Great Lady's Diary - The Historical Fiction

12 th  September 1820   Dear diary, William is going crazy but you probably know it well. Why was he screaming yesterday? That is a really good question. I honestly did not know... Actually, nothing happened... I mean... It was impossible to find out! When I went to Catherine, she and Mary (my wise women!) told me what happened - William Anthony.... Ah! Let me tell you tomorrow!  Today I feel a little bit sour when I remind myself that tour... Different place every day... And those sad people and sad weather... They all were bored and they did not even know about it... It made me sick at the end... I spent two days nothing but laying in bed. My head was all the time aching and William said that I looked thin.   London. That is where I was born. That is what my parents knew before they left me... They could stay and live a little bit longer... Now I have new family and I am glad but that place made me feel so melancholically. That world is gone forever. Also, just before I overdosed sad

11 th September 1820   Oh, my dear diary! You will not believe what my husband has done this morning! He came into my chamber dressed as a knight! I have no idea where he found that armour, but he looked so cute! Ah! Such a perfect man who always does all he can to impress me! His ideas amaze me every single time! That is not all! He took me for a dinner dressed like armour-bearer! I do not know where he found those tights but ok! Ha, you are the best in this! I am also determined to start my Italian lessons. My dear friend Canaletto does not only decide to teach children painting but he also opens a little language private class. I mean he will come to our apartment each Wednesday and Friday. I cannot wait! Knowing languages is always useful in life! That is what my dear husband always tells me… Did I ever described where me, William and our two children live in Rome? This is such a lovely building with 3 floors. It is ours now so I guess we will come back here one day agai

10 th September 1820   Oh! I thought I would have written about England and Scotland today or maybe I would have started my new one-act drama, but my husband really like to ruin my plans… Yes! He took me for a romantic dinner instead! Unbelievable, right? What can I say? He just knocked to my chamber this morning, flowers in his hands (he said he picked up those field flowers by himself; I do not know where he found a meadow in Rome but ok) and he did not let me say a word – he just came and kissed me! And then he said, “Do not worry, my dear, I have prepared everything for you, my queen”. Ah, he is such a sweetheart! Then we left our residence (after breakfast and two hours of preparing THIS look; I mean my white-blue English style dress) and he knew exactly where to lead me – a little super cute restaurant. Only for us! Violin sounds played all the time, I have tasted so many completely new dishes to me that I look like I am with the third child now! We were there until the

9 th September 1820   Alright! I have just gotten a letter from my brother, you know… The king… He heard that so many people crave seeing another act of my drama so… Ok! I can make dreams come true! I will sit down by the table soon and write another part. I think I already have an idea for it… Let’s make it a Pamphlet for Men. It is going to be about 4 kinds of men – Don Juan (a selfish seducer and heartbreaker), Tristan (a man who cares about his lover too), Jesus from Nazareth (it may sound not proper, but it is all about this kind of love that cares more about giving than taking) and bonus from me – Romeo (a BOY who makes everything end faster than it starts). Ok, so you know now, my dear diary… It is a secret so do not tell anyone! Even my William does not know yet! Let me come back to my storytelling now. Another place I have seen lately is Paestum… I will say more and probably end the English and Scottish chapter the next time… So Paestum is a city-colony founded by Dorians in

Autokreacja artysty na podstawie listów Stanisława Wyspiańskiego Stanisław Wyspiański jest artystą totalnym. Tak dziś o nim mówimy. Co on jednak o sobie myślał? Co go interesowało najbardziej za życia? Na te pytania pomoże nam odpowiedzieć jego korespondencja do malarza Józefa Mehoffera i do przyjaciela Lucjana Rydla. Już pierwszy list do Mehoffera (1888 r.) pełen jest zachwytu nad różnymi zabytkami gotyckimi i renesansowymi. Opisuje i rysuje pałacyki, zameczki, rzeźby i kościoły bardzo dokładnie. Na razie brak większych wynurzeń o charakterze osobistym. Tylko wyraża chęć spotkania z adresatem i dalszego zwiedzania zabytków. Trzeci z kolei list z Krakowa, czyli z domu już, jest ciekawszy. Nie tylko dziewiętnastoletni Wyspiański daje sprawozdanie z podróży, także wyznaje, że widział piękną dziewczynę na stacji, która niestety pojechała w inną niż on stronę. Oczywiście najbardziej jednak skupia się na opisach sztuki i architektury. Był także w Muzeum Narodowym i oglądał nowe warszawskie

8 th September 1820   Dear diary, I have been reading books all day indeed. The painter brought few interesting books yesterday. The title which seemed the most surprising to me is Eulogy of Baldness by Synesius of Cyrene, so it had to be the first book to read for me. It was such a funny one that I would never imagine that Neo-Platonic philosopher could have written something like this. Few words about the author – Synesius (370-413) was not only a Greek philosopher. He was also educated in Christian philosophy; he was active publicly and last years of his life were spent in Cyrene where he became a bishop. Let me go further. Next books to read were written by… Hell no. Let me try again. Early Greek Christian Literature. In the second and third centuries, works were apologetic or theological and philosophical. One of the most important, educated Athenians who converted to Christianity is St. Clement of Alexandria. Considered to be the founder of scholarly Christian literatu

7 th September 1820   And then Amor flew away through the window… Yes, I have just finished writing new poem… And it feels so fresh! I saw in one of museums all that art that present this story, so I wanted to do the same one day. The only difference is that my tool is this quill pen. This one I hold in my hand right now. The one that looks at me too now. Ah, what shall I write about today? Ah, right! I have also just written a letter to my brother. I inform him that I met Canaletto here, I mention few places I saw recently and hope to see him soon, blah blah, nothing special. That is almost a formal letter because my brother is not only my brother – he is a king! You lady must always remember who you talk to! Well, maybe I will recall few English-Scottish adventures right now and I will go to see how my husband is doing. I am pretty bored tonight. I have done a lot, but I see it is not too dark yet. Ah, are you sleeping, Willy? Ah, my shoe wants to dance… Cirencester. Tha

Amor and Psyche*   The romance of passion and soul Amor knocks to bedroom door Every night he needs his wife Psyche always waits patiently   Castle tangled in ivy Eyes cannot see his face He would disappear like dust But childish love is sweet   Psyche cannot know lover’s name Amor has untouchable soul He has been around the world Even he can’t win with love   His own arrow hit him Now his kisses wake her up His feathers fall on neck Soft tough wings at the same time   He left blue cornflowers on bed Golden stardust in her eyes “Who are you, my sweet lover? Would it be good to never know?” * Poem inspired by Canova's sculpture and Roman  tradition .

6 th September 1820   Today I must spend a moment to relax and reflect. I am in a state of soul that constantly reminds me of where I am. A city like Rome leaves a glow on minds and weave a long thread of the past and tradition until now... Today we were visited by an unusual guest in our villa - the famous Canaletto, an Italian painter, and a smart man. I have already seen his works at the Royal Castle. My brother appreciates him very much. Now he is passing through Rome, he rushes to Venice, to his family. He stays with us and it is genuinely nice. My brother's court painter is almost a family! I will spend some time talking with him, and that is great. Artist and such a smart human! Today we talked about the Greek texts of the early Christians. He was reading it some time ago. He said he would bring me some translations. Unfortunately, I do not know Ancient Greek... But I would like to know these texts. I heard that these texts are pretty. Almost like love stories, some

5 th September 1820   Today we are going back to England as I promised. I am talk about storytelling… I have always imagined you, my dear diary, as such a student who sit under my feet who listens to me patiently and with written delight on their physiognomy… Maybe it is like my husband’s… Very handsome man… However, it is important that the horse did not destroy his face. It is important and he is doing well. I think he may figure out something again tomorrow… For real, it would not surprise me. He is such a restless kind of man… We have enough of fait divers, do not we? It is time to get to the point. Today I would like to focus on Shakespeare for the last time. Well, as I mentioned before, I fought for his chair like a lion. And here is how it was... Stratford. Shakespeare's little country. Before we got there, we went to few places from our map. I remember, e.g., Stonehenge, where I took moss and a piece of stone; The Crescent in Bath - a fashionable and beautifu

4 th September 1820   Today I will describe in few words latest walk around Rome and tomorrow I am going back to England, Scotland, and Shakespeare. But not only. A poet glorified a street called Campo de’Fiori* lately so I had to go there with my family today. It is Sunday so we also went to Vatican, but I will talk about it later. I do not know how many fountains I saw today. It all was amazing and wonderful but only one reflect in my mind now… We also had a good weather today. It was not too hot. I raced upstairs the Spanish Steps few times and this dress I wore today I absolutely deserve trophy. Wise me. What you would not do for children… Whereas William wanted to see aqueducts and thermal baths. He could not marvel enough. At the end we reached by the river Tiber. Totally different feelings than by our native one. Like a dream, like a different epoque. Ah! My husband also explored those famous Roman roads today. All roads lead to Rome. Yes, yeah, true. He also worshipe

3 rd September 1820 Today I must write around current adventures. Well, William felt good enough to wish to see Colosseum today. So, we went there. Large, romantic, eternal, and poetical building. But also full of buckets of blood, red sand, because it was favourite Romanians’ joy – to watch death. It was their beloved circus. Occasion of fun always awaited. There is nothing like watching how bodies of slaves and Christians are being torn apart. Delight for them, barbarity for me... My poor little brothers and sisters… It happened often that elder men and women ended their lives under paws in places like this. I think I can still hear this cheep of crowds; crunch of bones and the smell of blood will be stuck in the air forever. This stain will never be cleaned by humanity. Also, those scenes when similar people had to fight with each other and only one could win… Only to make crowds happy… I see it all here. What hits me the most is the cross put on necks of pagans. Under Nero p

2 nd September 1820   Can fiction (or drama) be a student’s book about history? That is what I am thinking about tonight. It is late. William fell asleep, stopped groaning. I would stroke those blond hair, but I do not want to wake him up. Flames dance on his face pretty. He is no longer suffering, he fell asleep. And new day will raise tomorrow, maybe his body will not feel any pain anymore. Oh, he bite his moustache… Like he knows that I write and think of him… Coming back to first sentence of this note… I have read King Lear by William Shakespeare today, and a little bit of his Chronicles . I really like this English writer. Maybe my William is his new incarnation… Maybe that is Romeo who never died… Anyway, I really like Mary Stuart’s story. I would love to say something about it someday… But I am not in mood today… Or maybe today… After one moment of reflection… Yes, I like Shakespeare and the Queen of Scots, not England, my namesake. Mary was a tragic personality, even

1 st September 1820   I have not written for few days, but I had my reasons… William fell of the horse, he has got injured unmercifully. I had to ease his suffering for last few days. My poor man. Listen how it happened. Beautiful Italian land. Warm and beautiful. We went for a ride around the suburbs of Rome. We reached one of tops of seven hills. The view on Roma Aeterna (Eternal City) was breath-taking. That is when my lover fell off horse. I do not know how. I swear, it had to be a romp of gods… For touching the sky... Now when you know that higher power plays with us sometimes, let me come back to sweet memories. I remember that we travelled through whole English isle. Few words about Newport today. It was a place reminding me paintings I used to see at rich people’s houses but this one was a live panorama. Water was pretty shining with sun reflection, like it was a bracelet made of gold and diamonds. We travelled by a lame boat. Island was our goal. It was wobbling a