A Roller Coaster Ride Through Regency Paris

Andrea here, hoping all of you are staying safe and well in these very difficult and frightening times.

It feels a little strange to continue as normal with our posts on research and whatever strikes our fancy when the world is in such turmoil. But we’ve decided that a little “normal” is probably good for all of us. (Especially things that make us smile.)

And today, it so happens that my research topic is a fun one. So, let’s all take a roller coaster ride—quiet literally—through one of the most popular entertainment to arise in Regency Paris! (Who says history doesn’t take you on some wild rides!)

My new Lady Arianna Regency mystery, A Tangle of Serpents, is set in Paris, right after the Battle of Waterloo. (It releases on April 6th and is now available for pre-order.)The city became a hotbed of intrigue as diplomats flocked there to negotiate how to keep Europe at peace.

Just to refresh your history, after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the Allied armies—the Prussians and Wellington’s forces—did press on into France, scattering Napoleon’s troops and forcing the emperor to flee west. France surrendered in early July, the Bourbon King was restored, and the Allied military leaders gathered in Paris to work out a plan for the occupation of France to ensure that stability was established. It was agreed that Wellington would serve as supreme commander of the Occupation forces, so his appearances in the book are grounded in actual history. (Though I have of course taken artistic license with his involvement with Lady Arianna and Saybrook.)

The Russian army joined the other Coalition forces in the city, and Tsar Alexander I did visit Paris, though I have taken a little liberty in the actual dates (and to my knowledge there was no actual assassination plot!)

In the beginning, there were nearly 200,000 Allied troops in Paris. Imagine! They were camping in the parks, cutting down all the trees for firewood. And of course, they were looking for entertainment . . . enter the montagne-russe—or roller coaster!

A bit of backstory: The montagne-russe (which means ‘Russian mountain’) originated in Russia as a winter diversion for the aristocracy during the 17th century. Called katalnaya gorka in Russian, which means ‘sliding’ mountain, it was a hill—typically 70-80 ft high, with a 50 degree drop—made of snow and reinforced with wooden supports. The top was also coated with ice. Sleds (or sometimes wheeled carts) would be carried up to the peak, and then used hurtle down the incline.

Catherine II was a great fan of this exhilarating activity, and had katalnaya korka built in the gardens of the Oranienbaum Palace outside of St. Petersburg, where she had elaborate sledding parties, including a refreshment pavilion where tea (and likely other stronger libations) were served to her guests.

As it happens, the Russian soldiers serving as part of the occupation forces in Paris after Waterloo and the final defeat of Napoleon brought their expertise in daredevil fun with them to France! Diversions were needed to keep the vast number of soldiers entertained, and so the Russians had the bright idea of constructing a wooden “sliding mountain” in some of the Parisian parks and using wheeled sleds to whizz down the inclines.


The montagne-russe quickly became wildly popular, drawing not only soldiers, but the crème de la crème of Parisian society. Refreshment pavilion bloomed, and the tracks become quite elaborate.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into my research. I love discovering totally unexpected things in history, and had such fun writing about the montagne-russe. But I have to admit, I’m not a fan of riding one. What about you? Do you like scary rides? And do you have any other weird inventions or objects from history that you didn’t expect to exist in a certain era?

Comments

[Mary T]

First of all - thank you for writing about something other than Covid-19. We badly need diversion - at least I do.

As for the topic you have researched - I had no idea that such a thing existed so early on. I have been on a roller coaster twice in my life. The only thing that I can remember is being frightened to death. Fright is not a pleasant experience for me. So I will leave the "scary" for others who can appreciate it.

Thanks again Andrea. You ladies find so many interesting topics to write about.

[Denise]

I am finding that the more my husband and I keep things normal the anxiety has less chance of ramping up. Thank you for normal! As a child growing up in the 60s, we spent several weeks of the summer at the New Jersey shore where both sets of grandparents had homes. The Boardwalk was a nightly draw and we paraded up and down in our Easter outfits from the previous Spring. Once a week my cousins and I were allowed a night on our own and with a dollar we could get an ice cream cone, play a game of miniature golf and have TWO roller coaster rides on some old wooden behemoths. We had so much fun! But as I got older I could not bring myself to ride, looking at those rickety coasters made me question my parent’s sanity. The memories of a care free youth.

[Andrea Penrose]

Mary, so glad you enjoyed the 'ride" (I agree with you–scary rides are not fun for me either!)

Glad you enjoy all the arcane little things we discover in researching our books. I figured we all could use a smile.

[Andrea Penrose]

Denise, glad you are happy to have some "normal." I think it does keep us all from getting too stressed.

LOL on the sanity of your parents! I actually never liked roller coasters, even as a kid. The older I get, the more crazy they seem!

[Nikki Poppen-Eagan]

How fun that you did a roller coaster post. I did one last week over on my blog too. My March hero wants to build a pleasure garden!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Yikes, Andrea, just looking at that picture and thinking about the lack of construction safety standards makes me want to hide under the bed! But a fascinating piece of research for sure. *G*

No problem with you inventing an assassination plot; my book PETALS IN THE STORM is also set in that Paris peace conference, and I invented an assassination plot also. 'Tis the done thing, you know!

I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Arianna and Saybrook. *G*

[Jo Banks]

Yikes no way would you get me on one of those things ! The modern ones with all their safety measures scare me rigid !And as for hurtling down one of those whilst trying to keep a long skirt under control The mind boggles

[Alison Y]

From the time I was little, I have loved roller coasters. This love affair started at Coney Island, NY.

At first, I had to watch my older brother and sister ride them, as I was too small. I was extremely envious and when I grew enough to ride one, I never looked back.

It was the old wooden ones I liked the best. The clacky sound, the bumpy ride, all added to the anticipation. It was exciting, exhilarating.

When I got mush older, I became concerned because these type of coasters did not lock your head in place and I feared my neck would get wrenched. So, sadly, I stopped riding them. I did venture onto a newer ride when I was in my early 50s. It was one that locked you well in place, and then looped you up-side down. I found that I did not care for it. It was a very short ride and the anticipation of climbing those steep hills and waiting for the fling downwards, was absent.

Thank you for this interesting history. I would have been first in line to take one of those rides.

[Kareni]

What a fascinating post, Andrea; I had no idea that roller coasters existed in the regency era. I am no fan of riding roller coasters; however, I'm happy to watch others have fun.

[Andrea Penrose]

That's a lovely idea for the pleasure garden! Just like Catherine II!

[Andrea Penrose]

Yes, artitsic license on the adding "dramatic" plot twists, like assasinations. Glad you enjoyed the roller coasters. You couldn't get me on one of them either, but how could I possibly resist writing a wild chase scene on a montagne-russe!

[Andrea Penrose]

I'm with you, Jo! You wouldn't get me on one. But in some way, I can see the allure for regency ladies. They so rarely got to do anything adventurous or dangerous.

[Andrea Penrose]

Alison, you are a braver soul than I!

[Andrea Penrose]

I was absolutely amazed (and delighted) to discover them, Kareni. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction! I had great fun working them into the plot of my book.

[Sue McCormick]

St. Louis had a woncerful amusement Called Forest Park Highllands (or The Highlands). it had a roller coaster and as similar ride called a bob sled. As a child I tried each one or two times, but didn't truly care for them. Our school picnics came with free tickets. A child could trade one roller coaster ticket for two for the carousel. I LOVED the carousel

It was great fun reading about your research, just so long as I don't need to participate!

[Andrea Penrose]

Sue, glad you enjoyed the research. And yes—you're excused from any participation! I'm with you on not finding roller coasters alluring. Carousels are MUCH more fun. I loved the painted horses and other exotic animals one could ride.

[Mary Drake]

Thanks Andrea. I really enjoyed this and would have done so even without the anxious background but am SO glad to hear about something else. The information was great but I really loved the illustrations. The wonderful art of cartooning was in full bloom at the time and the sense of humour gives me the giggles every time.

[Julia Gasper]

I think this is absolutely fascinating and astounding! The pictures are fantastic.
Also have to agree that this period of history makes a very exciting background for a story. Hope your book is a success.

[Andrea Penrose]

So glad you enjoyed it, Mary. Aren't the cartoons wonderful! They were as much fun to discover as the actual montagne-russe. I've done a lot of research into regency satirical art, as the protagonist in my other mystery is a woman cartoonist. And the artists were amazing—they really were the regency equivalent of Steven Cobert, Trevor Noah, etc.

[Andrea Penrose]

Thanks, Julia! So glad you enjoyed it. The regency really is an endlessly interesting time.

[Mary M.]

Loved this post, really interesting as well as good spot diversion. More, please!

I'm normally timid about anything to which "If anything can go wrong ..." can be applied, but last year, high on the mountains of Madeira, I found myself eagerly jumping into a "toboggan" for a fast, scary ride down a paved track to the bottom, on wheels, no snow. What made it palatable were the two men on the back who guided the sled. I probably still looked like the bug-eyed, open-mouthed figures in the illustrations above, but I also had a big grin on my face.

The men who do the runs are born into families that have done it for many generations, as until recently this was the only way down the mountain other than a long, hard hike. They craft their own rubber-soled shoes, which they treat like treasure, and they know every little turn and change in terrain. I don't think they've ever had a casualty, and I felt safe enough to enjoy the experience.

On the other hand, the week after I was there, a bus like the one we rode up in, maybe even the same bus, fell right off the twisty road, killing a bunch of the tourists inside it. You just never know ...

[Joan Wolf]

Wow. I had no idea rollercoasters went back so far in time. And in Paris! Another reason it is my favorite city. When I was teaching I spent my entire summer vacation traveling around Europe and Paris was always on my agenda. Thanks for the info - and for the history lesson!

[Teresa Broderick]

Thanks for the 'normal' post Andrea. Life seems to be nothing but Covid at the moment.
I absolutely would NEVER get on a roller coaster!! I would be terrified. I'm just not good with heights and that combined with the speed would finish me off :)

[Andrea Penrose]

Joan, I was astounded when reading up the occupation of Paris, just for the ambiance and bare bones facts—and stumbled across one of those pictures above and a little blurb about the montagne-russe. So down the rabbit hole I went! It was so much fun to work into my plot, I made sure to put in an author's note so readers don't think I made it up!

[Andrea Penrose]

Teresa, I'm so glad you enjoyed some "normal" too. The news is so frightening, we need some smiles.

I'm with you on not getting on a roller-coaster. They scare me to death!

[Andrea Penrose]

Wow, you are REALLY a brave soul, Mary! I don't think I would have zoomed down a mountain on a wheeled toboggan, no matter how skilled the drivers!

As for the bus . . . Life can be cruelly fickle.

[Karin]

What an interesting piece of research, and maybe I'll be able to use it as a conversation piece one day! I loved roller coasters as a child, but now, not so much. My earliest ride was probably on the famous Coney Island rollercoaster.
And somehow I never get sick of books set during and around the Battle of Waterloo. At this point I feel like I know more about it than some history majors!