"Marianne" is the women republic allegory. Nicknamed "La gueuse" (the villainous) by Vendeans.This nickname is still used by french royalists)
| Arrival of the Vendean captives in Nantes gave rise to great jubilation among the people. The "tricoteuses" [the women who jeered the victims at the foot of the guillotine] of Nantes enjoyed certain little games with the prisoners.One of their favourite pranks was to gouge out the eyes from the heads of babies...what jokers they were! The illustration, right, is taken from a little book published by Gallimard ("Vendée Maritime", 165F £16.5). As well as giving a commendably accurate version of the historical facts, this work is extremely rich in information on local habitats, flora and fauna, and on Vendean culture. |  |