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Tag Archives: Corsica
10 French Christmas Traditions
Like every country in Christendom, France has a range of Christmas traditions, local and nationwide. I explore a few in this post. Christmas used to be lower key, less commercialised and of shorter duration than in the UK. During our … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History
Tagged Bûche de Noël, chansons de Noël, Christmas, Corsica, French Christmas traditions, Noël, rural life, santons, SW France
28 Comments
SW France Summer Weather 2015
We had a great holiday on Corsica a couple of weeks ago. And it was a good thing we went then, because we had nice weather for the most part. One week later and it would have been quite different: … Continue reading
Shutters
One of the things that distinguish French houses from English ones is the use of shutters. This is not to say that no English houses have them; rather, that a lot of French buildings do, especially in the … Continue reading
Posted in French life, History
Tagged contrevents, Corsica, French architecture, French shutters, living in France, shutters, South of France, SW France, windows
14 Comments
French Solstice Customs
This post was written in 2014. This year, 2018, the solstice occurs at 11.23 pm Central European Time (10.23 pm GMT) on 21st December. We’re in winter now, marked by a sharp frost and bright sunshine (hurray!). The winter … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, Customs, History
Tagged Bûche de Noël, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Corsica, France, Noël, pagan traditions, solstice, solstice bonfires, solstice d'hiver, winter solstice
9 Comments
Corsican Vendetta in Fiction and in Reality
We have recently returned from our fifth visit to Corsica, the setting for my novel, The House at Zaronza (reissued in April 2018). L’Île de Beauté is a captivating place, with a savage beauty and a culture all its … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, History, Personalities, Places
Tagged Colomba, Colomba Carabelli, Corsica, Fozzano, Olmeto, Prosper Mérimée, The House at Zaronza, vendetta
3 Comments
Prehistoric Corsica: the Remarkable Site at Filitosa
Les Journées du Patrimoine fell this weekend in France, when historic monuments and sites throughout the country are open, many for free. I’d like to mark them with an account of a visit that has been on my bucket … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, History, Places
Tagged archaeology, Bronze Age, Corsica, Dorothy Carrington, Filitosa, megaliths, Neolithic period, prehistory, Roger Grosjean
16 Comments
Another excerpt from ‘The House at Zaronza’
With a little over two weeks to go before publication, here is another short extract from my novel The House at Zaronza. The story is set in early 20th-century Corsica and at the Western Front during World War I.
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, History
Tagged books, Cap Corse, Corsica, novel, The House at Zaronza, Writing
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An excerpt from my forthcoming novel, ‘The House at Zaronza’
I’m getting very excited about the publication of my historical novel with Crooked Cat Publishing, which is only just over a month away. I’m also delighted with the cover, above. Between now and 29th July, I’ll publish a few short extracts, starting … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, Places
Tagged books, Corsica, Crooked Cat Publishing, Historical fiction, The House at Zaronza, Writing
20 Comments
Meet My Main Character from My Novel ‘The House at Zaronza’
Today, I’m taking part in a blog hop for historical novelists, entitled ‘Meet My Main Character’. I was tagged by fellow writer and Writers Abroad colleague Dianne Ascroft who wrote about her main character last week.
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica
Tagged Cathie Dunn, Corsica, Crooked Cat Publishing, Dianne Ascroft, Main character, novels, The House at Zaronza, Writing
25 Comments
My novel, The House at Zaronza, to be published by Crooked Cat Publishing
I’m thrilled to announce that my novel, The House at Zaronza, will be published by independent publishers Crooked Cat Publishing, probably this summer. The novel is based partly on a true story, which we discovered on holiday in Corsica in … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica
Tagged books, Corsica, Crooked Cat Publishing, Lorraine Mace, The House at Zaronza, Writers Abroad, Writing
30 Comments
Round the Bend in Corsica
How do you get about in Corsica? The island is less than 200 kilometers long but has spiny mountain ranges everywhere. Until well into the 19th century, most roads were mule tracks and many villages were isolated and almost inaccessible. We’ve tried … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Corsica, driving, Morosaglia, Niolo Valley, Pascal Paoli, Restonica Valley
12 Comments
A Romantic, and True, Corsican Tale
Wherever I go, I find out so much more if I speak to the locals. This was certainly so during our recent – fourth – visit to Corsica, where we always find new things to see. We would not have … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, History
Tagged Cap Corse, Casa Maria Corsica, Corsica, love letters, Nonza, Writing
14 Comments
Walking in Corsica: Spoilt for Choice
Corsica is a paradise for walkers. Whether you are into extreme walking or just want a Sunday stroll, there is something for everyone. We are somewhere between the two. Although we have walked in Corsica before, this time we wanted … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, French life, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Corsica, Corte, France, GR20, Mare a Mare Nord, Randonnée, walking
3 Comments
Corsica: where to stay
For my other posts on Corsica, please click on ‘Corsica’ under topics in the righthand sidebar. Let’s be straight about this upfront. Corsica lives mainly from tourism, whether some of the inhabitants like it or not. The island has everything: … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, French life, Personalities, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Chambres d'Hotes, Corsica, Corte, France, Hotels, Saint-Pietro di Venaco, Vizzavona
4 Comments
Letting the train take the strain in Corsica
For my other posts on Corsica, please click on ‘Corsica’ under topics in the righthand sidebar. Most guidebooks will tell you that the only way to get around in Corsica is by car or motorbike. Up to a point, this … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, French life, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Corsica, Corsica without a car, France, Gustave Eiffel, micheline, rail travel, railway, trains
3 Comments
Corsica: l’Île de Beauté
For my other posts on Corsica, please click on ‘Corsica’ under topics in the righthand sidebar. The Greeks called it ‘Kalliste’ (the beautiful one); and Corsica certainly is beautiful in a savage, rugged kind of way. It’s known today as … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, French life, History, Personalities, Places, Walking in France
Tagged Ajaccio, Bastia, Corsica, Corsicans, Corte, France, Napoleon Buonaparte, Pasquale di Paoli
8 Comments
