Grace Elliot's Blog (101)

Would You Break the Law?

Part 2 in my 'Smuggling' series poses the question: What would it take to make you break the law?

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/would-you-break-law-smuggling-2.html

Mouse-skin eyebrows were an essential fashion accessory in the 17th century - but when you think about it, not so very different from fake eyelashes make of plastic!

To read the full post please follow the link:

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/mouse-skin-eyebrows-short-history-of.html

What do Queen Elizabeth and botox have in common? DEATHLY PALE - is the second post in "A Short History of Makeup." http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/deathly-pale-short-history-of-makeup.html

This new series of blog posts takes a look at the history of makeup.

We start by looking at a fashion for bald foreheads...and consider how and why Queen Elizabeth I made herself into a style icon.

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/counterfeiting-and-painting-short.html

Wallpaper as a murder weapon?

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/death-on-walls-poison-in-victorian.html

Part 3 of Poison in Victorian Britain looks at the hidden poisons in food - and it seems the Victorians were every bit as reluctant as we are to take advice on what we should and shouldnt eat!

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/death-in-pot-poison-in-victorian.html

In this new series of blog posts, today we look at Death Clubs.

Death Clubs were supposed to cover the cost of a decent funeral, but instead became an incentive for murder!

Find out how by following the link:

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/death-club-poison-in-victorian-britain.html

Next on the list of 'Great Seducers' is the coquette.

We take Josephine Bonaparte as our model and discover what it takes to be a coquette.

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/2012/03/great-seducers-coquette.html

Please follow the link for the full post.

G x

Breath of Death.

“A great deal of slow poisoning is going on in Great Britain.”

Dr William Hinds 1857

            In the 1850’s a change came over the nation. As oil lamps, with their brighter light, replaced candles as the main source of household illumination, walls no longer needed to be pale reflective colours. Dark shades became fashionable and of these, there was a positive passion for Scheele’s Green and Schweinfurt Green.…

My latest post looks at King John's 'Sin Tax' and why it brought about legal change in medieval Britain.

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com

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Traditionally what are violin strings made from?

A)    Cat gut,

B)     Steel wire or

C)    Sheep intestine.

The answer, of course, is (c) – sheep intestine, so why then, do are the strings of violins, stringed instruments and tennis rackets called ‘cat gut.’ It seems the answer lies with a medieval myth about16^th century saddle maker, Erasmo. (*)

TO READ THE FULL POST VISIT:…

My mid week post involved the Emperor Napoleon and 30,000 rabbits. This reminded me of Napoleon’s reputation for being afraid of cats. Apparently this was an open secret amongst friends and adversaries alike. Indeed, during an important political debate, an opponent got the upper hand, throwing Napoleon off his stride, merely by bringing the subject of cats into the conversation.

Another example of this deep seated fear happened during the campaign for the Battle of…

My midweek blog post is a blend of animals, history and trivia- to stimulate and make you smile! This is an almost Monty Pythonesque tale involving the French Emperor Napoleon, his Major General ‘Berthier the Ugly’ and 30,000 rabbits.

PLEASE follow the link for the full post:

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For Mother’s Day I was lucky enough to be receive The Tudors DVD box set (and I didn’t even hint that hard!) So this morning you would have found me ironing along to Season Two…with tears streaming down my face. Anne Boleyn was executed. Say no more. An extremely moving episode, which is perhaps why, when it came time to write my blog post, my mind turned to thoughts of beheading… and the guillotine.

Where was the guillotine invented?

a)     …

My current guilty pleasure is watching The Tudors on DVD (a mother’s day present from my boys – clever chaps.) All of which set me thinking: how well do you know your Tudor history?

So here’s a simple question:

How Many Wives did Henry VIII have?

a)      6

b)      5

c)      4

d)      2

Now those of you with an English education will be counting on your fingers: Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.

So…

For your Sunday enjoyment, an excerpt from 'A Dead Man's Debt.'

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/p/samplesunday.html

In this excerpt we meet Lord Ranulf Charing and his arab stallion,…

With the royal wedding at the end of this week, my latest blog post reviews some historical trivia to do with marriage.

Was it better to see a toad or a monk on the way to the church?

How much did it cost to buy a bride?

Please follow the link for more:…

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/p/samplesunday.html

This week's excerpt from 'A Dead Man's Debt' joins Celeste, disguised as a maid, as she attempts to flee with evidence that would clear Lord Ranulf's name. (5 star rated historical romance.)

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It’s a fact, not widely acknowledged, that the witch hunts of the 16^th and 17^th centuries but the development of some modern medicines back several hundred years.

So how can this be when witches had a reputation as evil women, who used black magic and charms to lay curses and do the devil’s work.

TO READ THE FULL POST…

Part 2/2 of funny photos to raise a smile.

http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/2011/04/more-smiles.html

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