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Where do stories come from? With historical
fiction, perhaps it seems more obvious – an event in the past, or a remarkable
real-life character is often the spark for a fictional tale. The Perfume Garden interweaves a contemporary story
with the Spanish Civil War, and there are certainly plenty of real events, and
battles, and incredible individuals like the war photographers Robert Capa and
Gerda Taro, and writers like Hemingway and Gellhorn. The inspiration for this
story lies closer to home, though.
I grew up in a remote, wild part of the UK, between Exmoor and Dartmoor
in the south-west of the country. Our closest neighbours were a glamorous
couple, who were renting an old farmhouse. She had been a costume designer for
Fellini, and he did something vague that involved lots of phone calls to Brazil. They
were flamboyant, and charming, poured lethal Gin and Tonics, and told wonderful
tales about how they had met in Paris.
One night I overheard my father tell my mother that the husband had fought in
the Spanish Civil War – on the Nationalist side.
 |
| author Kate Lord Brown |
That stayed with me – the thought that
someone you knew, and had liked, could have fought for the side that overthrew
a democratically elected government, confused me. Were all Nationalists
fascists? Were all Republicans communists? Over the years, I started reading
about the war, and when I studied photography at university, I learnt about
Capa, and Taro, and their remarkable work in Spain. When my husband and I ended
up living in the orange groves of Valencia for three years, I found
that even the younger generation quickly changed the subject if you asked them
about the war. I was curious, and ten years ago started to research and write
this story of a family, of a beautiful country torn apart by conflict. I hope
it’s a tribute to the remarkable sacrifices ordinary people make for freedom,
and the ones they love.
The
Perfume Garden
by Kate Lord Brown (see on Amazon UK and Goodreads) is published by Atlantic on
June 1st, 2012. Visit the author's blog at http://perfumegarden.blogspot.com and her website, www.katelordbrown.com, as well as the novel's book trailer, below.
Ana's review at Historical Tapestry had me wishing that I had a copy of this book now! I still have The Beauty Chorus to read too!
ReplyDeleteMy preordered copy was mailed last week. I'm going to have to make room in my schedule, because everything I've read about it sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis book keeps popping up on my radar in a good way. My critique partner writes about Spain and I've grown more and more drawn to tales about the Spanish Civil War. I'm going to have to get a copy. I love the author's story of the original trigger for her interest in this tale. Fascinating neighbors. Mine were so boring...
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting beginning point for a book. We might all pause and think about some point in our past when we were listening to someone else talking about some point in theirs.
ReplyDeleteI do think I've ever read anything set during the Spanish Civil War, but The Perfume Garden sounds good. I must read The Beauty Chorus first though, since I bought it after Kate Lord Brown's first guest post here :-)
ReplyDeleteHello - thanks for your lovely comments, and I'm glad you enjoyed the post. There's a signed copy giveaway running on Goodreads and TPG's Facebook page for anyone who hasn't bought a copy yet. Thanks again, Sarah - Kate
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