To coincide with the release of Aldo Morosini's
latest adventure, Juliette Benzoni was contacted
by telephone in 2011 by Quebec's 7 jours
magazine.
« A
discovery in a Quebec magazine from August 2011 »
SIX
Questions to...Juliette
Benzoni
Ms Benzoni, we're delighted to welcome
back Prince Aldo Morosini for an 11th adventure.
This is one of the series for which you have
written the most volumes. Why is that?
Because it's a lot of fun. I like doing it and
I've always loved the history of famous jewels.
Initially, an actor friend of mine, Jean Piat,
asked me to write him a series for television. I
wrote the first episode, but unfortunately the
project was aborted. Later, I published it
because my publisher was interested. After four
novels, it was doing well, so I said: Let's
continue...
The legendary Borgias are at the heart of
your story. Why were you inspired by this cruel
and debauched family?
In fact, I've already used their story for the
series
The Florentine, which takes place when
Alexander Borgia was Pope. At the moment, for
some reason, they're having a lot of success:
there's this new British series, and I've also
seen a few books about them. But, for me, it's
mainly the story of an unlucky jewel, like most
famous jewels, because they've been coveted:
people have fought and killed for them... in
short, they're covered in blood.
How did this interest in antique
jewellery come about?
I've always been passionate about it, and
have been for a long time. A friend of my
father's was a great jeweller, and one day he
took me to his workshop. I saw the unmounted
stones and thought they were so beautiful! Over
the course of my life, I've developed a strong
taste for history, and I've come across a lot of
famous jewels as a result.
The period
and atmosphere of « The Borgias' Golden Chimera
» are reminiscent of the books of Agatha
Christie. Are you a fan of the Queen of Crime?
I love Agatha Christie. When I'm not
in the mood, I reread one of her novels. The
characters she's created are great fun, exciting
even. And then there's the way it's done. It's
all very simple, but it's still very complicated.
And I enjoyed having her appear in one of my
books [see The Ring of Atlantis, 2009).
The Borgias' golden chimera comes to an
abrupt end. Are you already writing a sequel?
Yes, in November I'm supposed to hand it
in to my publisher. I can't leave my readers
hanging! It's going to be called « The
Kledermann Collection ». It's a bit difficult to
tell you more, because I know where I'm going,
but I'm not quite sure which direction I'm
taking. In any case, poor Morosini will be taken
by ambulance to Tours hospital for an operation.
He'll be fine, but he'll have a lot of problems
with his wife because she wants a divorce.
You're 90 years old and still as prolific
as ever. Is writing your elixir of youth?
Yes, a bit, if you like. I never go a day
without writing. It's my oxygen. I can't imagine
doing anything else, even at my age. Except that
I have difficulty walking, I walk with two canes.
I had an operation on one hip two years ago, and
I'm due to have an operation on the other. So
writing is perfect for me, because I don't do it
standing up! (laughs) |
