Georges Guynemer

[Onewriter]

I am an author, writing a biographical fiction of Georges Guynemer. Have read everything I can find about his flying career, but have found little detail of his personal life, either before or during the war. Since I am writing biographical fiction, it doesn't matter much (I can embellish), but I would like to be as true to his real story as possible in order to honor the man. If it's too far off the mark it will be simply fiction.

1) Does anyone know if he has any living relatives? I know of a grand-nephew, but beyond that am able to find nothing.

Am meeting with Jean-Claude Brouillet of French WWII fame who has some things to tell but, though he is French, they will be second-hand as he was not alive during The Great War.

2) Does anyone have any thoughts on why Guynemer's life story has not been told in full detail, either in literature or film, beyond brief biography? I know of Angel's Wing, a 1996 French film, but it is so off the mark on Guynemer's true story that only the fact that the hero is French aristocracy could be equated with Guynemer, and this included nearly ALL French pilots of the time at the beginning of the war.

Appreciate any thoughts and comments. Thank you.

[Froggy]

Bonjour

What do you mean with "biographical fiction"
For me these are two contradictory terms ?

[MattyBoy]

Hi froggy,
It'll probably be something like Stephen H. King's 'Windkiller' (partly fictional account of Hubert Latham). It's a pretty good read, and I was fortunate enough to get my copy signed by the author after buying something else from him on ebay.

@Onewriter: But if you're thinking about writing to him, I would suggest sending him an email - as his handwriting is awful !!!

Good luck with your endevour.
Happy new year,
Matt.

[Onewriter]

Froggy:

Biographical fiction is fiction which takes a historical individual and recreates elements of their life in turn telling a fictional narrative, usually in the genres of film or the novel. Most of the facts and events are true, but shown through scenes that did not necessarily take place as written.

[sator]

Why write a Biographical Fiction at all ? Why don,t you do your homework and write a real Bio of Guynemer. There are to many misleading stories about WWI Aces now.

[Onewriter]

Sator:

Not writing a straight up biography because I write fiction. And most biographies are rather dry without deep personal background. Most real people, believe it or not, don't have enough conflict in their lives to make a great story (my life excepted, of course!).

The novel I'm writing (my third) is on two rails: one set in relative present day and is total fiction; the other, one of Guynemer's life. The stories are interwoven. The intersecting point is the date of Sept 11 (1917 and 2001), Guynemer's disappearance and the event of 9/11 in NYC.

I want to tell Guynemer's story as accurately as possible using most of the correct dates and places and events, but there needs to be more personal conflict for him. Internal struggle, if you will.

I know his father forbid him to fly before the war broke out. Also know that his father wanted a military career for him. The gift of WWI for Georges was the opportunity to fly. For his father, the gift was Georges requirement to join the military in order to fulfill his dream. This is a great point of ironic conflict for the story. But I am interested in digging deeper for something more and am not sure how to do it since those who knew Guynemer personally are dead and little has been written about his personal life.

Hence my 2 original questions. Hope that answers yours. ;-)

[Froggy]

Bonjour

How can we help you ?

Cordialement
Bruno

[Onewriter]

Bruno:

Thanks for asking. I basically have two questions:

1) Does anyone know if Guynemer has any living relatives? I know of a grand-nephew, but beyond that am able to find nothing.

Am meeting with Jean-Claude Brouillet on Saturday, of French WWII fame, who has some things to tell but, though he is French, they will be second-hand as he was not alive during The Great War.

2) Does anyone have any thoughts on why Guynemer's life story has not been told in full detail, either in literature or film, beyond brief biography? I know of Angel's Wing, a 1996 French film, but it is so off the mark on Guynemer's true story that only the fact that the hero is French aristocracy could be equated with Guynemer, and this included nearly ALL French pilots of the time at the beginning of the war. Is the subject of Guynemer off-limits because he was so beloved?

Appreciate any thoughts and comments. Thank you.

[CjBobrow]

Hold the presses...
Not to be totally obtuse but you wrote:
Most real people, believe it or not, don't have enough conflict in their lives to make a great story (my life excepted, of course!).

Part of historical research is delving into the underlying aspects of what promoted the sequence of events that led to an individuals actions, or related events. Having spent time looking at a variety of individuals I can assure you that there is a plethora of conflict involved, I would go on to say that most fictional characters are written with less than what is to be found in "real people" this is not to say that your endeavor is without merit but if you've come here saying there is little bio material to be found on GG I think you might want to look a little harder... just saying... nuff said...

[CjBobrow]

http://translate.google.com/translat...37&prev=search

also

http://translate.googleusercontent.c...K6m6aRgu25OUJQ