The term meme, coined thirty years ago by the scientist Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) refers to “a unit of cultural information.” I was surfing the web one evening and came across such a unit of cultural information on Carla Nayland’s Historical Fiction blog. I couldn’t resist. Carla chose to stick with strictly fictional characters instead of historical ones, but since I write historical fiction, I get to cheat.
Three historical or fictional characters I’d like to meet:
1. Nostradamus, aka Michel de Notredame. Yup, the guy with all the predictions. He’s a pivotal character in the book I’m writing about Catherine de’ Medici, THE BLOODIEST QUEEN. I figure he must have been a rather odd sort, but when he wasn’t off having visions, he was a phenomenal physician (for the time). He was famed for saving many from the plague (although, alas, he lost his wife and children to the disease).
2. Maude Lilly, the clever schemer from Sarah Waters’ beautifully Dickensian FINGERSMITH. Maude is smooth and witty and educated, especially in terms of Victorian erotica; she’d make an elegant and interesting dinner guest.
3. Mister Spock. Okay, okay, I’m cheating here – Spock is fictional, but not a historical character unless you extend history to include the future. I’m a big STAR TREK fan – so sue me – and for me, massive intelligence plus dark good looks equals total coolness. I mean, all that pent-up heat simmering below that reserved, polished exterior…
Three historical or fictional characters I wouldn’t want to meet:
1. Sancha of Aragon. Sure, I chose her to be the protagonist of THE BORGIA BRIDE because I admire her tenacity – but she was spoiled rotten and conceited and despised any woman who could be considered a potential rival. We would hate each other; she’d probably spit on a commoner like me.
2. Tyler Durden of FIGHT CLUB. Because, if you’d read FIGHT CLUB all the way through, you’d know it was not a good thing to meet Tyler Durden face to face.
3. Vlad the Impaler – especially in human guise. True sadists give me the willies… and the real Vlad Dracula could have given Hannibal Lecter a run for his money anyday.
