It is based on the life of Julie d'Aubigny (or Mademoiselle Maupin or La Maupin or Julie-Emilie de Maupin. There are different names recorded for her). Julie was born around 1673 and died in 1707 in a convent. She has no known grave. She was a famous swordsman or swordswoman and Opera singer. She had a famously androgynous appearance, wore breeches, and had high profile relationships with both men and women. Here is a link to Kelly Gardiner's page where she details more of her findings on Julie's incredible life https://kellygardiner.com/fiction/books/goddess/the-real-life-of-julie-daubigny/
Kelly's Research blog for Goddess: http://kellygardiner.tumblr.com/
The fictional account of Julie from Six Drawings Illustrating Theophile Gautier's Romance Mademoiselle de Maupin by Aubrey Beardsley, 1898
An anonymous print ca.1700 titled Mademoiselle de Maupin de l'Opera
I'd like to maybe do some sort of ode to her life. I have thought of doing something similar for Anne Boleyn, another favorite woman of mine from history.
You should do it!!! The book sounds good - I am adding to my list.
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