fetched herself in Czech or Slovak.

She has always loved these kinds of stories, films and history, especially the 17th century France of Louis XIV, and, from the geographical point of view, the various places in the books - Paris and the rest of France with its atmosphere and spirit. During the years she not only re-read the books, but also often watched all the original movies, admired the music, costumes, palaces and so on.

When I was 12 or 15, I used to say to my mother: "Angélique is terrible. Don't watch all the Angélique films when I am at home. It's really stupid!" At that time I had never seen the whole film and never read any of the Angélique books. I wanted so much to be individual, original - and also to be different in everything from my mother. She had blond hair, I had red hair - and so it was with everything. And with Angélique too. It's a wonder that my mother could stay with me!

Some years passed and I started to study at university. I had much free time between lectures, but what to do? You can read, but what? I discovered a few Angélique books at home and started reading Angélique and the King. It was perfect. I avidly read the book and since then I have never stopped. Bleary-eyed, I attended my lectures. In fact, I wasn't really there. I was in Versailles. I was totally lost in the 17th century. At the university library I found everything about the era - maps, palaces and so on. I discovered that the Angélique books are really historically accurate. I was enthusiastic. I had discovered Angélique for the first time when I was 20 - so many years later!

I wanted to read the next Angélique book, but there weren't any at home, so I asked my mother about this, inconspicuously. But she understood that I had finally discovered these books, even though she remembered how I kept saying they were terrible and really stupid. Then I understood, too, that we (my mother and me) are almost the same. Her name is Jana and she is 42. I'm Jana too, and I am 21.

During the years I forgot to struggle for my individuality. I already know who I am - my mother's daughter. We have got similar style and ideas. My mother has always loved the style of the 1960s, she is still wearing long blond hair and eyeliner - in short, the style of Angélique at the movies.

And how am I looking? Yes - like my mother. Now, we are good friends, we can travel together (for example, to Paris), talking about the books, about our lives, about movies, and about the best history teaching book, in which the background is perfect. We both like the age of the Sun King, Versailles, Paris and the rest of France very much.

After my discovery of the next books in the university library, we both started to read - me for the first time, while my mother re-discovered Angélique. We read the entire series (so far) and, in The Victory of Angélique, were disappointed to find the end was left open. There was no information about Anne and Serge Golon on the books' jackets, so we thought they had both died. We were devastated by the idea that we would never read the happy ending. My mother said she was sure the next book was already written, but I said the story doesn't go on.

I didn't know there were sites about Angélique on the internet. I thought they were old books that nobody reads anymore, but I discovered through this website that, in fact, there are many others who wanted to know what happens to Angélique. Now I know about the existence of Anne Golon, readers of Angélique, problems with translations, of plans for the future and so on. And I know we aren't alone in this.

Now we have new hope that the series is going to have a happy ending.

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By Marcia Moneymaker,
Tennessee, US

My Translation Project

My sister lived in Istanbul, Turkey, and saw the first Angélique movies, then read the (first five) books.

She came over to the US to university to work on her degree and went to a bookstore and bought the books and told me how wonderful they were and that they were a must-read. I began reading them and was hooked.

I was very glad when the ones set in the New World began coming out and would read them from the library and then buy them when they came out in paperback.

I watched and waited for Angélique in Quebec to come out and it never did! I was amazed to find that there were two other volumes beside that one that were never translated into English.

From the Web I found that there were others who loved Angélique as I did and also discovered that the movies that my sister had seen in Turkey were available on video in Canada (in French with no subtitles). I have them now and watch them.

I also am very slowly translating Angélique in Quebec because I wanted to find out what happened to Joffrey and Angélique in Quebec during that winter.

I have a pencil, notebook and two French dictionaries plus one book on French verbs that I carry around along with my copy of Angélique a Quebec for my translation project.

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By Leslie Bardes,
Texas, USA

Hooked on History

My first encounter with Angélique was in the spring of 1968 while finishing up my sophomore year at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana.

My mother had been reading the books for a couple of weeks and had urged me to "at least try the first one". I was hesitant because I was so burned out from all the reading I had to do on a daily basis for my heavy course load. But it was a dateless Friday night, and I was bored...

By Monday morning, I had finished Angélique in Revolt.

Bleary-eyed, I attended my two morning classes. Of course, I wasn't really there. I was sailing off into the Atlantic and a new life, with Rescator guiding my course!

I could still hear the snap of the sails and feel the pitch of wooden timbers beneath my feet. I was lost in the 17th century and didn't want to be found.

After class, I headed straight to the campus library and found Angélique in Love, which I devoured in short order.

But that was the end of the series as far as Shreveport was concerned. I consoled myself by reading everything I could find on the life of Louis XIV, maps of 17th century France, the French Hugenot Wars, Versailles, 17th century sailing vessels, and so on.

The Angélique Series proved to be so historically accurate that I found myself rereading the books one month later at a more leisurely pace, this time to re-enter the past and have good look around.

In the space of two weeks, I had developed what became a life-long passion for history and writing. I changed my major to English, and minored in European history.

I have never regretted my decision. I write historical fiction as a hobby and dare to hope that some day one of my novels will be published.

The real joy, however, has been in the research and the writing - with Anne Golon's incredible talent as my example.

Something that strikes me about Angélique readers is that many people are introduced to the books by either a parent or loved one. We all prize these books so highly that we pass them onto our children and loved ones, just as we would a treasured family heirloom.

My daughters are 20 and 23 now, and I had to coerce them into reading the first couple of chapters. But, of course, after that they couldn't devour them fast enough.

And we are never bored.

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By Brigitte Collet,
France

After the Movies

I am a bit worried to confess that I discovered Angélique through the movies.

There was an almost ritual summer rendezvous: each year, in July or August, one of the French TV channels used to show the Angélique series - one per week, during a month.

Each year I would not miss the ritual rendezvous - and each year I could not make up my mind whether I was more in love with Robert Hossein (Joffrey) or Claude Giraud (Philippe).

I was 12 when my mother, who never liked the movies and was reaching the point when she became really fed up with them, ran to the local bookstore, bought the first Angélique book, put it in my hands and said: "Now that's enough with the movies - read!"

And thus began a very strange kind of race. I read at a hectic pace - but not enough to satisfy my mother who took each book as soon as I closed it... to re-read it. I truly can't count how many times I have re-read the whole series since this summer of 1971.

I still watch the movies with pleasure and tenderness as they're part of my childhood - the difference being that now I know they don't have much in common with these such wonderfully written books.

I just wish to add that my mother was a French literature teacher - the kind of person who reads and comments the works of James Joyce and Marcel Proust in the time it takes anyone else to read the latest summer book-seller - and that she considered the Angélique series the best historical fiction ever.

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By Harvey J Adkins,
Sicily, Italy

Harvey J Adkins was a microbiologist with the US Navy, currently stationed in Sicily, and was elected the first president of Friends of Angélique in 1999.

My Love Affair With A Fantasy

My love affair with Angélique began when I was in late high school in the mid-60s.

I was an avid reader - still am - who would read anything and everything that interested me, from the classics to what was at that time considered to be pure trash, The Carpetbaggers - a book I have always considered to be much better, by the way, than most critics at the time gave it credit.

Anyway, I had recently finished Gone With the Wind and had fallen head-over-heels with Scarlett O'Hara. Rhett Butler had become my all-time favorite hero to that point, too. Little did I know that there was a couple waiting in the wings to steal my affection from them forever.

It was my mother who told me one day that if I liked GWTW, there was a series of books I might also like, written by a French author about a character named Angélique. It turned out that my mom was a mistress of the understatement.

I didn't just like it, I loved it, and it has been an obsession with me ever since.

From page one of the first book I was completely enthralled, and I read the books through to Angélique in Love (all that were then available) in record time, as I have never considered myself a very fast reader.

Quite simply, Angélique and Joffrey supplanted Scarlett and Rhett, and I have found no characters in literature who have even come close since.

For several years, I wondered if Angélique's saga would ever continue. In fact, Angélique in Love would have been the place where many authors would have stopped because it was a perfectly satisfying happily-ever-after ending, but somehow, as with so many fairy tales, I wanted to know what happened 'after'.

For several years, each time I would enter a bookstore, I would glance at the 'G' section until the point when I had almost given up hope.

One day, as usual, second nature got the best of me and there in the 'Gs' I saw a book called The Countess Angélique.

I remember almost standing there in shock, thinking my eyes were deceiving me, but no, there was really a book there, and the description on the jacket made it clear that this was, indeed, a continuation of the story.

I was almost afraid to buy it, fearing that I might be disappointed, but I should have known better. As before, it was wonderful, and the best thing about it was that it was clear that the author(s) meant to continue. Thereafter followed Temptation, Demon, and Ghosts in fairly rapid succession.

The only dark spot in this, as someone has already mentioned, was the notation that Serge had died.

Still, it was clear that Anne meant to continue writing this wonderful series, and so I waited... and waited... and waited... but nothing!

For the next 20 years or so, again every time I went into a bookstore, to the 'Gs' I would go, even long beyond what I knew to be hopeless. For years I assumed that Anne Golon had either retired or even possibly passed away.

Clearly she couldn't still be writing the series, because such great books couldn't fail to be printed, could they?

Well, I thought that was the end of the story, and it would have been had it not been for having had children somewhere along the way (never have quite figured out how that happened).

My daughter became an especially avid reader, and when I felt she might be old enough to appreciate the Angélique series, I mentioned it to her. She said she'd like to give them a try.

By that time, I had loaned my old copies to someone who never returned them. Why is it that these books never get returned?

Still, I thought, no problem! We'll just go down to the bookshop and replace them.

Wrong answer. When I couldn't find them on the shelves, I asked a saleslady to look them up, but not only did they not have them, but they had no information on them. It was as if my favorite book series of all time had never even existed.

Fortunately for me, that was about the same time that I began getting interested in the internet. Just for the hell of it, I ran a few searches, and soon began to find out that there was much more to the story than I had ever conceived.

Not only had the books been out of print in English, but three more had been published and never translated into English, five movies had been made and never translated, and Anne Golon was still alive and continuing to write.

I found this depressing and hopeful at the same time - depressed that I was effectively shut off from knowing the rest of the story, but hopeful in that some day I might be able to read it for myself.

I began 'bumping into' others in search of the same information that I was looking for and pretty soon we had begun an e-mail discussion group, which has since blossomed into several web pages, a bulletin board, e-mail list service, an official fan club, and hundreds of interested persons.

Looking back, it's hard to believe how rapidly all this has developed, but it's a strong indication just how much people who have read these books come to love them.

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By Lisa Kentala
Chicago, USA

Stories of Truth and Life

Back in the mid-1970s I was a 20-year-old working in an office in downtown Chicago with several other girls who had discovered 'romance' novels by such authors as Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwess, and so on.

This was sort of a new genre then - usually very long books, with a dash of historical accuracy and lots of steamy love scenes - quite different to the Harlequins of the past.

During my lunch hour one day I was at Krochs and Brentanos, looking for yet another long, interesting romance book, when I noticed the Angélique books.

They were the white Bantam paperbacks with Angélique in a provocative pose. However, despite the silliness of the pose - the artwork was well done and the overall design was attractive - I bought the first book.

After reading the first page I stopped dead and bought the rest of the books as soon as possible. At the time they went up to Demon but they were out of Temptation and Love, which I soon found at used book stores. Only then did I start reading.

What I found was the most amazing story ever. The detail, the characters, the suspense, the ambiance... I was transported to 17th century France. I lived these books so deeply that everything I remember from that time reminds me of them - popular music/movies, etc - even the man I was then involved with became my Joffrey!

I checked bookstores constantly for the next instalment. It took a few years, but in 1978 I found Ghosts in hardcover. I thought I was dreaming - I had reread Demon so many times, in order to be prepared. I even tried writing to Anne Golon thru the publisher, but to no avail - and I never write to celebrities! Of course, I had no idea that I would still be waiting for the sequel to Ghosts over 20 years later.

The first thing I did when we got a computer in 1996 was to search for Anne Golon. In 1997 Harvey Adkins and Martha Briggs contacted me (they and many others had been searching too - probably even before 1996) and soon we 'met' others equally obsessed - and the rest is history.

They are more than books to me. I actually brought them to my sister's one day with all the Honorine passages marked - because she so reminded me of my little niece!

Whenever anyone brings up favorite books, I always mention them as the best ever. I refused to lend my copies out because I couldn't risk losing them and by the early to mid-80s they vanished from new book stores here in the United States.

Everything you want to know about life is in these books. They are the stories of truth and life - everything you can experience, the good and bad.

I blame my obsession on 17th century France on them - even though only three of the books take place there! This is an important cause to me - maybe others may not think it important in the context of war, famine and so on, but I don't know. I think it is. Art alone endures.

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By Sylviane Demoulin
Belgium

My Golden Legacy

I was three or four when I met Angélique. The books were the favourite of my grandmother who unfortunately died when I was four. It was one of the few things I remember about her: Angélique.

Of course, I had to wait, learn to read and finally, when I was twelve, I could read the Angélique books that my grandmother left me. It changed my life, completely and forever. It is the best legacy one can receive.

When I was fifteen, Angélique et la Route de l'espoir (Angélique and the Path of Hope) was published and it was the most beautiful day of my life, because I didn't know the author was still writing or even alive.

For me, those were very old books, because my grandmother used to read them almost thirty years ago. I think I cried with joy, and a very few years after, I had another joy: La Victoire d'Angélique (The Victory of Angélique). It was at that time that I began to wonder if I would be able to meet Anne and Serge Golon - at that time I didn't know he was dead. And now I have met her, what a wonder!

It was not only Angélique - although of course it is mainly her - but the background, the history and everything that was real, truly well written. It gave me, forever, a love for history. Thanks for that too!

I was captivated, hooked, really bewitched by Angélique. I was only twelve and very wild. I had blond hair and green eyes, so I thought I was her reincarnation! Unfortunately, when I grew up I wasn't like her anymore, not as beautiful anyway, but my love for the books didn't fade away. On the contrary.

Ten years ago, I took my boyfriend with me and followed in the footsteps of Angélique. I went to Paris, in every place she went, like we did during the international meeting (Paris 2000), except the Trois Maillets. I didn't know it existed.

After Paris, I went to Versailles, to Poitou, to La Rochelle. I haven't been to Toulouse or to Maine or to Canada yet, but I hope there will be other gatherings there.

Every time I have an important decision to take or when I am sad, I think about Angélique, about what she would have done and things like that - and every time she cheers me up. She has helped me a lot in my life and I am sure she will again. She is always with me.

Angélique is everything and every woman and to love her and to take her for an example is not to be mad or 'fleur bleue' like we say in French, but just to be conscious of something others cannot, unfortunately for them, see.

If I ever got the chance to have a daughter, she will be named after Angélique, whatever my husband may think! He could have anything from me but that!

I read a lot; it is actually my job. I write book critiques, but I have never found a book as good, as perfect, as marvellous as those ones. And I am sure I never will.

Thank you, beautiful Anne. Thank you to your late husband Serge for his help, and to your nice daughter Nadia for her support. Thank you for what you are - a wonderful, modern Angélique, full of courage, of inner beauty, of poetry, of intelligence. Thank you for Angélique, who has become immortal and who will be loved forever.

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By Jeanette Marsh United Kingdom

Keeping track of all the characters in the books!

Having read all the books, in the right order, I then waited for many years for the next editions in English. As you all know this did not happen until permission was granted by the Golon estate for an unofficial version to be translated and circulated within the 'Friends of Angélique' fan base to all those who did not have a second language that would enable them to read on. Then because I recognised many of the characters appearing again after all the years I decided to list these with notes about what I had learned about them in the previous books. My method is very simple - I use loose leaf paper with the names at the top and file them in alphabetical order. Some of the characters are known by more than one name and so I list them under both with explanations regarding their other names. Some characters only appear briefly and so some of these are entered on to one sheet of paper. But if I find that more information appears about one of them then I can make a separate page and insert it into the correct place in the folder. If and when I reread all these books I will then update my notes. Just for my fun!

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Paris 2000 Remembered

An event in October 2000 which saw Angélique readers from five continents converge on Paris to meet each other and their favourite author.

Graham Carter

If anybody was in any doubt about the enduring popularity of the Angélique books, the diversity of their readers or the loyalty of Anne Golon's followers, then the event that was to become known as 'Paris 2000' certainly put the record straight.

Originally intended as an informal gathering of readers from the Angélique mailing list, mostly from Europe, it was quickly evident that interest in it was worldwide. In the end, more than 20 people from a dozen countries attended – with no less than five continents represented – transforming the two or three days which began on Friday, 13th October into a truly international event. Pilgrimage is not too strong a word to use to describe the motivation behind many of those who were there, and even adding up the tens of thousands of miles that, collectively, they had journeyed to be there hardly begins to tell the story.

As the group gathered at the rendezvous point under the statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, the first point to be underlined was that there is no typical image of an Angélique reader, despite the books' infamous mis-categorization as cheap romance. Angélique readers come in all shapes and sizes, speaking myriad languages and dialects, encompassing a vast variety of backgrounds and cultures, and including male readers who are every bit as enthusiastic about their favourite writer as their female counterparts. Indeed, the two who had travelled furthest to be there are both men – Steve Hall, the vice-president of Friends of Angélique, who only two weeks before was watching the Olympic Games in his home city of Sydney; and Seiji Toyota, from Osaka in Japan. For Steve, a 49-year-old marketing executive in the publishing industry, it was his fourth trip to Paris to meet Anne and a golden opportunity to come face-to-face with others who share his love of the books.

"This really is a thrill for me," said Steve, "even though I have been to Paris before and met both Anne and her daughter, Nadia, several times. I know what it means to them both to see how strong support for them is, right across the world. I have a feeling that this is going to be only the first of a series of international events in honour of Anne Golon and her marvellous heroine."

Seiji, on the other hand, was making his first trip to Europe, undaunted by his sparse England and non-existent French, and proud to represent a vast legion of Angélique followers in Japan. The 35-year-old technical author came armed with a selection of new Japanese books, from straight translations of Anne's original work to stylised adaptations in cartoon form, yet unmistakably based on the Angélique stories.

"There are many many fans of Angélique in Japan – perhaps many millions," he said, "and we hope to have a meeting of our own, next year. But I had to be here today. It's wonderful."

Seiji explained that Angélique is a household name in Japan, where readers form a massive cross-section of people, and many of his friends are also avid readers of the stories.

The trip to Paris was no less an achievement for American mother of two Lisa Kentala, who flew in from Chicago (see Lisa's account of the trip, below). The 45-year-old dealer in children's books explained: "This is the first time I have flown alone, the first time I have stayed in a hotel on my own, and my first ever trip outside the United States. I don't speak a word of French, but I just had to come because I wanted to meet other Angélique readers and, of course, it is a thrill to be able to meet Anne Golon. My husband thinks I've gone crazy, but I wouldn't do this for any other reason."

Also from the United States and visiting Europe for the first time was Jennifer Campion, a 28-year-old from Maryland who was introduced to the Angélique books by her parents, who have both read the whole series. She said: "This is just wonderful. When I heard on the Internet that this was taking place, I booked right away. It's such a thrill to have the chance to meet Anne Golon herself." Jennifer told other visitors how the books had influenced her choice of career, with Angélique's adventures fostering an interest in foreign lands. She is now a customs broker in Baltimore and is already planning her next trip to Europe.

Web designer Lydia Baben, from Austria, turned out to be the group's African representative because she is originally from South Africa, although she now lives in Vienna. "I tried to trace Anne on my previous visit to Paris because it has always been my ambition to meet her since I started reading the books at the age of 12," she explained. "But nobody in France even knew if she was still alive. Yet there are so many people out there who still love the books." Lydia, who had taken the opportunity to buy copies of all the Angélique films during her visit, had the advantage of being able to speak French while in Paris – and that is thanks to the books, because it was the inability to obtain copies of three of the books in English that had encouraged her to learn French.

For Claudia Machado the event was a personal triumph because she had helped to organise it. This 24-year-old project manager for Portugal Telecom in Lisbon has also been reading the stories since she was 12.

Also 24, but from the opposite side of the continent, came Kveta Dousova, a graduate in librianship and IT management, from Prague, in the Czech Republic, where Angélique is extremely well known. "I have watched the Angélique movies on television since I was five," said Kveta. "They are shown every year. I even chose the soundtrack to the films as the music at my wedding and, of course, all the guests recognised it at once."

Visiting Paris for the second time – but for the first time in over three decades – was Fleya de Ugalde, a 42-year-old duty officer with the Basque TV station, ETB. She had flown from Bilbao especially to be part of the event.

Doris Numbaumer, 26, who lives in Vienna, was also making a long overdue return to Paris. This student of German literature, psychology and comparative literature, who also teaches creative writing, had not been to the French captial since her schooldays, but could not resist the opportunity to meet her favourite writer and see some of the places that feature in the books.

Another return visitor to the city was Sarah Quin, who is 30-years-old and works for a publisher of scientific journals in Bristol, England. She first discovered Angélique at the age of 13 and has enjoyed re-reading them since, both in English and French. "You can learn so much from them," she said. "The depth of historical detail is so great that they are almost social documents."

Also flying in from England was Marysia Wariwoda, sister of Friends of Angélique treasurer Anna Ludlow, who lives at Nottingham (see Marysia's account of the trip, below). She said: "I am very privileged to be one of the translators of the later books. This is a very exciting project. I have met Mme Golon before and it is a great honour."

The group's main guide for a walking tour of Paris locations which feature in the Angélique stories, was Mariann Mäder. Her gift for a string of languages, an impressive understanding of French history and an astonishing knowledge of Paris itself belied the fact that she is actually Swiss and works as an administrator for Berne Radio. She, too, is a long-time fan of the Angélique series, having been introduced to the stories by her aunt. Mariann showed the party, among other significant locations, the site where the Tower of Nesle once stood; the Place de Grève, where Joffrey was burned at the stake; the Places des Vosges, which is virtually unchanged since Angélique's time; the Louvre, Tuilleries and the old Paris district of the Marais, before the tour was concluded at Notre Dame. They took lunch at a restaurant in rue Beautreillis, where Joffrey's Parisian house was situated; and followed in Angélique's footsteps by taking dinner at the 'Taverne des Trois Maillets', in the Latin Quarter. Here they met up with yet more Angélique fans as the party continued to grow. Paris residents Brigitte Collet, Elaine Hanna and Anna Naganowicz were joined by Sylviane Demoulin, who had arrived from Brussels at short notice, having learned of the trip only days before.

Brigitte Collet is most famous among Angélique readers for her excellent Monteloup website, while Elaine Hanna is an American who learned French in order to be able to read the Angélique books that are yet to be translated into English – and now works in Paris.

Anna Naganowicz, who is known as 'Paris Anna' on the mailing list, is originally from England and has been a fan of the books for many years. Brigitte, Elaine and Anna are all working directly with Anne Golon on translations of Angélique books into English, along with Marysia Wariwoda.

All those who had joined the pilgrimage now didn't have long to wait for the highlight, as on Saturday, 14th October, they made their way to Versailles, on the western outskirts of the city, for a tour of the world famous palace and an audience with Anne Golon.

First they met up with a distinguished addition to the group, Prof Gennady Ulman and his wife, Irina. Gennady, Russian who now lives in New York, is a professor of world literature and linguistics with a special interest in French adventure literature. He was very excited to be meeting Anne, and gave a moving speech as the group finally got to meet their real-life heroine. Gennady said he specialised in linguistics and literature and said he knew what constituted a great book. He was privileged to meet Anne, he said, whom he compared to Balzac and Dumas, and said she was a giant of her age. He said the Angélique books deserved to be recognised as great psychological literature of the 20th century, and that they were one of the very few books to revolve around and address the conflict between the north and south of France, beginning with the Albegesian crusades in the 13th century and continuing to this day.

Providing arguably the perfect backdrop to it all was the famous palace. Not only is it one of the key settings of the Angélique books, but it is also close to where Anne Golon now lives. Perhaps just as appropriate for Paris 2000 is that Versailles was also the birthplace, 80 years ago, of the League of Nations, a forerunner to today's United Nations. Some would say that Anne Golon had created a League of Nations of her own by uniting so many people from different nations – not just those who were able to be there this time, but others who couldn't make it this time but will come in the future. Although they sometimes may struggle to communicate in their various languages, it was clear to all that they share a common language – their love for Anne Golon and her remarkable creation. It is a love that speaks volumes.

By Lisa Kentala

Imagine this. You miss a full night's sleep, after which you proceed to walk endlessly for three days, sometimes going for long periods of time without food and amenities. You eat on the run when you get the chance, you are lost several times, the language and money are unfamiliar. Sound like fun? However, now imagine this. In addition to all of the above, you get to visit a place you've always dreamed of visiting, you get to meet the one living person on earth you have wanted to meet for over 20 years, and you get to spend time with a wonderful group of likeminded people from all over the world. That was my trip to Paris. Two images will stay with me forever. The first view of Anne Golon at Versailles. Sarah, Steve and I were approaching the statue in the huge square and just as Steve said, "Does anybody look familiar?" I saw the most amazing woman – dignified, waiting for us – Angélique herself really. What a wonderful moment. The other amazing moment took place in the office. All of us were seated around a table while Gennady – a literature professor from New York via Russia gave the most moving, incredible tribute to Anne Golon. I definitely heard sniffles that weren't mine – so I know I wasn't the only one moved to tears. Other impressions: three or four languages being spoken at once in our group – sometimes by the same person (Mariann); being so thankful for Marian and Sylviane with their important fluency in English and French – I was able to ask Anne Golon a question and convey my happiness to her. I also felt like we were getting sort of an insider's view of Paris because Anna and Elaine live in Paris and Steve was familiar with the area. It made me feel so less 'lost' than I would have without them. I remember a sight of a tour bus filled with video-camera shooting tourists – sort of a detached view of Paris – we really were there – walking, being involved, seeing incredible new sights. I think I used the words wow and amazing so many times, that I must retire them from my vocabulary forever. But I enjoyed meeting book obsessed people like myself. I know Sarah is probably as dismayed as I am that we didn't have time to browse the used-booksellers' wares along the Seine – and I feel like going back immediately to do so. I almost wish I had taken notes. I saw so many new sights that I'm sure I've forgotten things already. But the important thing is this: I saw Paris through the eyes of Angélique. The last night in my hotel room it felt stuffy, so I opened the windows for the first and last time. I looked down and thought "This is Paris – I'm really here!" After that I started to look thru the booklet that Brigitte so kindly put together for all of us – and guess what page I landed on! That's right – the page where Angélique opens the windows of a stuffy Paris room and stares in wonder at the Seine! I must go back and travel through all of France. Like Sylviane I want to visit all the other Angélique places. How about Canada next year?

By Marysia Wariwoda

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what price a tapestry? Life's rich tapestry? Since I am no artist, I use words to paint pictures and embroidery to express my feelings in colour, so here goes… Friday the 13th of October dawned. What rich colours would I weave into my tapestry today? I wondered. There was a definite air of expectancy. Something wonderful was about to happen. Was I ready? The taxi drove me along the Rive Gauche, Notre Dame came into view. I was stunned by its beauty. The last time I had seen the cathedral it was covered in scaffolding. All other times the black patina of the ages marred its obvious magnificence. Today the great cathedral stood by the Seine in all its pristine glory, positively sparkling, so familiar. The first stitches in my tapestry were set – white and pale blue with a sparkling silver thread weaving through. Pont Neuf at last. I was here at the meeting place. I tried to calm my thumping heart to no avail. Sitting in one of the recesses of the bridge was a striking, long-haired young woman. Henri IV on his horse looked imposing. After all he owned the space, not me, yet I walked over to him boldly. There was no one else there yet, or was there? Oh yes – a presence, a mere hint, a whisper that something tremendous was about to happen. I paced about. The young woman came up, we both beamed and said the magic password simultaneously, breathlessly: Angélique. We both nodded like excited children, embraced and could not stop asking questions, offering answers. Jennifer was the first Angélique fan to arrive at the meeting place. In no time at all a crowd had gathered around, everyone spoke the magic password and it sparkled and glittered like a diamond in an otherwise grey and overcast sky. My next stitches would be bright silver and steel grey. Notre Dame, majestic and imposing in the distance, seemed to bless the assembly. And do you know, none of us were strangers even though we had just met. We all knew each other's names through the magic of the Internet, and some faces were already familiar to me from earlier meetings. Steve was one we had met back in my home country, Kveta and I had already exchanged letters and photos. Suddenly names were called out everywhere. It was as if a beautiful fairy-tale rainbow lit up in the sky – Lisa, Lydia, Jennifer, Doris, Mariann, Sarah, Fleya, Seiji, Brigitte, Claudia, Graham, Kveta, Steve… can they guess which colour of the rainbow they are in my tapestry, I wonder? The sky cleared and the Seine sparkled in the sunshine. We talked, laughed, we sparkled with our myriad rainbow colours. My tapestry positively glowed.
Mariann gave out a welcoming letter, programme and map so thoughtfully prepared by Brigitte and Nadia, and we were off – marshalled along by Mariann, our guide, and Steve, ever watchful, made sure that no-one was left behind. And Paris began to weave its spell over us. We were being transported back until time lost its very meaning. This was Angélique's Paris – sometimes magnificent, sometimes horrific, but always Paris, always Angélique. As we journeyed on, our group swelled with the ghosts of the past. They listened, nodded their heads in agreement or shook them in disapproval. What were these people trying to evoke? The past? Conjure up some modern magic? Just when this happened I can't tell, but we did conjure up the past and now the stitches in my tapestry took on a dark and menacing hue, but still the silver thread of hope ran through them. We stopped for lunch – a luxury not afforded our ghosts. Friendships were being forged, like irons in a fire – red, black, rich golden yellow stitches, a warm and fuzzy atmosphere surrounded us, shielding us from the outside world and its problems. The tapestry takes on warm autumnal colours, a feeling of contentment permeates.

We are merging into a family. No strangers here. Conversations are many and varied, the Angélique theme weaving through like a golden ribbon, linking us together. It's nearly time to leave when Nadia turns up with her serene self-possession, takes over now we are in the Place Royale (now re-named the Place des Voges) – and we are being interviewed and videotaped by Nadia.
And as those interviews took place, no-one was exempt. Conversation ebbed and flowed around the square like the waters of the Seine. The colours of my tapestry range from deepest sapphire blue through emerald green to the palest blue of the sky. I felt as if I was riding on the softest of downy clouds, surrounded by a unique mix of camaraderie, laughter, horror and indignation. It is encouraging to know that everyone here had such strong feelings about the injustice done to Anne Golon. The solidarity shown by the Paris 2000 group was positively tangible – a watchtower guarding the precious author from harmful publishers, or was it a barbed wire fence?

The daytime meet ended at Notre Dame. The bells pealed out their joyous song as we took our souvenir photographs. I never tire of walking within this great, timeless cathedral, with its whispers from the past and present, its hint of grey habits, the shuffling feet and simply glorious stained glass windows. Richer than any jewels, brilliant even on the dullest of days. We met on the Pont Neuf by Henri IV again in the evening. Our group had swelled to encompass the Parisian and Belgian contingent. More laughter, introductions and greeting as we welcomed 'Paris Anna', Sylvianne and Elaine into our special circle. And off we went again. Were the streets of Paris ready for us?

Dinner at the Taverne des Trois Maillets was a relaxed affair. We were old friends now. How we talked that evening! How we laughed, enjoying the excellent company and no less excellent food. My tapestry heaves with bonhomie and rich, rich tastes.
Paris picture As we spilled out into the Paris night our friendly and not so friendly ghosts melted into the shadows. They could not intrude here, but they did, didn't they? As we sat drinking coffee, tea or beer in the Parisian style, the talk turned inexorably back to Angélique and Anne Golon. The mood was very different here. Once again I wove dark colours into my tapestry and the thread almost broke when thousands upon thousands of rollerskaters swept past the café – something which has become a regular feature in Paris on Fridays at the midnight hour, aimed to encourage Parisians to use alternative means of transport. What would Angélique have made of this, I wonder? Reluctantly, we dispersed for the night. I laid my tapestry aside but not before I added my final stitches – green like Angélique's eyes, green for hope and green for pastures new. And tomorrow, we meet in Versailles…

Saturday, 14th, October, late afternoon and I was on the train to Versailles. Last December, when I made this same journey, it was dark outside and all I could see were the lights of Paris against an ink-black background. Today, the sun was out and Paris spread out on both sides of the track. As Brigitte, 'Paris Anna' and I chatted, my thoughts flew back to that other journey and my first surprise meeting with Anne Golon, the creator of Angélique. But back to today. As we walked into our meeting place, we found the rest of the Paris 2000 group already seated in a huge circle around the table. It was incredible just how many people could actually sit down in such a tiny space, but there was room for all of us. There was something very cosy and primitive in the feel of the room. It was lofty, but had wonderfully atmospheric dark and shadowy places. Anne greeted me like an old friend. We hugged and exchanged our latest news. I was truly moved by her enquiry after my father's health, after his operation which he had only just had, two days previously. How can anybody persecute such a thoroughly kind and selfless genius? Greetings echoed all around the room, adding to the lovely warm atmosphere already there. I found a small space and sat down and as I did so I allowed myself the luxury of mentally stepping back to observe. Not for long as my attention was caught by a familiar tongue – Russian. Indeed, as I introduced myself to Gennady and Irina, we chatted in a mix of Polish and Russian. Around us, French, German, Spanish and English swirled upwards like the smoke from a campfire into the dark and mysterious rafters, only to drift back and encompass us like an Indian blanket. Once again I let the sounds and sights take over, heads bent towards each other, a constant flow to the head of the table where Anne sat. I saw faces light up in delight as she spoke to each individual. I saw Anne's face crinkle in a delighted smile as words of love, encouragement and admiration were spoken to her. She looked as if the cares of the world had been lifted from her shoulders and I was so glad that she could be happy and carefree for a short while. If only we as a group could bring that back to her permanently. Anne signed book after book as fans brought out their cherished volumes and asked her diffidently for an autograph – but that was not enough for Anne. She talked to everyone and each dedication was entirely personal, very individual. I watched as one fan stepped back, moved to tears by the experience holding the book close to her heart. It had been her grandmother's favourite volume, handed down to her daughter and now to her grand-daughter. Reverently she kissed the book and stroked the pen with which Anne had signed it. As we shared this truly beautiful moment I said that she should keep the pen very safe and only use it to write a great masterpiece herself. As the gifts started to be presented to Anne, Nadia and Régile brought out trays of tiny canapés and sweet biscuits. Now the room was alive with people trying to move without falling over anyone else as the gifts were offered. Anne opened each one with a delighted cry. Each gift was carefully unwrapped, its significance or symbolism was explained and everyone delighted in Anne's pleasure. Each person was thanked and Nadia as ever videoed the whole ceremony. Everyone took photographs. Even Nadia was photographed videoing us. The mood was party! As the light faded, candles were lit, adding to the party atmosphere, dispersing the shadows and giving a warm and golden glow to the room. When it seemed that everyone had presented their gifts, Seiji had the greatest surprise for us all. He had been asked by the fans in Japan through the wonderful magic of the Internet to bring their gifts of love and admiration to Anne. And this he did. I have never seen a Japanese tea ceremony, but this is how I would describe what we witnessed. It was sensational.

Each gift – and there were several carrier bags full of them – was presented with such grace and reverence that I really was transported to the land of kimonos and orange blossom. And finally, would you believe, Anne did receive a stunning red kimono and parasol which she immediately donned and demanded souvenir photos. What we were now experiencing was so great. Anne, relaxed and opening up her thoughts and plans to us, promising not to give up, as she said how could she give up when there was such an army of true fans supporting her out in the world?
Yes we had come from every corner of the earth, from so many lands to show our solidarity, to offer our support and above all, our love for the author and creator of Angélique, our own Anne Golon. Just as we thought the party was coming to an end we were thunderstruck on being given a superb souvenir booklet. I just wish that every fan could have been there with us, but since that was not possible I hope that my few humble words will let you have a glimpse of what we experienced. The road has been long and fraught with danger, but there is light and hope at the end of the tunnel. We have Anne's assurance that her great work will be completed.

What more could we ask except for everyone's continued support?

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The Story behind the 'Cheese Grater'

2017 - Château Champlain Hotel turns 50

Designed by architects Roger D'Astous and Jean-Paul Pothier, the 38-storey hotel was the tallest hotel in Canada when it opened
Author of the article: Susan Ferguson
Publishing date: Jan 12th 2017

On Jan. 11, 1967, the Château Champlain Hotel opened for business at La Place du Canada, just a few months before Montreal hosted the World's Fair, Expo 67.

Designed by architects Roger D'Astous and Jean-Paul Pothier, the 38-storey hotel was part of the Canadian Pacific hotel chain and was the tallest hotel in Canada. Fifty years later, the iconic modern landmark with arched outward-curving windows (operated under the Marriott hotel chain since 1995), is still endearingly referred to as "the cheese grater" by many Montrealers.

The Cheesegrater under construction

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Home Page

Anne Golon, her Biography and Life & Death

Hopefully everything you ever wanted to know about Anne Golon and her Angélique

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Introducing 'Angélique' to the British public in 1959 as seen in the Long Eaton* Advertiser on Friday, 6th March 1959 and then in the Stapleford & Sandiacre* News - on Friday, 13th March 1959

Angelique advertised in 1959

SERGEANNE GOLON This is the girl whose story has swept two continents! The girl (whose passionate spirit took her from the gutters of Paris to the glittering Court of Louis XIV. This is the book of which they are saying: 'The work of Dumas is child's play alongside this! ( FRANCE) Scarlett and Amber move over! Make room for Angelique!" (AMERICA). 25s. - Source The British Newspaper Archive BNA

* Neither Long Eaton nor Stapleford & Sandiacre are a million miles away from Nottingham (my home town!)

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2021 - 28th February - Book 1 'Childhood' (Complete & Unabridged)

Angelique Childhood

This Kindle book, 'Angelique, Marquise of the Angels', is the first volume in English of the complete and abridged version of the Angelique series written by Anne Golon and translated by Samantha David.

Mid-17th century France, in the Fronde war: The young Louis XIV is struggling for his throne, beggars and thieves haunt Paris and brigands roam the countryside. Angelique de Sancé, third child of an impoverished country nobleman, grows up in the Poitou marshlands, a region known as the "Green Venice", halfway between the ocean and the forests. She is a free child, as one with the forest and the marshes, discovering nature's healing secrets with the help of her friend, the witch Mélusine. Her logical destiny would be to marry a poor country nobleman, have children and spend her life fighting for a meagre subsistence. Destiny has other plans in store for her. At 17, on returning from her education in a convent, she finds herself betrothed to the rich count of Toulouse, Joffrey de Peyrac, 12 years her senior, lame, scarred and reputed to be a wizard. Source: Amazon.co.uk

(I should just like to make two points here - the first is the typo [which I am sure will be rectified shortly, and was within 24 hours] is that this is the UNABRIDGED not 'complete and abridged version' which of course does not make sense. The second is the use of 'wizard' in the description, obviously aimed at the [now more mature] fans of the Harry Potter franchise. For me the word 'Sorcerer' is much more evocative and of the time - without checking my original French books I'm fairly certain Anne Golon used 'sorcière'.)

2021 - February Announcement - Angélique goes Digital!

For all the diehard fans who have kept the faith - the Angélique books are about to go digital! A new venture by daughter Nadine Golubinoff is in the works.

Angelique Books new English Digital Logo

The New Logo as designed for this special project - sourced from the new Fb page

For more information please visit AngeliqueBooksEnglish - critical updates will also appear on this page.

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2017 - Rest in Peace - St Louis Cathédrale, Versailles

St Louis Cathedral, Versailles - Facade

The front facade of the St. Louis Cathédrale in Versailles

Tribute to Anne Golon from her family at the St. Louis Cathédrale in Versailles during the funerary Mass held on Tuesday, 25th July 2017

Dome of the St Louis Cathedral in Versailles

The dome of the St. Louis Cathédrale in Versailles

2017 - Bastille Day, 14th July - Farewell to 'La mère de toutes les Angéliques'

Anne Golon 1957

On the morning of Friday, 14th July 2017 I received the overwhelmingly tragic news that Anne Golon had shed her mortal coil earlier that day. I overcame my own great disappointment and hurt on hearing the news and spoke to Anne's daughter with whom I emphasized as I remembered the loss of my own mother. Anne may have been one of the most famous journalists and prolific authors ever to inhabit this planet but she was also a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, widow and mother. I remember Anne with great fondness once I had got over the awesomeness of meeting her and the heroine-worshipping I had lavished upon her. Anne always enjoyed the company of, and liked meeting her readers, but she eschewed the adulation. This was a thoughtful woman who would never sign an autograph until she had discovered something about the person requesting it so that she could dedicate something very personal and appropriate to the recipient. RIP wonderful, wonderful lady.

Sun King Arms facade

Image of the Sun King's Clock courtesy & © Pinterville

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This page is reserved as the Home Page linking to the Anne Golon and Angélique Books Section of this web-site and is updated on a regular basis. This 'index' is likely to link around to various pages or external sources as well as my own personal experiences or that of any of my friends who may wish to share their stories. It is a private homage to a great writer whose books I have enjoyed since first discovering them in the 1960s and will continue to be following her untimely death on 14th July 2017.

This Index is divided into three sections Dated Information (chronological) / Interesting Facts / Miscellaneous (both alphabetical)

Anne and Serge 1966

Anne and Serge Golon in 1966 (see 'About Anne' for more personal images)

AG Je Suis Charlie AG supporting Je Suis Charlie campaign

Anne Golon - January 2015, from her hospital bed, showing her support of the atrocities perpetrated at the Charlie Hebdo Offices in Paris

2020 - 25th October - Anne Golon features in The Mail on Sunday's Wordsearch!

Mail on Sunday 251020 Wordsearch Puzzle

A screen dump of the 'Mail on Sunday', 25th October 2020 Wordsearch Puzzle

As I'm not a fan of hard-copy puzzles. preferring their tech counterparts on my iPad, this interesting snippet of Anne Golon's history may well have been consigned to the recycling bin, if not for my big sister! Just as I embrace technology, she eschews it totally and many years ago asked me to save her any puzzle pages I came across in the newspapers that my husband and I read. Luckily, saving the puzzles is now second nature to me, I don't give them a second glances, just put them on the pile of papers, puzzles, interesting articles that accumulate until they eventually make their way over to her as we comply with the latest Covid-19 regulations. Interestingly enough she also ringed Ludlum as we both really enjoy his original books but failed to highlight Tolkein which is my husband's favourite author. Everybody (of a certain age) grew up with Blyton and Carroll and most of us studied Shakespeare and avoided Tolstoy and Pushkin like the plague - my book preferences are described in depth in a separate section of this website. I admit to being curious about the 'Wordmeister's' choices and will attempt to contact him/her by e-mail since it is conveniently printed at the top of the article!

2020 - 'The Connexion' September/October Issue : 215

(French News in English since 2002) - pages 22 & 23

Anne Golon Connexion interview 2020Anne Golon Connexion interview 2020

Anne Golon Connexion interview 2020Anne Golon Connexion interview 2020

I requested a few changes to the article as I felt there were inaccuracies that might give a different flavour of my relationship with the Golons and the Fan base - they can be found, in their entirety here

2020 - 'Télérama', 22nd July - "The author Anne Golon: the Marquise des Anges, it was her!"

Magasine Article 22nd July 2020

Anne Golon, author of the saga “Angélique”, with her husband Serge, July 11, 1966. The publisher had imposed the name of her husband on the cover… to make it “more serious”. © Rue des Archives / CPA

Translation here and original scan of article here (.pdf files)

2018 - Cimetière de Montreuil - the final resting place

Anne Golon Commemorative Plaque at the Montreuil Cemetery

Anne Golon Commemorative Plaque at the Montreuil Cemetery

La plaque d'Anne Golon (Simone Changeux) se situe dans le village de Montreuil dans le nord-est de Versailles (accès gare de Montreuil ligne L à partir de la gare Saint-Lazare). A l'entrée, première intersection, tournez à gauche au colombarium, puis tout droit. Mémorial sur votre droite. Il est écrit : "Simone Changeux-Goloubinoff, dite Anne Golon (1921-2017) auteur de l'oeuvre *Angélique, marquise des anges*". Anne Golon avait souhaité que ses lecteurs aient un endroit pour se recueillir. A nous de lui rendre hommage à présent. Source : Claire Saim

2017 - 26th December - Виват, Анжелика! (Vivat Angélique)

A touching review of Anne Golon by Natalia Volvach for 'Kultura' web-site.

A gala evening dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the publication of ‘Angélique’ the first volume in the world
famous series by Anne & Serge Golon, took place at the Palace of Versailles. The evening was attended by your correspondent, Natalia Volvach, on behalf of the newspaper and website of the ‘Movement for the Revival of the Urals.’

The event took place just before Christmas in the rotunda of the ancient hospital wing in Versailles and was organised by musician and composer Nadine Golubinoff, daughter of Anne (Simone Changeux) and Serge (Vsevolod) Golubinoff, the co-authors of the world famous historical novels featuring the ‘Marquise of the Angels’ which made its debut in 1957.

The concert featured the music of Couperin, Handel and Charpentier performed by the French organist Michel Giar, with opera singer, dramatic soprano Oor Beneiks singing arias from operas by Handel, Porpor and Verdi to the accompaniment of the organ. Nadine Golubinoff (pseudonym Golubka), paid tribute to her Russian roots by writing a musical accompaniment, to the recitation of Pushkin's "Prophet", which was read in turn in  Russian by Vladimir Sergeev, and in French by Guillaume Rat, a singer and poet. Concluding the evening was a performance by the Fantasy Baroque troupe dressed in period costumes performing excerpts entitled "Canon" and "Gloria" from the forthcoming opera-ballet "Angelica" which also features music by Golubka.

Fantasy Baroque Dancers

Image provided by & © of Natalia Volvach

The books themselves have evolved from popular historical fiction into a classic genre of their own. The first 13 novels following the fate of the Marquise of the Angels begin in 1645 at the end of the ‘Thirty Years War’ and conclude at the beginning of the 1680s at which time Louis XIV has consolidated and reached the peak of his powers and is on the brink of war with England over the territorial rights of the colonies in the New World and the Ottoman Empire, taking advantage of these distractions prepares itself for its last campaign to subjugate Western Europe. In that short period spanning approximately thirty-five years our eponymous heroine finds herself and those who follow in her wake leaving France and  travelling to Crete, Algeria and Morocco. After an enforced repatriation she leaves France from La Rochelle and heads for the American continent landing first on the Atlantic coast and travelling through Maine to Quebec which has been designated the capital of New France. Her travels also take her to Montreal and hotbed of witchery that is Salem, all the time mixing with French, English and Dutch colonists as well as the Native American Indian tribes indigenous to the region. The fiction incorporates fact and historical grandees who find themselves in her wake are King Louis XIV, Minister Colbert, Nicholas Perrault and Marguerite de Bourgeoys to name but a few.

But the books suffered from their own success becoming the ‘Mills & Boon’ of their day and culminating in the highly entertaining movies, starring Michele Mercier, in typical 60s style and hinting at an erotica which is not prevalent in the books.

The evening at Versailles evoked a very warm family-like atmosphere. Many of the guests had been personally acquainted with Anne Golon, who passed away in July 2017 at the age of 95, sharing fond memories of her.

Julia Dimitrenko, a former teacher of the faculty of foreign languages ​​at Kharkov University, now a guide in the Palace of Versailles, shared her memories of the famous writer: “Anne Golon - a real Angélique with the same qualities of kindness, willpower and nobility as her heroine. Meeting my beloved author gave me great happiness. After all, it was thanks to her books that inspired me to find the strength to overcome my problems and to be strong, like Angélique. Anne Golon inspired in me ideas, which I hope to implement soon. Our first meeting took place in Versailles in 2014. I presented Anne Golon with flowers and told her about my admiration, since childhood, for her books, about the script I am writing inspired by her novels, about my boundless love for the Palace of Versailles and for the Chevalier, Philippe de Lorraine.”

In the books, real life in 17th century France is depicted to such a degree that when Julia began reading them, she also, unwittingly began to live the life of the heroine which enabled her to compose her own script.

2017 - 12th December - 'Remembering Anne Golon' Gala Concert

Poster for concert to be held in memory of Anne Golon December 2017

The poster for the Concert Gala held on 12th December 2017 - available to view on You Tube

Portrait of Anne Golon at the Concert 12th December 2017

Anne Golon as we now know her 'The Mother of all Angéliques'

Anne Golon her life in pictures December 2017

Hee life in pictures as you entered the lobby to 'Espace Richaud - Versailles' a 'cultural space in the former premises of the Royal Hospital'

Anne Golon her life in pictures Birth to 1970 December 2017 Anne Golon her life in pictures 1957 to Russia and beyond December 2017

From birth to the original publication in 1956 and sensation of the 1960s / Writer, recognition in Russia and the 'revolt' to retain the rights to her oeuvre

Anne Golon her life in pictures Prolific writer to July 2017December 2017Anne Golon her life in pictures Prolific writer to July 2017December 2017

Writer of note in Switzerland through to July 2017 / the struggle and 'revolt', her 'personalities, the last interview and our farewell to Anne Golon - all images from the concert courtesy & © of Claire Saïm via Fb

Espace Richaud - Cultural space of the former royal hospital: history of a renaissance

Begun in 1781 under the direction of the architect Charles-François Darnaudin, the construction of the Royal Hospital of Versailles was spread over nearly 80 years, ending only in 1859. The initial plans, designed by Angel -Jacques Gabriel and a lesser known architect named Gravois, were respected with great fidelity, even if changes were made in the nineteenth century, as, for example the addition of a low wing on the southern flank of the quadrilateral. The fact remains that the architectural ensemble displays a remarkable homogeneity. From the beginning, the Richaud site was assigned a hospital destination.
First modest "house of charity" held by the Daughters of St. Vincent de Paul under Louis XIV, the hospital has continued to accommodate patients each year more numerous, until the 1960s. In the twentieth century With the increased needs of the hospital, new buildings were built but this time without any imposed overall plan. This resulted in a great deal of confusion in the general organization of the hospital and a heterogeneous construction.
At the same time, the historic quadrangle has undergone all kinds of transformations to increase the available space and to bring technical installations up to standard. Nevertheless, despite very damaging alterations, architectural structures have not been irreversibly altered. After the transfer of hospital activities to the site of Mignot in 1981, Richaud was going to experience long years of abandonment, resulting in rapid degradation and even destruction caused by three fires, including the last in 2009. The safeguard and the rehabilitation of the site, the campaign promise of François de Mazières in 2008, had become a priority for the municipal team.
It was spread over four years and allowed to requalify a major urban area of ​​Versailles, located between the Versailles Rive-Droite station and the Notre-Dame district. Source : Espace Richaud

2017 - 20th July - Moulay Ismail, le "Roi Soleil" marocain sur France 2

Le documentaire consacré à la vie et au  règne du sultan Moulay Ismaïl sera diffusé le 20 juillet sur France 2.

Le Royaume est de nouveau à l'honneur sur France 2. Après la diffusion du documentaire "Le Maroc vu du ciel" le 23 juin, la chaîne française diffusera le 20 juillet prochain un documentaire consacré à la vie et au règne du sultan Moulay Ismaïl. Le documentaire sera également l'occasion de revenir sur la position de Moulay Ismaïl sur la scène politique internationale et sur sa résistance à l'influence des "monarchies européennes, tout en préservant les intérêts de son pays". L'émission reviendra également sur "un épisode diplomatique à Versailles" ayant inspiré la célèbre histoire d'Angélique et le Sultan, indique la chaîne. Source : telquel.ma read more here

France 2 will be transmitting a documentary about Moulay Ismail whom we have already encountered in Book 4 'Angélique and the Sultan" on 20th July 2017 and it is considered quite a television 'coup.' The article refers to a 'diplomatic episode at Versailles' which 'inspired' the celebrated novel by Anne Golon. However, they use the title of the film rather than the original book 'Indomptable Angélique' which was only ever translated as 'Sultan' in the English language - all other languages (currently quoted as between 25-40) used the original 'Indomitable.'

2017 - 18th May - Book Signing Cancelled

Anne Golon

Book signing 18th May 2017

It has just been announced that Anne Golon will not now be able to attend the book signing on Thursday, 18th May due to ill-health. Our very best wishes, for a speedy recovery, to our favourite author.

2017 - 27th April - Le Prince Charles-Emmanuel, le Bon sens au Pouvoir Jacques-Henri Prince de Moravie et de Bohème, La Marquise Angélique et sa maman Anne, Paul-Henri pour une soirée exceptionnelle ce Jeudi 27 Avril 2017

Anne Golon at special reception 27th April 2017

Anne Golon and host 27042017

*Anne Golon la mere de la Marquise des Anges with P-H Germonprez - images courtesy & © of maguytran-pinterville.com

2017 - 'World of Angelique' website rediscovered

It isn't the original as we have lost the site name, but it is an archived copy from on or around 2007 although any updates stopped just before November 2004 - but it's enough! After his original web-page Harvey commissioned and negotiated the website with Anne Golon's full approval. Graham Carter created the site and it was populated with information from the fan base and Anne Golon herself. The recreated site can be found here

Home page Harvey's website

2017 - Royalty meets Royalty

Anne Golon and the Duc de paris January 2017

January 2017 - Anne Golon with the Comte de Paris (a direct descendant of Monsieur, Louis XIV's brother) - image provided by Nadine Goloubinoff

2016 - Anne Golon's 95th Birthday

Anne Golon landmark 95th birthday

A landmark 95th birthday celebrated by author Anne Golon in a year which has decimated literary, artistic and from the world of film and cinematography greats - many happy returns Anne Golon!

2016 - Anne Golon au Salon du livre Historique

14th December - Book signing and presentation of the annual Prix du Guesclin at the Salon du Livre Historique (how fitting).

Anne Golon at the book signing

Anne Golon - pensive prior to the start of the autograph rush!

Anne Golon surrounded by fans

As befits a great author - hard work deserves the loyalty of her fans and Anne is never happier than with a bouquet from or a pen (to sign autographs) for her fans who still clamour for more! Images courtesy & © of Claire Saïm

2016 - Trade Fair - 16th November

Angelique Manga trade fair

Image courtesy and © Dara who said "Hello everyone! I just closed my cards for art to play this weekend in Nantes! I can't wait to be there! I'll be alone on my stand so don't hesitate to come visit me! I will have the 3rd tome of Angelique (in limited quantity) : come and get them signed!"

2016 - Manga Book 3

Manga Book 3 cover

Delayed release - November 2016

Illustrator's copy

Dara (Illustrator) confirms his preview copy - "Yippee! J'ai reçu le tome 3 d'Angélique à la maison, donc c'est officiel, il existe réellement :-) !!! Encore merci à toute l'équipe pour ce beau tome 3 et surtout à la patience des lecteurs (je devrais sans doute plutôt dire lectrices!)"

We are all pretty grateful that the book has been confirmed and Dara's joy is palpable 'Yippee! I received Angélique volume 3 at home, so it's official, it really exists :-) !!! Thank you to all the team for this beautiful volume 3 and especially to the patience of the readers (I should probably say readers!)' Note: lecteurs (readers) lectrices (specifically female readers).

And I can confirm that my books have also now arrived :

Three volumes of Angelique Manga together

All three current episodes of Manga with a long awaited look at a meeting between Joffrey and Angélique in the centre

2016 - Read a Romance a Month

Katryn Falk recommends keeping Angélique on your radar!

Angelique on Disqus

2016 - Harper Collins

Never say die - but it is a bit like banging your head against a brick wall! In September 2015 I wrote a beautifully eloquent e-mail to Harper Collins shortly after they announced the republication of 'Les Rois Maudits' including the 7th and hitherto untranslated final chapter of the series - as of last week they had not responded!

Then, as I had another outstanding issue with them, I thought I would phone and tell them what I thought of their unprofessionalism in not responding to my query which I had sent twice and for which I had two separate 'case' numbers! Luckily for me I came across a lady who actually dealt with me professionally and within 48 hours I had my response - here is my original enquiry and below that is the screen dump of the response :

Subject: Customer query: harpercollins.co.uk - Kingdom (The Accursed Kings, Book 7), Druon, Maurice Book

I was delighted to see that the 7th and final book of 'Les Rois Maudits' has been translated into the English language.

I have long wondered why this book (the last of a series of 7 books) has not previously been translated. I discovered these books in the early 1970s whilst working for the BBC which also transmitted the original French television series starring Jean Piat in the lead role of Robert d'Artois. I have waited for 40 years for the translation into English and in between times have bought and read the original French and a translation into the Polish language in which I am fortunate to be fluent. I have now bought a hardback edition so that I can have the joy of re-reading the entire series from Book 1 through to Book 7 in English.

Two other French series which I read in the 1960s and 1970s and which were never concluded were 'Catherine' by Juliette Benzoni (Book 7 Dame de Montsalvy) and 'Angélique' by Sergeanne Golon (Books 10-12 Angélique à Québec, Angélique, la Route de l'Espoir and La Victoire d'Angélique'). Again I purchased all the books in both French and Polish to read the conclusions.

'Catherine' has now been taken up by Telos Publishing who are commissioning new translations with additional material and have announced all seven books are to be published. I have purchased the first two as I am looking forward to the additional content.

Is there any possibility that HarperCollins would consider looking into concluding the 'Angélique' series? There is a huge market for these books as can be evidenced by the continuing demand in the second hand market commanding grossly inflated prices, internet sites such as Amazon full of reviews of the books and a plea for the remaining books to be translated, tribute websites, Yahoo and Facebook fan groups, a new film released in 2013, re-publication of the original French series and new releases of the Intégrale running parallel by Publishers L'Archipel. New versions in Polish, Portugese, German, Czech, Serbian, Russian, Spanish, Greek etc. are currently available. The DVDs of both versions of the films are still consistent best sellers. A new 'Manga' has been commissioned, Book 1 already released, Book 2 due later this year. The author, Anne Golon, is in her 90s and still writing the final concluding book to be called 'Angélique et le Rouyame de France' - the entire fanbase is awaiting this final chapter. Could your publishing house possibly help?

My very best wishes etc.

Harper Collins response

They just don't get it do they?

2016 - Festival du Roman Féminin

Anne Golon at the Festival du Roman Feminin

Anne Golon (far left) at the Festival

Les Romance Poster for April 2016

Poster announcing the Festival to take place in April 2016 and featuring Anne Golon as sponsor

2016 - Revival of the Czech Musical

2016 Logo

2015 - 'Manga Book 2'

The second 'chapter' of the Manga interpretation is ready for release at the end of October 2015.

Amazon.fr are already accepting pre-orders for the second volume and offers that both items be bought together (assuming you haven't already bought vol. 1 - as if!)

2015 - In Defence of Anne Golon

I came to 'The Idle Woman's Blog' two years after her original pronouncement in 2013 thanks to a new member of the official English language 'Angélique Facebook' page who asked the group if they had seen the comments made.

The link to the blog is here and can be read in its entirety as can my 'reduced' defence as the dialogue box only allows for a limited number of characters (not words you understand but characters which Windows 10 does not now provide in Word - so I was working 'blind').

My full response, as it was originally written:

Hello Leander

I hope this won’t turn into a treatise, my ramblings usually do, but first of all I do have to congratulate you for slipping through my dragnet these many years – were it not for a new member of a Facebook page that I co-run, this treatise/commentary/essay might never have been written! (Not an easy task to elude me considering the amount of research I do daily!) LOL – but as you’ve been ‘outed’ so to speak here’s my take on what you have to say on the first half of ‘Angélique’ Book 1.

‘Tis a shame you were only able to get hold of two books with ‘film tie-in’ covers featuring Michèle Mercier as the eponymous heroine. Granted, not all the book covers are ‘wholly appropriate’ but the first hardbacks at least created a canvas conveying the period of time and perhaps a window in the storyline stretching across the front, spine and back of the dustjacket creating a mini landscape for the reader to enjoy before opening the covers. Michèle Mercier herself wrote her autobiography calling it ‘Je ne suis pas Angélique’ - http://www.amazon.fr/Je-ne-suis-pas-Ang%C3%A9lique/dp/2207253295 which is still available and speaks volumes!

Having said all that – the point I am trying to make here is that I don’t think half a book is sufficient to trash a whole series beloved by many readers. I had exactly the same feelings when the Harry Potter franchise took hold and both my elder sister (who shaped my reading matter when I was a child and introduced me to Angélique as my first proper adult reading) and husband were entranced by it all – spending hours over pub lunches discussing the books and of course the films. I waited until all 7 books had been published and then read the whole lot through in one go. It helped that I had a decent idea of the characters as portrayed in the film, warming to Hermione, finding a greater respect for Hedwig – owls have not featured much in my life, triumphantly telling my sister and husband a resounding ‘I told you so’ when Snape was vindicated and marvelling at the way the written word and all its imagination had been brought to life on the screen. But I won’t read the set a second time and I won’t vilify the books in any reviews – they were a passing amusement and if anyone challenges me, I can say I chewed my way through the lot of them from beginning to end. You may see from this, that I should have preferred you to stay with the series and then have written your review. It may be that you would have found the whole series vacuous but I’d lay money that you wouldn’t have! LOL.

The Angélique films are also a little divisive versus the books. Most readers hate them, those that have seen the films often refuse to read the books because they would not stand up to the films. I was so pleased to find the films after an epic search (I saw the first two many years ago, one on BBC2 and the second in a village in Zakopane – Poland – during a thunderstorm with Julie Christie’s best friend’s mother. Finally, when I started visiting a friend in Paris on a regular basis we found the box set and I had a lot of fun watching them, precisely for what they were, 60s hokum (a bit like The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) and not to be taken a representative of the books but as a genre in their own right – hence my trashing of the book covers using the film tie-ins. I also regularly leave messages on ebay sellers pages asking them why they are trying to sell historical books as ‘erotica’ – the films have done that and it is a shame. The books are historical treasures – in the course of reading them and eventually producing my website, I have delved into so many different arenas I’d never have thought of pursuing – the Jesuits, the Wolverine, Marguerite Bourgeoys – Canada’s first woman saint, the Five Nations, Wampum, Mélusine, the origins of chocolate as a drink, etc. etc. my website is becoming a monster, but it’s interesting, so many people contact me to ask if they can use my material – of course they can – it’s my hobby, so long as they credit me.

I won’t go into detail about my personal relationship with the author and one of her daughters, but suffice it to say that thanks to a dogged Marine who knew how to use the internet many of us are a lot richer for having discovered and got to know Madame Anne Golon; now well into her nineties who is still righting the wrongs done to he over the years and re-writing her novels to correct the unwarranted changes made by her publishers. Sadly it is unlikely that English-language (only) readers will ever get to know the end except in snippets as the English publishers seem unwilling to ‘commission any further translations.’ I’m lucky, I will read them in French or Polish – it matters not.

It was hoped the new film released in 2013 might generate some interest in the English speaking world, but it has not – this film which had input from the author and was co-written by her daughter is an interesting take on the first half of the book with some little twists that may or may not have been intended by the author in her original books, but which are thought provoking. Happily, Anne Golon approved heartily of this version and was treated with respect by all concerned.

I would like to think that when people find your page and perhaps read this – they may have second thoughts about dismissing the books outright and at least give them a go as far as ‘Angélique in Love’ which is a sort of natural conclusion to one set of events before deciding whether they should go forward with ‘Countess Angélique’ (original title Angélique et le Nouveau Monde – Angélique in the New World) through to the final misnamed ‘Angélique and the Ghosts’ (Angélique et les complot des Ombres – Conspiracy of Shadows) and find themselves like many others wondering what would happen in ‘Angélique à Québec’, ‘Angélique, La Route de l’Espoir’, ‘La Victoire d’ Angélique’ and ‘Angélique et le Rouyame de France.’

2015 - Anne Golon features in the Hucknall Dispatch

Dispatch review Link to full article reproduction page

Will this be the catalyst to wake the English language publishers? We can but hope!

2015 - New 'Manga' announced

So lovely the 'three stages of 'Angélique'

Anne Golon Bookshelf Manga

Anne Golon reading the Manga

The day before the general release, Anne Golon immerses herself in yet another rendition of her oeuvre 'Angélique' - the Manga (this image skews the actual size of the book which is better illustrated in the upper picture)

Angelique Manga Episode 1February 2015 brings the announcement that a new 'manga' style illustrated edition of Angélique will become available in April of this year. Episode 2 is projected to follow in June 2015.

Both Amazon.fr and Amazon.co.uk are already promoting these new publications but without any further details at present.

For those unfamiliar with the 'Manga' style, it is more than just a 'comic' as we understand the term in the UK. It is a specialised art form which originated in Japan where a story is indeed told in pictures. There are specific guidelines best described as 'Another difference between manga and Western comics is that each comics volume has its own plot, while manga volumes all follow the same plot. The artwork is VERY different. Manga has its own particular artwork, especially when it comes to human faces, particularly the eyes, chin, nose, mouth, forehead... Manga is also read from RIGHT to LEFT. (Yes, even the English ones). Source Urban Dictionary

Publishers Casterman specialise in this genre and work with renowned illustrators. Updates will be available in the News section and on Manga-News.

Ready for shop distribution

Ready to 'hit' the shops!

2014 - Pin Interest 'comment'

Pin Interest Book Cover of original Pan Giant AngeliqueI found these images of the original paperback Pan Giant on Pin Interest, but it was the accompanying comment that intrigued me. I am awaiting a response to my query.

 

This is the full response dialogue that I wanted to send, but there was a limited number of characters allowed so it was a little foreshortened but the main gist of the reduced message was the same :

"Hi Emily - very interested in your comment that the Angélique books are to be republished - can you advise your source please and qualify whether you mean the books will be published in French or English and if in English, will the three books beyond 'Ghosts' also be published for the first time ever?

As to 'Marianne' the author is Juliette Benzoni and the immediate good news is that Telos publishing in the UK are re-translating and re-publishing the 'Catherine' books - the first is out in April and available for pre-order. "

2014 - Promoting Anne

Promoting Anne Promoting Anne Golon

2014 - Publishers announce complete re-issue of the novels!

News from French Publishers L'Archipel : all 13 volumes of the original Angélique series are to be republished starting with Angélique et le Roy (King) in January 2015. The Intégrale is also to be republished starting with books 5 and 6 in 2015 these will be in the smaller format (archipoche).

2014 - New & restored Boxed Set of the 1960s films

The 5 original films starring Michèle Mercier and Robert Hossein in the leading roles have been fully restored and are now available in Blu-Ray format.

2014 - Still making the news

September 2014 - the predominantly English-speaking Fans launch a campaign to petition the publishers who refused to commission the translations of the series beyond 'Angélique and the Ghosts' (Complot des Ombres).

Countries represented : Poland, UK, US, Australia, Norway, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, France, Brazil, New Zealand, Algeria, Sweden, Israel, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy, Hungary.

Petition Mission Statement

We did our best ......

Cornerstone Response

It wasn't enough!

At the same time the French fans had an axe to grind with Anne Golon .......

2014 - From the Daily Mail

Correspondence page dated 22nd May named as one of France's literary heroes :

2014 - Perennial Favourite - Angélique Memorabilia hits the shops

Place Mat Angelique Film placemat

Recently seen at Gibert Joseph - placemat featuring the second film from the 1960s

2013 - 'Le Monde' Magazine Interview

A very frank interview entitled 'The Mother of all the Angéliques'

Le Monde Magazine

Focus - it's nearly 60 years since author Anne Golon gave life (birth) to the Marquise of the Angels. An imaginary heroine who will forever be immortalised by the portrayal of Michèle Mercier.

2013 - The Top 100 most searched for out-of-print books

Book Search top 100

Source Abe Books - in at no. 18 the entire series not just an individual book!

2012 - Radio Participation

Most recently Anne was heard on French Radio London on Saturday, 16th June 2012.

Anne Golon Header

Link to Anne Golon's radio page

Anne Golon Radio

French Radio London 'Listen Again' page

Anne Golon Radio Programme

Live interviews as well as 'Listen Again' in great demand for this popular author.

2011 - From First Contact to celebrating Anne's 90th Birthday

In 2011 Anne Golon, still hale and hearty despite some previous health problems, reached her landmark 90th birthday. The English-speaking fans (the Yahoo Group 'Friends of Angélique') were unanimous in wanting to show their appreciation in some way. The original group had now expanded and a whole new audience had been found with the launching of the Facebook page by current President, Joyce Murphy who took over the reigns from the late Harvey J Adkins (both US citizens). Janet Draper in the UK took on the task of collecting funds and both groups were involved in the selection of the gift for Anne. Useful male perspectives came from Hakan Palsson of Sweden and Steve Hall of Australia both committed members of the group from the original set-up. Old and new members participated with great enthusiasm. The end choice for the main present was quintessentially French and feminine an Hermès scarf in the autumnal colours so beloved by Anne. It came from Hermès Nuées Imaginaires Spring Summer 2011 collection designed by Christine Henry (as shown below).

Hermès Nuées Imaginaires Scarf bought for Anne Golon

Golon Scarf

I'm not sure who put this together for me but it looks like a 'voile' version of the scarf rather than the silk that was purchased - all in all an obviously successful gift to Anne from her fans

What with one thing and another, the promised picture of Anne wearing her scarf never materialised so imagine my surprise on seeing the photo which was released by L'Archipel - Anne Golon's present publishers :

Anne Golon wearing Hermès Nuées Imaginaires and Nora her new Angelique

Finally, after a little soul-searching and scratching of heads and a quick re-visit of the original research the name of the scarf and the image confirmed that Anne Golon was wearing the gift given to her by her English-speaking fans while being photographed with her new Angélique (Nora Arnezeder) during a publicity session (see the pen poised in her hand ready to sign her autograph at the next request). Thank you Anne Golon.

Anne Golon, Nadine and Eden

'Angelique' Paris Premiere At Gaumont Capucines Cinema PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 16: Author of the Book 'Angelique, marquise des anges' Anne Golon, her daughter Nadia (L) and her granddaughter Eden (R) attend the 'Angelique' Paris movie premiere at Cinema Gaumont Capucine on December 16, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)

Anne and the Gang at the Premiere

'Angelique' Paris Premiere At Gaumont Capucines Cinema PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 16: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (L-R) Director Ariel Zeitoun, Author of the Book 'Angelique, marquise des anges' Anne Golon, her granddaughter Eden, her daughter Nadia and actor Tomer Sisley attend the 'Angelique' Paris movie premiere, after screening, at Cinema Gaumont Capucine on December 16, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)

Thanks to Getty Images it is possible to see Anne Golon at the premiere of the film based on her book, wearing the gift given to her by her devoted readers from the English-speaking fan site.

2010 - The French Government Honours Anne

Medallion

On Tuesday, 14th December, 2010 - Anne Golon was finally honoured by the French Government for her contribution to the literary world.

2009 - TF1 interview at Versailles

Anne on TF1 talking about her books

Anne Golon visits Versailles and explains why, at the age of 87 (video made on 26th May 2009) she has decided to restore the entire Angélique series (Intégrale). She also feels it can be improved with some additions to make it easier to follow. The programme refers to the republishing of the restored books by Archipel. Source wat.tv and TF1 France. Watch it on YouTube or see the 'stills version' here

2008 - Auteur à l’honneur

Honoured author

Les Romantiques.com featured Anne Golon as their 'honoured author' and provided a wonderful biography in their April 2008 fanzine which can be found via their website or in .pdf format. The article is in French but will be recognisable to most fans even if they do not know the language. Les Romantiques.com have invited Anne to spearhead their Romantic Literature Festival in April 2016.

2003 - BBC Radio 4 listeners vote Anne Golon's 'Angelique' into the top 30 favourite reads!

Radio 4 Listing Angelique

13,800 of us (or a multiple thereof) took the time to choose their favourite and vote! Regrettably Angelique did not even make it into the Top 5/10 but nevertheless she remained in the Top 30!

I have since writing this, found my own contribution to the 'Big Read'

BBC Art Message Board

BBC Art Message in full

The images are a copy of the BBC internet page on which I placed my original comments.

1998 - 40th Anniversary of the publication of Angélique, Marquise des Anges

40th anniversary front of book 40th Anniversary back of book

Seriously - this is the best they could do?

40th Anniversary provenance

The provenance inside the book giving the date 40 years after original publication in 1958 - thank you to Carol Jennings for supplying the images.

1997 - 99 - Anne writes an 'Open Letter' to her fans

Anne Golon never held back about how she had been treated during the 'wilderness years' when she felt betrayal all around her and believed she had been abandoned by her fans - domestic and international. We were able to persuade her that we had never given up - our reward was the endorsement of the (International) English-speaking group in an Open Letter from this great author.

1997 - See how we made First Contact here

As stated frequently on this web-site, the fans usually considered any link to Anne Golon by any means was a minor miracle. Imagine how we all felt when the late Harvey Adkins and his friend Steve Hall found some real news about her, on a rudimentary web-page from her daughter Nadine.

I have retained a screen dump of this historical document to enable new readers to learn more of Anne's story.

The depth of the fans interest stemmed from a long drought of information concerning the book (s), the author (s), any forthcoming translations and a universal knock-back from a variety of publishers in the English-speaking world (UK, US, Australasia etc.) where fans had made individual approaches for news. My own experience was with William Heinnemann Ltd who at least did have the courtesy to respond to my enquiry. I had informed them, at the time of the enquiry, that I knew of the existence of "Angélique in Québec" and wondered when we might see it on the bookshelves in the UK. With words that are permanently etched in my mind, Heinnemann's informed me that they "did not intend to commission any further translations due to the lack of interest."

Anne Golon promotes her books in 1977 and 1981

'Complot des Ombres' (1977) and 'Québec' (1981)

Two archived television programme films which can be accessed here : for Ghosts click here and Québec here

Some images from both programmes (note the images of Anne were superimposed by the programme makers) are displayed below:

Anne Golon being interviewed on ina.fr tv 1977 Promoting her new book Anne Golon on ina.fr tv

Anne Golon appears on ina.fr tv on the 29th of April 1977 to promote her latest book 'Angélique et le Complot des Ombres' which was the last book in the series to be translated into English as 'Angélique and the Ghosts'.

Anne Golon appears on ina.fr tv on the 13th of February 1981 to promote her latest book 'Angélique à Québec' which has never been translated into English despite the numerous English-reading fans who still want to read the conclusion of the series. Some have learned French to be able to conclude the series - others who know alternative languages have caught up that way! Only the publishers don't seem to realise the enormous potential of a re-print of the series including the updates in the Intégrale and the hitherto untranslated books - shame!

Anne Golong faces a panel made up of four menA serene Anne Golon

More pictures from the same programme in 1981 showing Anne facing her panel consisting of four men as they debate the role of the 'romantic novel' in the periods' diverse population - seems to me the panel isn't very diverse!

1974 - Anne Golon 'grates cheese' in Montréal

Anne Golon at the Château Champlain Hotel in 1974

Image sourced from the AngeliqueBooksEnglish Fb page

Chateau Champlain in Montreal known as the Cheese Grater

'The Chateau Champlain Hotel opened on Jan. 11, 1967. Montreal Gazette files'
The Château Champlain Hotel also known as 'The Cheese Grater' - image & strapline sourced from & © of the MontrealGazette

1964 - Angélique meets her English-Speaking Public!

Reveille magazine

As advertised by 'Reveille' Magazine

A selling point in an Icelandic publication - on the same page as the BMW advert - Classy!

1964 - Angélique meets her Prince in London

Michele Mercier receives the customary handshake and is presentated to Prince Philip

Angelique meets Prince Philip 1964 France Soir

1963 - 1990 - Anne Golon revered by Der Spiegel

6th November 1963 article original German .pdf

In this edition the magazine goes to a lot of effort to give statistical information to provide the backdrop to Anne Golon's popularity, stating that for seven years she has been a best selling author. That the 2,900 written pages have been enjoyed by countless (mainly female) readers in countries as far afield as Holland, Israel, Finland and Yugoslavia who, even after 6 books, are still clamouring for more. The article also gives a potted biography of both Serge and Anne and resumé of the books leading up to "Angélique in Love".

Anne and Serge Golon

The article provides this poor but familiar [picture of Serge and Anne amongst a collection of their books translated into several languages.

18th August 1965 article original German .pdf

This article focuses on the publishing wars between the various publishing houses which held the franchise to the Angéliques novels and goes so far as to say that Opera Mundi now owns the 'world' rights to the books. The situation seems to have escalated as a result in increase in volume of sales following the popularity of the films. The article features a still from the film but no pictorial homage to the authors.

20th October 1969 article original German .pdf

This article sings the praises of 'The Temptation of Angélique' which has just been placed on their best seller listings and a description of life on the North American continent as depicted in the books is described briefly.

Anne Golon promoting Temptation

This time the author is acknowledged in her own right.

24th September 1990 article original German .pdf

This article which appeared in 1990 summarises and confirms that the 14th book will be the last (I've just had a thought - could that be an homage to Louis XIV?) or at least attributes Anne Golon with saying that she was now ready to 'break the writing hand' having concluded her 6,910 page, 14-book epic after 29 years. (See more on the Intégrale page). The article goes on to promote more statistics, claiming an estimated 100 million readers 2/3rds of whom were female, of the saga over the years. There is more information about the locations of the books and yet interestingly enough, the quotation used to complete the article and complete the series comes from 'Victoire' when a supplicating Angélique lifts her eyes to the heavens and confronts her Maker willing him to give something back! Anne Golon was 62 at the time of the published article, fully expecting to retire - a further 29 years on she is still putting the finishing touches to the 14th and final book which the world awaits impatiently.

1958 - Icelandic Top 10 Bestseller Listings

The original 'Angélique, Marquise des Anges' finds itself at no. 7 in this distinguished Icelandic list from 1958.

Bestseller list from 1958

Interesting facts #1 - Anne on You Tube

Anne on You Tube

Thanks to technological advances we are able to see Anne 'live' on the information highway and 'You Tube' is one of the favourite places to search. Without this sort of technology, many of her fans would be sorely disappointed in not knowing what their favourite author looks and sounds like.

Interesting facts #2 - Anne and Serge Golon - Artists

Anne and Serge were both accomplished artists and had very differing styles - I will showcase their art here (the page is still under construction)

Interesting facts #3 - Book Illustrators

Illustrator possibly Sheldon Pan Giant VersaillesIllustrator Unknonw Countess PurpleJack Hayes Illustrator Demon

Interesting facts #4 - Book Signings and news events here

I have purposefully created a news page for Anne Golon on this site as a tribute to a woman, who having just celebrated a landmark birthday, still insists on getting the original story of her eponymous heroine Angélique, just right for publication. I understand how she feels as I am constantly making improvements to my web pages as I discover inconsistencies or errors or just get more proficient in my craft. We are told Anne only ever meant Angélique to be one volume and as a result there are areas that have either been changed, removed, re-written or omitted which now need to be restored, added to or explained and expanded to enable the story to continue to its conclusion. That version is called the Intégrale and has a a section to itself. The Intégrale is selling, hence the need for Book signings and other appearances - not to mention the great honour bestowed on one of France's greatest authors! (Needless to say - gossip and rumours will also find their place on the News page - the definition from Webster's states : "A report of recent occurrences; information of something that has lately taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh tidings; recent intelligence" - gossip and rumour have their place here!)

Book Fair

Interesting facts #5 - Books you didn't know about! here

It is always a pleasure to reminisce about the (virtual) and sometime face-to-tace conversations that we held as the 'Friends of Angélique' took shape. Every one of us had a story to tell and we all wanted to listen to each others experiences finding them similar to our own and more importantly learning from each other. One of our biggest surprises was the way in which the books were presented to readers in different countries, cultures and languages. However, the biggest surprise was the discovery that there were 'rogue' Angélique books circulating in Russia. The two titles that came up were 'Angélique in Moscow' (Russia) and 'Angélique in El Dorado' - thanks to Brigitte it appears that there were three titles - but not being a Russian speaker/reader I am unable, at present to speculate to the nature of the third title - I hope to rectify this soon. Here are the book covers :

Angélique and Tsarevitch AlekseiAngélique and the TsatritsaAngélique at Tsar Peter's Wedding

From l to r the titles are : 'Angélique and the Tsarevich Alexei', 'Angélique and the Tsaritsa' and 'Angélique at Tsar Peter's Wedding'

Since posing the question of the 'rogue' books publicly, a slew of information has come through and my thanks go to Brigitte, Miriam and Anna for their contributions, comments and translations - as a result I have dedicated a page to these books - just for the fun of it! I have also use the comments provided by my friends. I also discovered that the covers are based on actual covers designed for the authentic series written by Anne Golon. The authentic set is represented in the dedicated Book gallery.

Interesting facts #6 - Films and Posters from many lands here

In the course of my researches I have found some weird and wonderful interpretations of the Films via posters depicting the cultures of the countries they are shown in and when they were shown. In time they will make up quite and interesting page - please keep revisiting to see what is new as this particular page is currently under construction. Thanks to having a look around for information I chanced upon the quite unusual version which credits the books as its basis.

Interesting facts #7 - (The) Film you didn't know about! here

When I first created the page for this 'alternative' film, I was unaware of the 2012 rumours of a film starring Elodie Frégé - after all the Turkish version was being made in the late 1960s and possibly running parallel with the French films made famous by Michèle Mercier. Perhaps they shared location and studio 'shots' to save money - who knows what sort of a deal was struck and by whom - but these films have a certain legitimacy as they are recorded on and have been assigned IMDB numbers.

Interesting facts #8 - Harvey's Page reproduced here

Thanks to the late Harvey J Adkins hundreds and probably more fans of this series were brought together to discuss their surprise and delight at all the new information Harvey had placed on the personal section of his official web-site. Although much of what you read you will already know, when each of us happened to chance on this page for the first time it was indeed like the end of a drought! I had only just found out about films 3 to 5 and the untranslated books after a visit to Paris a couple of months earlier. Finding Harvey's site and seeing that he had similar information made it the start of a very happy friendship. The other day I happened onto a hard copy of the site and felt that it would be a shame to lose it forever so I have reproduced the page using only the wording and imagery that Harvey had so carefully and lovingly put together. I have tried to replicate everything faithfully including the background that he had used, but it is from memory so won't be exactly the same. (I have also left in his description of the 9th image where he refers to the Duc de Vivonne, but the image is actually of Joffrey). The link bars are of my own design and did not exist on Harvey's page - this is so that you can move around my site and see what else there is. I have tried to reproduce the links that Harvey used and even if they do not go to the exact original destination, it is likely the old links would already have been broken. I have not reproduced the message board that Harvey created on his site (this is separate to and must not be confused with the current Yahoo line which originated from oneline) so there is no link to that at the end of the page. The same links can be seen on the original 'First contact' with Nadine, and like those mentioned above, no longer exist.

Owing to a small misunderstanding and my lack of internet prowess at the time, Harvey accorded me the nickname 'Ghostslut' and up till yet the origins have been a closely guarded secret. I believe it is time to reveal all and you can find the full story here

Interesting facts #9 - How does Anne Golon keep track of her characters?

Interesting facts #10 - (The) Illustrated Angélique

Angelique

Regrettably only Book 1 of this collaboration with Iva Garo, Régile and Nadine ever came to completion - but it is a bit of a curiosity and collectors item and will be showcased on this site. Here's a taster :

Illustrated Book

Interesting facts #11 - (The) Missing / Untranslated Chapter

When a large-print hardback version of Road to Versailles was published in the 1990s, several years after the appearance of the last book to be translated into English 'Angélique and the Ghosts', it included a hitherto previously unpublished chapter. Entitled 'Paris by Night' this appears to be both an unauthorised and unprofessional introduction to part 2. It is placed correctly and chronologically but does not enhance the fabric of the storyline. It makes no effort to use the original names or their equivalent English translations and only barely gives some lightweight additional information. For those interested in this additional material, it can be found here

Interesting facts #12 - Theatre Spectacles (Angélique on) Stage

2016 - A revival of the 2007 Czech Republic stage version is announced!

Angelique Logo

There have been two stage spectacles to date - a French version (1995) and a Czech (musical) production (2007)

Cecile Bois as Angelique Anne Golon Theatre Poster

Hossein and Bois Angelique Theatre Poster

In 1995 - Robert Hossein reprised his rôle as Joffrey de Peyrac in a stage version of Book 1, his Angélique on this occasion was Cécile Bois.

Interesting facts #13 - Reviews created for the Monteloup site

Whilst catching up with one of the founder members, Steve Hall, and original web-site owner of the endorsed official English-language web-site, we discovered that the site has been taken down so that there is now nothing officially available for the English-speaking fans other than my own modest section here and sites such as Monteloup. Whilst we are in the process of trying to retrieve all the information which we hope hasn't been lost forever, I have copied over the historical reviews written by myself, Steve Hall, Brigitte Collet and the late Harvey J Adkins on the very early days of our acquaintance with each other and Anne Golon and her daughter. They can be found on the Reviews page of the site.

Interesting facts #14 - Rumours of a new film for 2012 here and the real announcement here

Louis betrays Angelique

Louis' complete betrayal of Angélique

Angelique looks on at Louis betrayal

Angélique looks on in disbelief

You may wonder why I have chosen to place these images here when there is a full page devoted to the film here. Simply I wish to link this page to various aspects of the section devoted to Angélique and author Anne Golon and my review of this film can be found here. In the review you will see that I am enchanted with many of the areas that are re-imagined to suit this re-make. One of the most moving moments is the realisation that the King, Louis XIV is an absolute autocrat and the Peyracs have threatened his security. His ruthless betrayal of Angélique and her husband is a magnificent piece of filming.

Interesting facts #16 - Treatise on French Cinema

Professor Ginette Vincendeau

Professor Ginette Vincendeau wrote a comprehensive study of 'The Representation of Women in Film' citing Jules et Jim (1961), Pierrot le fou (1965), Tirez sur le pianiste (1960) and the Angelique series (1964-1968) which can be found here

Educated in Paris at the Lycée Lamartine and the Lycée Sophie-Germain. Licence ès-lettres in English Language and Literature (Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris) and PhD in Film Studies (University of East Anglia, UK).
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, 1998, for services to French culture

Previously Professor of Film Studies at the University of Warwick, UK
Visiting Professorships: University of Bordeaux 3 (2010); Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris (2004); Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris (1997)

Interesting facts #17 - The Casting Couch

It has long been the hobby of many an Angélique fan to cast the characters in their own imaginations and although many are influenced by the existing films, many have their own ideas. Typically, especially me, we tend to be drawn to faces we are familiar with rather than remembering that these characters are quintessentially French (in the main) and where not French, then they are drawn from the history of the time. This is my casting couch and may take some time, although I do know whom some of them should be! I will draw on any time frame, not just today so there will probably be a bit of hopping about through the centuries - enjoy!

Interesting facts #18 - Angélique goes digital!

New Angelique Logo

In 2021 in the middle to the pandemic - a ray of light shone through the grey mists, for all those fans who have been waiting since the 1970s/early 1980s, an improved digital version of the books and hopefully the hitherto untranslated volumes are in the pipeline. For more information visit AngeliqueBooksEnglish via Fb.

Miscellaneous #1 - Book covers in a selection of languages as well as English and French.

Book Cover CzechMy reasons for wanting to showcase alternative languages in addition to English and French is that there are an astonishing number of translations available worldwide. The English version of the series does not conclude the story and only the publishers can explain the reason why. Many of us would dearly love to hear their reasoning behind the astonishing claim  made by their representative in 1984, stating they 'would not be commissioning any further translations due to lack of interest', in a response to my letter. It is particularly galling and farcical as 30 years on from that letter, English fans are still campaigning for a translation and those French fans reading this English-language web-site (and there are many) have expressed great astonishment, at the furtive way in which the lack of English translations has been shrouded from them, on their own forums!

The other-than-French-and-English book covers, like the film posters, reflect different cultures as well as the content of the books (well in most cases that is) and don't rely on the sensationalism that some of the later English book covers resorted to, presumably, to SELL!

This section also includes the original hardback images (which do not change with the frequency of the paperback version) with which most readers first become acquainted with a series of books. It is these images that imprint the view of the artist on our minds and may well shape how we see the characters as we read.

A short section relating to some of the illustrators can be found here.

Miscellaneous #2 - My Favourite Characters from the books - La Polack and Ambroisine de Maudribourg

I confess to enjoying characters with substance and always felt that La Polack deserved more than just to fleetingly touch Angéliques' life. But it goes back to the original book that was intended to be just one book, maybe there would be need for La Polack to make a comeback and even if she did - how would she fit into Angélique's life? Angélique had already moved on - back to Court, re-married, became the King's favourite - yes, she came across some of her former 'underworld' associates there but only due to their 'diversity' or their knowledge of dangerous practices, arts and poisons. La Polack's skill was no different to any other woman at court - and whatever the circumstances those skills were survivor's instincts. I can't see her fighting for the Huguenots cause or becoming a servant so how could La Polack come back - well I love the fact that she does, that she's fat and happy and ruling her own little kingdom and that she's kind to animals! I'm also glad we get to hear her story, because before I read 'Angélique in Québec' I did actually have a long debate with Nadine, who relayed it to her mother, that I thought that La Polack had been short-changed.

Ambroisine I hated with every fibre of my body - maybe I know too many people like her - that is to say, not so many that are so totally evil, but a collection of traits that encompassed her - from the sweet gentle smiling loving woman who was in reality dripping venom to the politically correct gang who are actually creating dissent and division of loyalties - ah yes, I know plenty of women like that! So, it was a bit of a surprise to find that I could get a second bout at hating her all over again and really, the second time around she is even more vicious - but there could be two reasons for this. I read 'Demon' in English to start with and have since read it in Polish. I read 'Québec' and 'Victoire' in French then Polish and it is entirely possible that the fact that I was not reading in my favoured language may have exaggerated the 'return' of the character so despised in 'Demon' - or alternatively the English translation of 'Demon' may have been toned down - who is to know? The storyline is such that the resurrection, reappearance and final demise of this seemingly indestructible woman stretches over the final three books which the English-speaking public have not yet had the opportunity to read. First of all we learn from Cantor that the Demon is alive and well at the court of Louis, despite an altered appearance. We discover that the body that was believed to be hers, so mutilated as to have been unrecognisable is in fact one of her victims and former 'Kings Girl.' Unable to wreak her vengeance directly at Angélique, she resorts to attacking another of Angélique's vulnerabilities (remember the kitten?) this time the object of her venom is Honorine - thankfully she is thwarted through Honorine's own basic instincts and Cantor's cunning. And finally she meets her true nemesis, the very creature she had thought to use to cover up her tracks previously - what comes around turns around and I couldn't have wished this on a nastier person!

Miscellaneous #3 - Spoilers

Here you will find synopses of all the books which have been written so far. They were created for a Polish Bookstore promoting the books and I have translated the individual write-ups for you. The content of earlier books will be familiar to you, but for those of you not wishing to know more - please do not venture to this page.

Miscellaneous #4 - Was Joffrey two-faced?

Judge for yourselves - what language have you read the book in? How is Joffrey's appearance first described - how did you imagine him to look? Check out two variations of actor's and how they perceived the scarred Count of Toulouse to look. Did they choose their better profile to be scar-free?

Miscellaneous #5 - The Mystery of Rakoczy

Why was national Hungarian hero, Francis I Rákóczi, expunged and replaced by a Pole in the Hungarian versions of the book? Why are at least four pages of dialogue exchanged between Angélique and Rakoczy missing from the English version? Page currently being researched.

Cast of Characters - Rakoczy

Miscellaneous #6 - 'Beware Prague' - the 'Voynich' Manuscript

The Voynich Manuscript

Miscellaneous #7 - Love stories- `not obscene' Court considers 'Angelique'

Newcastle Journal - Wednesday 29th January 1975

Love stories- `not obscene' Court considers 'Angelique'

TWO popular romance novels—favourites with young girls and old ladies alike—were seized as obscene literature by vice-squad officers in a raid on a Newcastle bookshop. The books, Newcastle magistrates heard yesterday, were "Angelique" by Sergeanne Golon and "Arabella" — by famous historical romance writer Georgette Heyer. "By no stretch of Imagination could these books he called obscene," said Heaton bookshop owner Joseph MacMurray (37). He appeared before the court accused of keeping obscene artides In his shop. "If the police regard Georgette Heyer novels as obscene. it may well give You some indication as to the degree of obscenity of the other books and magazines they seized' - he said. MacMurray, of Armstrong Road, Sootswood. Newcastle, was contesting an application by the pollee for permission to destroy more than 100 books and magazines from his shop. Mr D. E. Brown. for the police, said all the books taken by the pollee were regarded as obscene. But when MacMurray, pointed out to the court that two Georgette Heyer novels were Included In the list. Mr. Brown asked the magistrates not to consider' those particular books too strongly. Mac Murray denied that the material he handled In his bookshop in Bolingbroke Street, Heaton, was obscene.

Exchange

"And as you can see. they are certainly not pornographic." he added.
He ran a sale and exchange systen of second-hand books, which he believed, was a valuable service to the public. "If people choose to read too much of the material I handle, then they are more likely to get bored than be corrupted. I would like to carry on the service I provide without any further interference from the police" he said.
The magisrates, a woman and a man, decided they needed time to look through the books to reach a decision on whether or not they considered them obscene.
The case was adjourned to February 25.

Curiosities #1 - Vogue Fashion Shoot

I've decided to start a new category 'Curiosities' to envelop anything that is linked to Anne Golon and her 'Angélique' but which might be considered a bit 'dodgy' or the truth stretched a bit beyond the permitted boundaries! I'm starting this category with a Fashion Shoot from 2001.

Curiosities #2 - A Perfume called 'Angélique' by Oleg Cassini

Angelique Perfume by Oled Cassini

Angelique Perfume and Book

Curiosities #3 - identifying the Font used on the original book cover

Curiosities #4 - Fan Art

Book Node website link

What a cheek - reproduced by Book Node without my permission, my 'what if' whimsy! However the write up does say : "This page is dedicated to the covers, images, illustrations and 'fan art' of the book 'La Victoire d'Angélique'. This is an area is specifically designed to appreciate the aesthetic visual concept of the book."

Curiosities #4 - so-called 'Deviant Art' (2013-2017)

Angelique either as a court of miracles escapee or young ingeunueAngelique at court

Is the artist inferring Angélique is a dipsomaniac with that very red nose? My personal feeling is that this work has no genuine feel for the character and follows a specific not very inspiring formulaic pattern,

I recently came across a 'Deviant Art' website and was actually surprised to find Angélique portrayed there in two poses - see the full sized images by following the links to see Chris Evenhuis interpretation of our eponymous heroine.

Curiosities #5 - An aeroplane called 'Poitou'

Detail of the nose cone of the Poitou Aircraft 1937

The 1937 Poitou Aircraft

The Bloch MB.220 was a twin-engine transport aircraft built by the Marcel Bloch aircraft company making its maiden flight on June 11, 1936 at Villacoublay. Its design was largely inspired by the Douglas DC-2 with an all-metal coating. Its crew consisted of two pilots and two stewards for a capacity of 16 passengers.

Air France commissioned a fleet of 16, giving each aircraft the name of a province: Alsace, Anjou, Aunis, Auvergne, Berry, Champagne, Flandre, Gascogne, Guyenne, Languedoc, Lorraine, Poitou, Provence, Roussillon, Saintonge and Savoie. It was the "MB.220 Poitou" used by the President of the Council Edouard Daladier when he travelled to meet Hitler to sign the Munich agreements on September 28th, 1938. He took off from Le Bourget on the 28th at 8:30 am and returned on the 29th at 1:00 pm to a huge cheering crowd. Source : Dassault Aviation

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* Dates/names changed/added at the request of Nadine Goloubinoff who kindly picked out some inaccuracies.

Page refreshed : 22nd April 2021 (G)

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