Labyrinth by Kate Mosse Acquaints Us With Fictitious and Real People

Summary: Labyrinth, archaeological mystery English-language novel about medieval and modern-day France by Kate Mosse, acquaints us with fictitious and real people.

"God talks to human beings through many vectors: through each other, through organized religion, through the great books of those religions, through wise people, through art and music and literature and poetry, but nowhere with such detail and grace and color and joy as through creation. When we destroy a species, when we destroy a special place, we're diminishing our capacity to sense the divine, understand who God is and what our own potential is." Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., April 19, 2023, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts.

“And there’s many people out there who want us to move to the next planet already and I’m like, hang on, let’s not give up on this planet yet," William, Prince of Wales, July 31, 2023, Sorted Food food truck, London, England, United Kingdom.

The real Trencavel fortress acts as real ambiance to fictitious and real people in the southwest France of July 1209 in Labyrinth by Kate Mosse; Monday, July 16, 2007, image of Château Comtal ("Count's Castle"), Carcassonne, Aude department, region of Occitania, southern France: Pinpin, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Labyrinth, archaeological mystery English-language novel about medieval and modern-day France by Kate Mosse, acquaints us with fictitious and real people even as it acts as the first book in the Languedoc trilogy.

Pic de Soularac (from French pic de, “peak of”; perhaps Occitan soula rac, “sun rock”) biogeography in southwest France’s Sabarthès Mountains brings forth Dr. Alice Tanner. July 2005 configures Alice as fictitious counterpart of fictitious Alaïs, 17-year-old wife of Guilhem in Carcassone (from Latin Carcasō, “stone”? via Occitan Carcassona) 796 years earlier. She domiciles with such dwellers as cook Jacques, guard Bérenger and sister Oriane at Château Comtal (from Latin castrum -lum comes -ālis, “fort little count pertaining”).

That fortress existed even as Viscount Raymond-Roger Trencavel (1185-Nov. 10, 1209), his father Roger II Trencavel (?-March 1194) and his grandfather Raymond I Trencavel (?-1167) existed.

Alaïs’ father, Intendant Bertrand Pelletier, facilitates fictitious feats with non-fictitious Bertrand of Saissac, as Viscount Trencavel’s guardian, and non-fictitious Raymond-Roger, Count of Foix (?-March 27, 1223).

Intendant Pelletier guards the Trencavel fortress; its fictitious people, such as medicine-, poultry-, and remedy-gathering Esclarmonde and her son Sajhë; and its real ruling family members. That fortress likewise houses such fictitious people as the weaver Na Marti and her husband Sénher Marti (from Occitan na, “lady, ma’am” and sénher, “lord, sir”). François is a fictitious servant to Alaïs Pelletier and Guilhem du Mas even as Viscount Trencavel’s and wife Agnès de Montpellier’s (1190-1226) inhabitation includes real servants.

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse joins fictitious and real people, with the former juxtaposing fictitious names to real positions, the latter juxtaposing fictitious interactions to real journeys.

The real Pic de Soularac mountain peak acts as real ambiance to fictitious people in the southwest France of July 2005 in Labyrinth by Kate Mosse; Sunday, Sep. 2, 2018, 15:42, image of west slope of Pic de Soularac ("Peak of Soularac"), summit in the French Pyrenees (French: Pyrénées; Occitan: Pirenèus), as viewed from the northern flanks of Saint-Barthélemy, a summit in the Ariege Pyrenees (French: Pyrénées ariégeoises), Ariège department (Occitan: Arièja), region of Occitania (French: Occitanie; Occitan: Occitània), southwestern France: Lucas Destrem (LucasD), CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

The real Trencavel fortress acts as real ambiance to fictitious and real people in the southwest France of July 1209 in Labyrinth by Kate Mosse; Monday, July 16, 2007, image of Château Comtal ("Count's Castle"), Carcassonne, Aude department, region of Occitania (French: Occitanie; Occitan: Occitània), southwestern France: Pinpin, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:France_cite_de_carcassonne_chateau_comtal2.jpg

The real Pic de Soularac mountain peak acts as real ambiance to fictitious people in the southwest France of July 2005 in Labyrinth by Kate Mosse; Sunday, Sep. 2, 2018, 15:42, image of west slope of Pic de Soularac ("Peak of Soularac"), summit in the French Pyrenees (French: Pyrénées; Occitan: Pirenèus), as viewed from the northern flanks of Saint-Barthélemy, a summit in the Ariege Pyrenees (French: Pyrénées ariégeoises), Ariège department (Occitan: Arièja), region of Occitania (French: Occitanie; Occitan: Occitània), southwestern France: Lucas Destrem (LucasD), CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pic_de_Soularac,_versant_ouest_(3).jpg

For further information:

Dictionnaire de l’Occitan Médiéval. DOM en ligne. Munich, Germany: Bavarian Academy of Sciences..
Available @ https://dom-en-ligne.de/dom.php?lhid=4dqN83calp4xbiz5Nsx8Wu

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 April 2024. "The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse Acquaints Us With Phacelia." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-mystery-of-acid-soil-by-kate-mosse_01423463037.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 April 2024. "Clematis Crispa Appears in The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/04/clematis-crispa-appears-in-mystery-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 5 April 2024. "The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse Allows Jane Marple Drinks." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-mystery-of-acid-soil-by-kate-mosse.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 29 March 2024. "The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse Airs Birds and Butterflies." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-mystery-of-acid-soil-by-kate-mosse.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 March 2024. "Tea Leaves Are Safer in The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/03/tea-leaves-are-safer-in-mystery-of-acid.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 March 2024. "Jane Marple Ambles About The Mystery of the Acid Soil by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/03/jane-marple-ambles-about-mystery-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 8 March 2024. "The Mystery of the Acid Soil Avails Us of Jane Marple by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-mystery-of-acid-soil-avails-us-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 1 March 2024. "French and Occitan Phrase Books Adopt The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/03/french-and-occitan-phrase-books-adopt.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 23 February 2024. "Kate Mosse Archives Cathar Country Cuisine in The Winter Ghosts." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/02/kate-mosse-archives-cathar-country.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 February 2024. "Animals Are Allowed Lives Apart From The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/02/animals-are-allowed-lives-apart-from.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 February 2024. "Plants Are Allowed Lives Apart From The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/02/plants-are-allowed-lives-apart-from.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 2 February 2024. "Brian Gallagher Adds Graphic Art to The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/02/brian-gallagher-adds-graphic-art-to.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 26 January 2024. "Kate Mosse Adds A Fictitious Place to Real Places in The Winter Ghosts." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/01/kate-mosse-adds-fictitious-place-to.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2024/01/kate-mosse-assembles-fictitious-and.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 24 November 2023. "La Fille de Mélisande by Kate Mosse Arises From Pelléas et Mélisande." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/la-fille-de-melisande-by-kate-mosse_24.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 November 2023. "La Fille de Mélisande by Kate Mosse Acts as French Phrase Book." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/la-fille-de-melisande-by-kate-mosse_17.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 November 2023. "La Fille de Mélisande by Kate Mosse Admits Gold, Green, Red and White." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/la-fille-de-melisande-by-kate-mosse_10.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 November 2023. "La Fille de Mélisande by Kate Mosse Airs Field, Forest, Marine Animals." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/la-fille-de-melisande-by-kate-mosse.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 October 2023. "Field and Forest Plants Abound in La Fille de Mélisande by Kate Mosse." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/10/field-and-forest-plants-abound-in-la.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 20 October 2023. "Kate Mosse Anchors in Allemonde her La Fille de Mélisande short story." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/10/kate-mosse-anchors-in-allemonde-her-la.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2023. "La Fille de Mélisande by Kate Mosse Adds a Pelléas et Mélisande Sequel." Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/10/la-fille-de-melisande-by-kate-mosse.html

Mosse, Kate. 2022. "The Mystery of the Acid Soil." Pages 299-333. In: Agatha Christie. Marple: Twelve New Mysteries. New York NY: William Morrow Imprint, HarperCollins Publishers.

Mosse, Kate. 1 January 2009. "La Fille de Mélisande." Pages 247-254. In: Jeanette Winterson (Ed.). Midsummer Nights. London UK: Quercus Publishing.

Mosse, Kate. 2022. Labyrinth. London UK: Phoenix Books imprint, The Orion Publishing Group Ltd. First published in Great Britain in 2005 by Orion Books.

Mosse, Kate. October 2009. The Winter Ghosts. London UK: Orion Publishing Group.