Allison Strandberg
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just finished Andrew Roberts' excellent biography of Napoleon. I kept thinking, "This guy sure reminds me of Miles Vorkosigan." I was tickled by one detail: Miles' opinion that a shower is as good as three hours' sleep (from Cryoburn, I think?) is shared by Napoleon, although his quote is about a bath and four hours. I'm curious about the extent to which biographical details about Napoleon inspired Miles.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Not much Napoleon in Miles, no. Initial historical precedents/inspirations that I can recall were T. E. Lawrence and young Winston Churchill. And my own experience with Great Man's Offspring syndrome.
Later, after Miles was launched, people brought my attention to other quirky short soldiers of history, including Eugene of Savoy and the very interesting Homer Lea. (I recommend both to your attention.) But they were very much after the fact.
Ta, L.
Not much Napoleon in Miles, no. Initial historical precedents/inspirations that I can recall were T. E. Lawrence and young Winston Churchill. And my own experience with Great Man's Offspring syndrome.
Later, after Miles was launched, people brought my attention to other quirky short soldiers of history, including Eugene of Savoy and the very interesting Homer Lea. (I recommend both to your attention.) But they were very much after the fact.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Richard
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Give that Gentleman Jole takes palace more than 5 years after Vorpatril’s Alliance when the Barrayar government came into an unexpected influx of billions of marks, why is Sergyer still scrambling to build a second planetary base / spaceport? Did fatherhood turn Gregor stingy?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more