Jules Verne Forum

<jvf@Gilead.org.il>

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 19961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009

RE: LE CHATEAU DES CARPATHES (fwd)

From: Davor Sisovic <davor.sisovic~at~pu.tel.hr>
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 23:18:30 +0200
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~math.technion.ac.il>
Cc: <constantinox~at~hotmail.com>

Hello, Xavier,

> Cc: Constantino Xavier
> Subject: LE CHATEAU DES CARPATHES (fwd)
> I am Constantino Hermanns Xavier and I live in Lisbon-Portugal. I
> have read
> some novels of the great author Jules Verne and I was always very
> infleunced
> by them (I'm 19), especially LE CHATEAU DE CAPATHES, I just live
> it and read
> it many times.
> Fisrt I would like to ask you if you have additional infos on this book,
> essays, a background, interpretations etc, and if I can see a
> film version.

I saw a Chech film-version of Carpathian Castle, here are the data:

Title: "Tajemstvi hradu v Karpatech"
Production: Czechoslovakia, 1981, Color
Directed by: Oldrich Lipsky
Cast: Vlastimil Brodsky, Michal Docolomansky, Jan Hartl, Rudolf Hrusínsky,
Milos Kopecky, Evelyna Steinmarova
Sreenplay: Jirí Brdecka

This film is a kind of a horror-comedy, made in style of typical Cech
comedies from 1960-ties and 1970-ties. Verne's naration is followed pretty
close, with some interventions in less important parts; and La Stilla is
renamed in Salsa Verde.

> Seconddly, as I'm going to visit Romania for the first time in
> September (my
> love for that country started with this book) I wanted to know if
> there are
> REAL FACTS or perhaps some facts which inspired Verne to write this book,
> such as a village, the castle, or at least a region.
> Please let me know.
> THANK YOU (obrigado!)
>

Well, I have a theory, but not connected with Romania, and that's why I
asked about Verne's connections with Theophile Gautier. A theory is not
built up yet completely, but basics are in considering that Verne's model
for La Stilla character could be a famous Parisian singer and dancer,
Carlotta Grisi. She was at the top of her popularity in 1850-ties, a famous
ballet titled "Giselle" was written specially for her. I suppose that there
could be a possibillity for young Jules Verne to saw some of her
performances; but here are also some aditional indications for possible
inspirations with C. Grisi: Theophile Gautier senior, author of a libretto
for "Giselle", was deeply in love with Carlotta Grisi, and he was married
with her sister in law Ernesta. Theophile Gautier junior was editor in Le
Figaro Illustre during 1890-ties. If contacts between Verne and Gautier
familly were any closer, that could be possible that Carpathian Castle,
published at 1892., was some kind of dedication to Carlotta Grisi through
character of La Stilla - personal destinies of those two dancers and singers
were very similar; and, one step forward, it could be possible that Verne
placed his "organ story" "M. Re-Dieze et Mmlle Mi-Bemol", published at 1893.
in "Le Figaro Illustre", in Switzerland, where Carlotta Grisi moved after
finishing her career because of an injury. I repeat, it's just a theory, but
who knows...

This is so interesting to me, because Carlotta Grisi was born in Istrian
village Visinada, and this very village in mentioned in "Mathias Sandorf",
as a station on the road from Trieste to Pazin/Pisino...

So, Xavier, if you are going to travel to Romania, maybe you could find a
couple of days to visit Istria, just to see a born place of possible La
Stilla's model, and of course, as a bonus, the scenery of most important
events from "Mathias Sandorf" in Pazin...

Davor Sisovic
davor.sisovic~at~pu.tel.hr
http://www.ice.hr/davors/
Received on Tue 11 Jul 2000 - 00:22:56 IDT

JV.Gilead.org.il
Copyright © Zvi Har’El
$Date: 2009/02/01 22:36:11 $$