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Melanie Clegg, also known as Madame Guillotine , is a successful novelist, avid blogger, and a self-proclaimed gin-swilling Victorian prostitute.  She is also the author of The Secret Diary of a Princess , an exciting new novel about Marie Antoinette's early, carefree years in Austria.  The Secret Diary of a Princess offers Antoinette-enthusiasts a fresh pair of spectacles from which to gaze at her, painting the portrait of a fun, charming, light-hearted girl.   Ms. Clegg was born in  Forres, Scotland on October 10th (the day French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, stood before the National Assembly and declared he could invent an efficient, humane killing machine.  Hence, her moniker, Madame Guillotine).  She has an Art History degree from the University of Nottingham. She bravely agreed to place her neck in the lunette, making herself vulnerable to my razor sharp questions.  (I can hear yo...

Wishes by Amalia K. Lately, I have been feeling like Life has been getting a little too heavy.  Health concerns.  Numerous professional obligations.  Maintaining my sanity (and eroding authority) while living with two clever, rebellious teenagers.  Facing my fear that no amount of expensive French, caviar-infused moisturizer will be able to reverse the withering affect the dry Alaskan air has had on my skin and hair, that I am destined to spend the remainder of my days looking like the Crypt Keeper in a pink pashmina.  And then there's the endless fretting about when the new season of Mad Men will begin.  Add to that the unbelievable shock and sadness that comes each time I look at a new photograph or listen to a new report about the poor, devastated people of Japan , struggling to rebuild some semblance of a life after last week's earthquake and tsunami. Well, it's a lot for one woman to deal with....

Musee Carnavalet, once the private residence of the famous letter writer, Madame de Sevigne , is my favorite museum in Paris. The building has changed very little since Madame de Sevigne was in residence and it is a delight to retrace her steps. As I strolled through the large hallways, walked down the wide circular staircase, and explored the grand rooms, I could very well imagine life in the era of Louis XIV. The Museum also houses one of the most impressive collections of Revolutionary artifacts. Pamphlets, flags, furniture, sketches and paintings from that turbulent time are on display. One room, within the labyrinth of rooms that make up this museum, stands out among the rest: The Marie Antoinette Room . This is where I first saw a lock of hair that once graced the head of my idol, Marie Antoinette. A mélange of emotions washed over me as I saw that tiny, curl of hair, a very tangible piece of evidence that she once lived. The lighting in the museum was dim and flash photograph...

George Washington’s Wood With Independence Day looming, it seems only fitting that I dedicate this Friday’s Fabulous Find to one of our Fabulous Founding Fathers. I found a rather curious object at a lovely chateau in northern France. George Washington’s wood has been polished and lovingly preserved at Château de Boucéel in Normandy. Wood in the very literal, not the metaphorical or slang sense (cheeky monkey). On a clear, crisp evening in March, the Comte de Roquefeuil invited me into his study and told me the story of our founding father’s wood and how it came to be at Château de Boucéel. Apparently, one of the Comte’s ancestors lent his support for our great cause. In return, George Washington sent him several tulip poplar trees from his Mount Vernon gardens. The trees grew on the grounds of Chateau de Boucéel until the devastating 1999 blizzard when heavy winds and thick snow took down the last original tree. Today, there are saplings growing on the grounds of the estate...

Glaces de forme de roses fabrication artisinale! Savvy visitors to Paris have probably heard about Berthillon , a family-owned gourmet ice cream shop located on the Île Saint-Louis. Established in 1954, Berthillon has become somewhat of an institution and was voted the best ice cream shop in Paris.  To that I say: Tu plaisantes? (Which translates: Are you joking?) The best ice cream in Paris is not found on the tony island but at Gelati d’Alberto (45, rue Mouffetard) in the lively and bourgeois Latin Quarter. The shop is not as charming as Berthillon, the atmosphere not as posh, but the ice cream is so outrageously delicious that it is easy to overlook the tacky sign and pink neon lights. Made with only the freshest and most natural ingredients, it is scooped using a paddle and shaped into a beautiful rose. I had Belgian Chocolate and Raspberry while my travel companion had French Vanilla and fresh blueberries. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in Paris, be ...

See Spot Run! Run Spot, Run! You might recall I wrote about my mad-cap adventures in the article How NOT to Visit the United Kingdom . Well, when I wasn’t giving first aid to unfortunate pedestrians, being interrogated by Buckingham Palace Guards, and flying on the queen’s own search and rescue helicopter, I was touring historic homes like Number 1 Royal Crescent in Bath. This magnificently restored home allows visitors to see what it would have been like to live in a townhouse in Georgian England. In the kitchen I found an item that captured my interest. It was a large iron wheel located above the fireplace. I asked the sweet-faced, blue-haired docent what it was and she told me it was a turnspit. Apparently, a dog would be placed inside the turnspit (it looked a little like a hamster wheel). The dog would run, causing the spit to turn and allowing the meat to be perfectly roasted and evenly browned. The docent even told me that the dogs put inside the turnspit were called turn...

I have decided to start a new column on this site. Every Friday, I will be posting a brief article about one of the fabulous objects d’art I have seen during my travels. These objects have aroused my curiosity and inspired my creativity. I hope you enjoy Friday’s Fabulous Finds! Napoleon's Nécessaire (Travel Box): While wandering through the Louvre on a blisteringly cold winter day, I happened upon this curious object: Napoleon’s Nécessaire. The emperor would bring this mahogany box containing over one hundred useful items (including a silver tea set, a ruler, compass, almond powder, mirror, ear picker, and shaving brush) with him on all of his military campaigns. One little gold box apparently contained licorice (one of the Emperors preferred treats). I couldn’t help but marvel at the opulence and practicality of the nécessaire, nor could I help but wonder what the little objects would say if they could speak. What would his mother of pearl handled penknife tell us about the “gl...