1.1.1-Bobcatmoran

Club Ninety-Three 1.1.1 The Woods of La Saudraie
This is my first time reading Ninety-Three, and I’m going into it with only the vaguest background on the actual history involved and know nothing of the plot beyond “takes place in France in 1793…probably.” Also, my translation dates from 1903 (Helen B. Dole), and has such gems as a grenadier exclaiming “By Jove!”

Anyhoo, random thoughts under the cut.

The vivandière is such an opinionated spitfire. I love her.

I also love how the kids, when they wake up, “were more curious than frightened. They admired the plumes.” That’s actually pretty reassuring, as it means that despite the war, despite all the tragedy and the doubtless terrifying situations they’ve been through, they’re still kids, and here, with their mom, they feel safe. Also, that is such a perfect reaction for them to have, a sort of, “Oooh, shiny!” moment.

And I want to give Hugo major kudos for setting the scene in the woods the way he did, where “it was impossible to see a man ten feet away,” and “the moss and thick grass deadened the sound of the marching men.” If you get separated from the group in a situation like that, especially if you’re from the urban environs of Paris, that’s got to be terrifying, and so much more so if you know there’s enemy soldiers out there somewhere nearby.

Commentary
Acegrantaire I hadn’t thought about the urban/rural divide for the soldiers! That…actually ties in really well with one of my own thoughts about the chapter, which is that everyone is kind of out of their element. Also it adds another layer of nuance to the fact that these soldiers are waiting to be ambushed in what is, objectively speaking, a rather pretty forest! Just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean that it can be trusted, after all, and doubly so for men from Paris who might have had some scares about the difference between edible and not edible plants while foraging. (if they foraged? which I lack the historical context to be sure about. BUT THEY PROBABLY DID.)

Pilferingapples The kids ARE great! Hugo is really, really good with writing kids.

I am hereby politely requesting that you keep us updated with all Wacky Anachronistic exclamations. :D