Dark Angels Note 104
Dearest Friends,
Welcome back to our weekly Dark Angels Note.
This week we’re taking a trip back to France and back in time to pay a visit to the life of novelist George Sand.
Observing
This day marks the birthday of French romantic writer, Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dudevant, née Dupin (1 July 1804 - 8 June 1876).
“what a brave man she was, and what a good woman”- Ivan Turgene
“Refusing to be limited to being just a woman writer,” she was better known by her nom de plume, George Sand. The male-gendered name and adopted persona granted her more freedom in Paris in the 1830s – allowing her to wear trousers without a permit and even smoke in public!It also granted her access to the Parisian literary arena where she was free to observe society in all its forms. Dupin channelled her lifelong love of the countryside and sympathy for the poor into her works. Together, they form a rich collection of rustic novels, memoirs and her first solo novel, Indiana, which brought her immediate fame.
Reading
Not only did she lead the way for many authors to publish with masculine names, Dupin inspired Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetic tribute: To George Sand: A Desire
Writing
“Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.”― George Sand
Dupin talks of ‘kindness’ as a treasure. Think of a recent time when you’ve experienced kindness. Who was the bearer? What did they do that was so kind?Write them a thank you letter. You don’t need to send it. It can be yours to treasure.
Sharing
In this section, we’d love for you to share all the wonderful things you’re doing and writing with the wider Dark Angels family. Send us your poems, writings, links and writerly whatnots.
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Diary
We are Nature: Aracena, 23rd – 28th September
We have almost reached capacity for this September’s long-awaited return to Finca El Tornero del Rebollar with Neil and Gillian. There are still a couple of room shares available in the house and space for two tents in the garden. Interested? Check out more details on the course here, or email Susanne directly.
Weekly Tuesday Gatherings
There will be an intermittent service of Tuesday gatherings over the next few weeks, as we take a break for the summer. Neil will next be hosting on July 12 and August 16. Back to normal from August 30.Join us for a reflective hour of reading, writing and communing led by Neil Baker. Everyone is welcome; in fact invite a friend along. We meet at 7pm UK time. To join us, click here on the night. There’s no need to register in advance and we’ll be using the same link every week from now on.
Be well, keep reading, keep writing and know that we’re always here.
From everyone at Dark Angels
Photo by Auriane Clément on Unsplash