The Vatard Sisters (33 page)

246
 
…
hob-nailed boots of water-carriers
. According to the description in a nineteenth century newspaper article, the water-carrier was usually between 20 and 40 years old, and between 5’ 5” and 5’ 9” tall. He wore a large brimmed leather hat, which served him as both parasol or umbrella depending on whether it was sunny or wet, a red sash around his waist as a belt, and monstrous boots, furnished with a huge quantity of large-headed nails.

247
 
…
the Iles-Marquises
. The restaurant Aux Iles-Marquises is still at 15 Rue de la Gaité in Paris, and still specialises in seafood.

XX

251
 
…
products from Montereau and Creil
. This group was formed in 1840 by the merger of two porcelain manufacturers, Creil and Montereau. The works at Creil had originally made use of techniques developed by Josiah Wedgwood, such as mixing calcined and powdered flint into the clay to produce porcelain with a smoother, shinier finish, which became known as English faïence.

253
 
…
living it up at their posh parties
. Huysmans uses the expression
des noces de bâtons de chaises,
which generally means to celebrate or ‘to go out on the town’. The phrase probably has its roots in the eighteenth century when those attending parties or
soirées
would arrive in sedan chairs (
chaises
) carried on poles (
bâtons
).

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Publishing History:

First published in France in 1879

First published by Dedalus in 2012

First e-book edition in 2012

Translation copyright © Brendan King 2012

The right of Brendan King to be identified as the translator of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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