What’s a Bohemian?

When I hear the word Bohemian, I always think of a liberal minded person, someone with a tendency toward live and let live. They have a lot of books and those books are scattered about and maybe a bit dusty because they believe in enjoying life and not stressing too much about trivial things. When I hear Bohemian, I picture someone who explores and appreciates cultures other than their own. Bohemia also designates a country and whether that country still exists, is confusing, since Czechoslovakia became “the former.” I’m never exactly sure I know what a Bohemian is. A hippy? I did a little research.

Bohemia is not only a place, “Bohemia,” but “Bohemian” is one of the Slavic languages. It’s also a word used to describe someone who has “informal and unconventional” social habits, an intellectual of the artistic class, a lifestyle rebelling against social conventions, especially social relations. The dictionary goes on to use examples as an artist or a writer and mentions art galleries and sushi bars. When you throw art galleries and sushi bars into the mix, I’m reminded of another word coined some years back, Yuppie, short for young, urban, professional.

Using the word Bohemian to describe someone’s lifestyle originated in the mid 1800s, from French Gypsies who came from Bohemia, though the Gypsies may have only traveled through Bohemia to reach the west.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical series, The Lion’s Trace Available here:

The Lies of the Lion (Book 1)

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Lion-Lions-Trace/dp/0965114074

The Guild (Book 2)

http://www.amazon.com/Guild-Hesters-Goodwill-Lions-Trace/dp/1484916697

The Last Quadroon (Book 3)

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Quadroon-Lions-Trace-Volume/dp/149283999X

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

     

A Brit Unknowingly Tampered With the Truth… A Cinderella Story

What little girl didn’t grow up hearing the story of Cinderella? Her glass slippers were the enchanting part of the story, how they sparkled in the moonlight. But the truth is… Cinderella’s slippers weren’t glass at all! They were made of velvet or another exquisite fabric, just like all the slippers the pretty ladies wore to the ball. Here’s what happened… an English author was translating the book and saw the French word for velvet, which looked a lot like the French word for glass. He went with the glass and gave Cinderella her world famous glass slippers. Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prince-Before-After/dp/1484086392

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celtic-prince-suellen-ocean/1102338307?ean=2940016618968

Slavery: The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was an organization of people who worked together to bring slaves north from states like Mississippi, Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, the Carolinas, etc. One of the main directors of the UGRR was an intelligent African American, William Still, whose writings leave us with stories that would have gone untold. The UGRR had a group of members, the “Committee,” who made decisions about the needs of slaves brought before them. Because of this group of Abolitionists, many families were reunited and many lives were reclaimed.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy.

Available Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Pansy-Suellen-Ocean/dp/1484900278

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

http://smashwords.com/b/313643

eBook at Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-pansy-suellen-ocean/1115251569?ean=2940016438160

A Common Southern Sermon: Servants Obey Your Masters

Historically, people have gone to church for a variety of reasons. Before the Civil War, slave owners brought their servants to church where they were submitted to sermons extolling the virtues of obeying their masters. In August of 1855, with the help of the Underground Railroad, a former slave reached freedom in Canada. When he wrote back to those who helped him find freedom, he refers to Canada as the “Northern Canaan,” meaning he believed he had found the “Promised Land.”  Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy.

Available Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Pansy-Suellen-Ocean/dp/1484900278

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

http://smashwords.com/b/313643

eBook at Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-pansy-suellen-ocean/1115251569?ean=2940016438160

Their Legends Made for Weird Gargoyles

When I went to Europe, I didn’t quite understand the weird gargoyles. I came home with five different post cards of monsters decorating European facades. Now I realize that those gargoyles were the imagination of artists who had not traveled the world, so believed these strange creatures might have existed. In that era, there were legends that in far off lands men had one eye in the middle of their forehead, fire-breathing dragons roamed, and animals were half bird and half mammal and some humans had no mouths at all. Today, gargoyles are part of Europe’s unique ancient history.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical series, The Lion’s Trace Available here:

The Lies of the Lion (Book 1)

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Lion-Lions-Trace/dp/0965114074

The Guild (Book 2)

http://www.amazon.com/Guild-Hesters-Goodwill-Lions-Trace/dp/1484916697

The Last Quadroon (Book 3)

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Quadroon-Lions-Trace-Volume/dp/149283999X

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

       

Olde England: What Does Chivalry Mean?

Chivalry comes from the French word for horse, “cheval.” Knights who rode on horseback were expected to be courageous in battle, loyal to their lord and a gentleman to the ladies. Chivalry came about after an era of brutal wars. Europeans had begun to expect more of each other and were tired of the violence. A knight had quite a few morals that he was expected to live up to and his training often began at the tender young age of twelve. A young knight’s training included the correct use of weapons, riding a horse in battle, learning manners and participating in cultural pursuits like singing and learning the latest games. Before becoming a knight, the young man would carry the shield, helmet and lances of his lord. The young man was now a squire. “Escuyer” is a French word that means shield bearer.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prince-Before-After/dp/1484086392

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celtic-prince-suellen-ocean/1102338307?ean=2940016618968

Olde England: What Kept M’Lady of the Castle Busy?

The lady of the castle was a general manager of sorts. She supervised the growing of food in the castle orchard and garden, oversaw the cooking, the spinning and dying of wool and the sewing of clothes for her family and servants. M’Lady also had the responsibility for seeing that the sick were cared for.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the historical series, The Lion’s Trace Available here:

The Lies of the Lion (Book 1)

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Lion-Lions-Trace/dp/0965114074

The Guild (Book 2)

http://www.amazon.com/Guild-Hesters-Goodwill-Lions-Trace/dp/1484916697

The Last Quadroon (Book 3)

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Quadroon-Lions-Trace-Volume/dp/149283999X

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

    

Olde English Genealogy: What Does Heraldry Mean?

Heraldry refers to the symbol a chieftain or lord used to identify his fiefdom. This symbol was displayed in a banner, on his coat, on his soldier’s coats and on their armament. This is where the expression “coat of arms” originated. During these medieval ages, they called a messenger a “herald.” Because messengers wore their lord’s symbol on their coats and probably on their horse’s saddle and maybe carried a small banner with their insignia, the castle guards would look down and recognize the herald’s symbol. When there was a marriage between families, each having their own coat of arms, they were combined.

The use of a coat of arms began with the era of William the Conqueror. Although William was of Viking descent (a man from the north, a Norman) he had settled in northern France (Normandy) so you’ll se a lot of French words in coats of arms and in their mottos. Viking, French, English… genealogy is not so simple.  Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prince-Before-After/dp/1484086392

eBooks and computer downloads available through Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ocean

eBook through Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celtic-prince-suellen-ocean/1102338307?ean=2940016618968