The Strawberry Girl by Joshua Reynolds, 1775 (WikiArt.org)
I apologize for not writing for several days. My computer is on the blink.
I may need help.
Kind regards to everyone 💕
Boy holding a Bunch of Grapes by Joshua Reynolds, 1770 (WikiArt.org)
© Micheline Walker
24 May 2019
WordPress
Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Micheline's Blog 
😘😘😘
LikeLike
Thank you Luisa. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish your computer a speedy recovery, dear friend. Meanwhile, I somehow wasn’t able to enter a comment to your post about “The Miser.” It has inspired the Russian classic Pushkin to write his own one-act drama with the same title, and both his and Moliere’s have been produced on Russian stages quite often. Have a wonderful weekend, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
I thank you for your comment. My computer is not working well. I may have to purchase a better one. Regarding « l’Avare », there was a long friendship between France and Russia. French was spoken at Russian court and, in 1918, many Russians fled to France. Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky is of Russian descent. When his ancestor arrived in France, he simply said: I’m Russian, which, apparently, was noted down as the family name. Nadia Boulanger’s mother was Russian and a princess. She moved to France in the 19th century. Nadia was one of the finest composition teachers of the twentieth century, and a composer. Her father was a composer. My dearest, have a good weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly; the Russian classic Pushkin spoke only French until the age of 5, when they started teaching him to read Russian, and eventually, with the help of his nanny Arina, he acquired fluency in the spoken Russian. The French influence on Russian aristocracy started with Catherine the Great, even though she herself was of German origin. She promoted French culture, literature, opera, and architecture. My native city, Odessa, built by her order and dedicated to her, was designed as a living Baroque museum of architecture.
On a different note, I think my computer decided to follow your computer’s example, but so far I am managing.
Have a great weekend, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
Yes, Peter the Great wanted a port on the Baltic sea, he travelled to Europe, and ordered that the court be French. He founded Saint Petersbourg. And then came Catherine. Despite Napoleon’s offensive and subsequent fall, the court remained French and many of Napoleon’s soldiers would not attempt the journey back to France. They stayed in Russia. These are ties one doesn’t break easily. My computer is not doing well, but there is improvement. It doesn’t like multitasking. I’m investigating.
Have a wonderday day. Your friend, Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
Peter mostly attracted German and Dutch professionals and enticed them to Russia by offering all kinds of incentives. It was Catherine who corresponded with Voltaire and promoted French philosophy, as well as arts and culture. One of her reasons was to make people forget that she was German. In Odessa, sometimes dubbed “The Russian Marseille, French influence has always been very strong.
Again, I wish your computer speedy recovery.
Much love,
Dolly
LikeLike
Dear Dolly, My computer is still on the blink, but I have found a way to access the windows I require. I may have to purchase a computer that has more memory and doesn’t jump from programme to programme.
You’re absolutely right. I associate Peter the Great with ships. He travelled to Europe, sometimes disguised, and looked at boats. He decided the court would be European. Catherine befriended the philosophes. I remember writing a post in which I noted that she bought Diderot’s library and made him its custodian so he would not lose his books. The court became a French-language court. But everyone at court was already dressed like Europeans. That part was Peter’s part. He turned Russia into an empire: all the Russias.
I also experienced a personal loss. It saddens me, but I’ll recover. I always do. Love, Micheline.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so sorry to hear about your personal loss, dear friend! My most sincere condolences to you.
As to computers, my husband just bought me a new one and spent two days setting it up for my purposes, so that’s what I am happily working on right now. The old one will go to my nine-year-old grandson who cannibalizes old computers to construct new ones.
You are right about Peter the Great, who not only looked at boats, but worked on them as a deckhand. Saint Petersburgh was his “window to Europe.” In many ways, it still stays that way. “All the Russias,” however, are lost in current political turmoil, as both the “Small Russia” (Ukraine) and the “White Russia” (Belarus) have split off from the “Great Russia” and became separate countries.
Be well, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
A dear friend, whose father is of Ukrainian origin, but whose mother was of Russian origin, has decided that he is Ukrainian. The collapse of the USSR revived conflicts that had been dormant. It led to decades of instability. At times I warn “separatist” friends that they should consider remaining part of Canada, a stable country. Britain was kind to Quebec. It was French. Severe difficulties arose after Confederation. If one went West, one could not be educated in French in public schools. One had to attend a private school. Matters were settled in 1969, when Canada became officially bilingual. A blow to Quebec was losing Labrador. Quebec has not signed the Constitution Act of 1982. Quebec does not have a mandate to separate. Take care, Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thank you for filling in the details of Canadian history I didn’t know. Contrary to Britain’s kindness, Communist Russia committed atrocities in Ukraine in the 30s, and Ukrainians still cannot forgive and forget. Hopefully, the new extraordinary president of Ukraine will bring about the resolution.
Be well, dear friend.
LikeLike
In the 1930’s,Canada took in a large number of Ukrainian citizens. Most were sent to the Prairie provinces. It was a rather cold location, but one I love. Citizens of the Prairie provinces are fond of knowledge. Some go to Minnesota every year when the Metropolitan Opera goes on tour. I look upon them as our finest population. As well, when priests fled France to avoid the guillotine, Britain contacted the archbishop of Quebec to ask if Quebec could be home to émigré priests who would accept crossing the Atlantic. Several accepted to move to Quebec, which is how Quebec became the “priest-ridden’ province. But these priests opened up several colleges, so France returned to the former Nouvelle-France and it had the finest teachers and “missionaries.” L’abbé Sigogne, a very colourful figure, went to Nova Scotia. My dear, the history of Canada is quite extraordinary. Be well and have a good day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am aware, of course, of the Ukrainian refugees welcomed by Canada, but I had no idea that the unusual number of Catholic colleges in Quebec was due to priests escaping the French Revolution. One of dear friends and former colleagues had graduated from a Jesuit college in Quebec, but he has never shared with us this fascinating part of Canadian history.
Have a great day, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
Your friend would not have known because it was not taught. Most Quebecers don’t know. The founder of Acadie was Du Gua de Monts, a Huguenot. His expedition was funded by Henri IV. Champlain was also a Huguenot, but did not tell. Two thirds of my mother’s family left for the United States when the Edict of Nantes was revoked. They were businessmen and leaders. I discovered l’abbé Sigogne when I taught French-Canadian literature. There were priests who told French-Canadians that they were lucky to have escaped the French Revolution. I had to ask Britannica to edit an entry on the subject of Acadia. They did. One of my neighbours in Nova Scotia had a piece of furniture that had belonged to l’abbé Sigogne. It is fascinating. Be well, Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is truly fascinating, as is your family history. I do know that the Huguenot expedition was funded by Henry IV and I have learned that Louisiana Cajuns are descendants of Canadians who migrated South from Acadie. It’s an interesting linguistic phenomenon, since their patois is not actually a French Creole, but a French Canadian Creole, where “Acadian” transformed into “a Cajun”.
Have a wonderful day, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
The Acadians were deported in 1755. Some of the boats went down to Georgia. Deported Acadians walked from Georgia to Louisiana. Angélina Jolie is a descendant of the King’s Daughters. Acadian French differs from Quebec French. I was sent to diction and drama school and learned Comédie française French. In my mother’s family, three Bourbeau brothers left France after the siege of La Rochelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know about Arcadians, but I don’t know the reason for deportation. I am fascinated by your family history, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
Acadians, from a Mi’kmaq word (algatig), were deported (1755) so Britain would weaken Nouvelle-France. New France consisted of two provinces: Canada and Acadia. “Rumour” has it that the deportation was Paul Mascarene’s idea. He was lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, but his ancestors were Huguenots who had fled France. The boats went in various directions and families were separated. Longfellow wrote the story of Évangéline. It was based on the deportation. Antonine Maillet (Acadian) won the 1979 Goncourt prize for her novel « Pélagie-la-Charrette ». It’s about Acadians walking back to Acadia. I wrote an article on this novel, but the ending is weak. I wanted to revise it, but I was teaching two new courses and preparing language lab components. I was working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and fell ill. The article was published and can be read on the internet, but I would still like to revise the end of the article. As a university teacher I was Micheline Bourbeau-Walker. Have a good day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How interesting! Thank you for sharing all this information with me, and I will certainly look up your article, to find out more.
Have a wonderful weekend, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
Dolly, This is the link to my article. It’s in French and it was written hastily, the conclusion especially.
https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/fa/2002-n13-fa1812314/1005247ar/
My work on Molière is my best work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so very much for the link. I have used Google translate and sent the result to my granddaughter for proofreading machine translation. I am looking forward to reading your article.
I do realize that Moliere is your passion, dear friend, and I apologize for taking you on a tangent.
Have a wonderful weekend, dear Micheline.
LikeLike
I always forget about Google translate. It is an amazing tool. Finding the link was easy and a pleasure. Have a good Sunday. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too, have an enjoyable day, dear friend!
LikeLike
You too.💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
There was a German quarter in either Moscow or Saint Petersburg. He was interested in the technologies. It’s a serious loss, but even though this computer is crippled, I’ll manage. Work has always been a refuge. I have a WordPress community. Love, Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there was a German colony in Saint Petersburgh, and you’re right, Peter the Great founded both the Naval Academy and the Academy of Sciences.
Much love, Dolly
LikeLike
It’s a sad experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true.
LikeLike
I hope your computer is soon fixed
LikeLike
Derrick, I may have to purchase a new computer. The current computerIt is not a very stable. However, it has improved, so I hope to do my work. I am using internet publications which causes me to open too many windows. For instance I need the French text, a translation, and Word at the same time. Would that I could work without Word, but my WordPress text would become a hidden draft. All tabs have been closed, so matters should improve. I will look for a better computer. Writing the book has become very important to me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Derrick, I may have to purchase a more powerful and nimbler computer. But I have found a way of writing my posts on Molière, including an English. Quotations must be translated and George Dandin was translated, including its pastoral. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope your computer is fine now. I followed your blog
LikeLike
Thank you for writing. My computer is not working very well. I will have to buy a new one. Posting is almost impossible. Technologies! 🙂
LikeLike