Grammar, medical consultants, and yes, crinolines (well why not?) by Enid Richemont

Apologies for the quality of the image on the right, but it comes from an Early? Mid? Nineteenth Century French children's book called, "LA POUPEE PEINTE PAR ELLE-MEME", its cover image faded almost to oblivion. It came originally from an ancient house in La Vendee, a house full of such historical treasures, and which had been in the family of our very close French friends for centuries (at least three centuries, if not four). I set one of my Young Adult novels there - "WOLFSONG", which is currently available as an ebook on Amazon, if you're curious.

The house itself, sadly, has had a dramatic end to its very long and doubtless dramatic life. When the estate was  broken up and divided - French inheritance law is quite uncomfortable and often destructive - it went on to become a hotel in a part of rural France that didn't really attract tourists, so it failed, and eventually, after a succession of owners, was abandoned to the elements and the vandals, and one night there was a fire...

The book, given to us along with other curiosities (on the right, spectacles of such delicacy, with their velvet-lined case, costly at the time, sans doute) is fascinating. Published as a children's book with no discernable date, and full of rather elegant line drawings, the 'story' is actually about manners and correct behaviour, although it must have been difficult to be wayward while wearing one of those crinolines. The crinolined dolls do misbehave, though, or there'd be no drama, albeit slight, and what is even worse, they use incorrect grammar, so often have to be reprimanded by their owners (can I hear the faintest sighs of nostalgia among you?)

The magic lantern show - extremely advanced technology only available to rich, well-behaved and correct little girls in crinolines - is praised in the text for being so age-appropriate, with absolutely NO vulgar content (vulgar? Six year old girls? Banish the thought!) In fact, several very short paragraphs are dedicated to its virtuousness. The book's clearly handbound, too, with a fine rope-like twine. I have to come to the sorry conclusion that this was a story written by a grown up for other grown ups pretending to be children, having totally forgotten the messy, glorious and frequently vulgar reality.

On the other hand, though, the 'grammar' element does have its virtues. If only my medical consultant, in fact ALL medical consultants, had been exposed to this meticulousness re-grammar, perhaps fewer disastrous mistakes might be made ('Ooops, I meant the right leg, not the left, and I meant the appendix, not the heart' etc etc) I write with deep feeling having today received a copy of a referral letter sent to my GP, written in one extremely lengthy sentence, admittedly with a full stop at the end, and wondering if there might be a profitable career in teaching basic grammar to doctors, or at least to their secretaries. Any thoughts on this? 

  WOLFSONG   http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00846FYX0