Synopsis
Between 14th October 2008 and 16th April 2009, retired Mississippi billionaire Greg Goode posted 57 online bulletins from the heart of rural France. For six months they documented his uprising as he fought for the rights of billowing trousers, tingling blue mould and squadrons of stripe suited bumblers. This is Greg’s Bellum Civilie - and these are his dispatches:
14th October – 13th November
Book I – Raising an army
At 4.00pm on the 13th October 2008, Greg’s wife Victoria vetoed his thirty-year dreams for the Old Meadery. As the words left her lips, a bumblebee flew through the open French windows and rested on the chipped bust of Julius Caesar – Greg’s closest ally - before performing a waggle dance over the oozing Camembert. It was an omen. A signal which persuaded Greg to issue a cry to The Partisans; a plea to join the fight against cheese-less diets, fashionable trousers and Angelica – the lifestyle guru responsible for the latest spiritual-exercise fad… ‘Indio’.
18th November – 25th December
Book II – Geared for attack
Materialism, superficiality and the machinations of Indio are everywhere, from the streets of Paris to Greg’s own 18th Century French Chateau. Something needed to be done – and the fight soon turned to all out war. Unbeknownst to Victoria and his five grown-up children, Greg’s plans for The Resistance are gradually gaining momentum. On 12th December, under cover of darkness, building work begins on the site of the Old Meadery. This will become Greg’s new Rome, Chena.
30th December – 29th January
Book III – The stench of combat
After a brief Christmas truce, Greg is the victim of assaults and indignities at the hands of his eldest son and Angelica - the orange exercise fiend. In defiance he eats cheese in his bunker, Le Chenil, and on 6th January commissions the perfect trousers. This is the first vital piece of his battle uniform.
3rd February – 10th March
Book IV – Savaged by the mob
Greg’s path is blighted with obstacles: a melee of professionals are determined to get to the bottom of his erratic behaviour, including a new enemy - the ‘Togetherness Facilitator’. On 5th March weakened by fever, Greg dreams that The Chateau is running with faux-fromage. He wakes terrified about the imminent Ides of March and the future of his movement.
12th March – 16th April
Book V – The final charge
By 22nd March Greg knows the Ides of April will be his true test. He urges The Partisans to join him and claim the new homes he has built in Chena. Now Greg’s uniform is complete - he is set for battle. On 15th April he marches into the gym and expounds his cause. The statement falls on deaf ears and Greg retreats to Le Chenil. Here, aided by two Caesar’s, his golden retriever puppy and a white satin mouse, he issues a last call to The Partisans. This is Greg’s final stand - he needs reinforcements, but none arrive… and Victoria closes down Greg’s online bulletin.
If you would like to read the complete novel please contact the authors on: greg@chateaugoode.com. You will be sent a password to unlock the ‘My Bulletins’ page, or a pdf of the complete manuscript within twenty four hours. Let us know which you would prefer.
