Archie's Imagined Shore

[anteros_lmc]

Yesterday I went to visit Culzean Castle, seat of Clan Kennedy and the Earl's of Cassillis and just before I left I checked my flist and was delighted to find nodbear's beautiful sonnet The Imagined Shore. So here are a couple of pictures of a shore that Archie may well have imagined.

Comments

[_likimeya]

This is so beautiful! ;__;

[anteros_lmc]

It's an absolutely gorgeous spot. I never tire of visiting Culzean :) Btw this icon is Ailsa Craig, an island off the coast of Culzean, half way between Ireland and Scotland.

[eglantine_br]

Would Archie have lived at Culzean? Had family there? I referred again to the lovely book you sent.

The rich are different... But a little boy would have thought of any home as home.
I love the image of little Archie paddling naked on the beach. I grew up myself paddling naked on the beach. (No cliffs or castles though.)

I read 'The Factor' again. It is one of my favorite stories. But I am still confused about Archie and Culzean.

[anteros_lmc]

Would Archie have lived at Culzean?
No. I don't think so. If he had been directly related to Cassillis he would never have been left to rot on Justinian. That's why I put two and two together to make the estate factor his grandfather and his father a minor branch of the Kennedy family. There are Kennedy houses and estates all over South West Scotland so I would imagine his family had a minor estate somewhere on the Ayrshire coast in the vicinity of Culzean. Perhaps the earl invited them to Culzean from time to time though :)

But I am still confused about Archie and Culzean
I think Archie was deliberately trying to be confusing in The Factor ;)

All children should grow up paddling naked on the beach. Though the sea is always freezing in Scotland!

[esmerelda_t]

Yup, I agree, if Archie was a a Culzean Kennedy I can just about squint and see how he'd have been left to rot on Justinian but there's no way in hell Kingston would have happened, you don't convict the son, or even nephew, on shoddy evidence, of one of the most powerful aristocrats in Scotland and not suffer the consequences.

Oh and Culzean is pretty. :D

[anteros_lmc]

there's no way in hell Kingston would have happened
I was trying not to think about Kingston. *sniffle*

I agree 100%. Particularly given that the 12th Earl, who would have been about the same age as Archie, was a close associate of Lord Grenville and Earl Spencer, Lord of the Admiralty.

And yes, Culzean is ridiculously pretty!

[eglantine_br]

So--so, if he was a Culzean Kennedy, he could have played on the beach, and still maybe been sent to Justinian. I mean he never told his parents how awful it was. He just wrote 'I am fine, send socks' sorts of letters. He was too ashamed to do anything else.

And he could still live happily ever after and not die in Kingston!

(if we all squint really hard together maybe.)

This is me realizing that if I want to go on with my big weird story I may have to deal with Archie's family somehow.

[anteros_lmc]

*squinting really hard*

I still see Archie as belonging to a minor branch of the clan. One of the reasons I liked the factor story is that the factor was clearly of lesser nobility (if at all) but still had an important relationship with the earl. Estate factors could be pretty powerful men!

He just wrote 'I am fine, send socks' sorts of letters. He was too ashamed to do anything else.
Definitely agree Archie would have been too ashamed to say what was really going on. But if he had a direct connection to the earl I think it's more likely he would have ended up on a flagship or at least a ship with better prospects than Justinian.

he could still live happily ever after and not die in Kingston!
Ah yes! Now that I definitely agree with! :D Write it, write it, write it, write it....

[eglantine_br]

Oh, love that icon.

Visits to Culzean then, perhaps. In my world I already made Archie an earls son-- I don't know, looks like a lot of research for me. (This is a good thing. I love to wallow around in the finding things out parts.)

Of course, to Archie the relevant thing is that they are his parents. Even at twenty he is too young to see his family from the outside much at all.

A long way yet to Kingston, much less spaniel dogs.

I have the house to myself tonight. I ordered pizza, so I could eat and not think too much. I intend to write.

[anteros_lmc]

Oh, love that icon.
Me too. It's a bit dark though, I should really make a brighter version.

In my world I already made Archie an earls son
He is your Archie and that is the main thing.

looks like a lot of research for me. (This is a good thing. I love to wallow around in the finding things out parts.)
I have another book here on the Kennedys and Culzean, not the one I sent you, a much more comprehensive one. I haven't read it yet, I must see if I can track down another copy for you.

Of course, to Archie the relevant thing is that they are his parents.
Of course. And he will love them and kick against them regardless of titles, estates and entail.

I ordered pizza, so I could eat and not think too much.
Hehe! I do exactly the same thing when I am on my own! Hope you had a good writing night :)

[mylodon]

Oh, look at that blue. Archie's eyes! Thank you so much for posting.

[anteros_lmc]

Perfect isn't it?