Vivandières in Literature
"Don't I wish I could go as a drummer, a vivan--what's its name
? or a nurse, so I could be near him and help him."
--Jo March, from Louisa May Alcott's novel
Little Women (1868)
This page, like most of the site, is under construction!
Cover of Dora Darling, or, The Daughter of the Regiment (1866)
Though few people today have heard of a vivandière, much less know what her deeds were, popular literature has left her a few pages as a memorial to her brave deeds. Here I have attempted, with the help of several friends and colleagues, to locate and document instances of vivandières appearing in literature, even if only for a moment. I'm including only written works, exluding for the moment drama; for works that deal with vivandières for any length of time I am including only a few excerpts, ones which I find interesting or descriptive. I do hope you enjoy this foray into the fictional legacy of vivandières. The first is shown above, as it was the first one I noticed just after I started researching vivandières, from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.
J.E. Tilton & Co. Dora Darling, or, The Daughter of the Regiment
Published 1866
Synopsis: Dora's mother dies and father goes to war for the Confederacy, leaving Dora in the care of her mean aunt. With aid of the runaway slave, Pic, Dora runs away from her aunt and joins up with a Union regiment as a vivandière.
Vivandière references: The book is full of them of course, these are a few quotes that I liked.
"I'm the daughter of the regiment," said Dora, with a little laugh.
"Yes, miss, I know it," said Hepburn. "And we're all proud and glad to have you our daughter; but Mr. Brown said I was to call you MissDora, and that the colonel wanted all the men to do the same."
"O," said Dora, thoughtfully, "then I suppose you must. Do you know what they call them generally?"
"What, Miss Dora?"
"Why, what the colonel said i was to be - a vivandero, I believe," said Dora, coloring again with the fear of committing a blunder.
"Vivandière, I believe they call it, miss." Page 157
the soldiers felt privileged to approach, and hold a little talk with their "daughter," as they delighted to call her; and it was good to see how even the coarsest of them softened his voice, and chose his phrases as fitly as he might, to suit the ear and mind of the grave little girl, who spoke to each so simply and so gently, and yet impressed all with her sense of her womanly purity and dignity. Page 165
The colonel had not forgotten his promise to find a costume for his little vivandière, but it proved to be a matter of some difficulty to do so.
From the sutler's storeswer provided a supply of blue cloth, and thread, needles, and buttons, and Dora shaped for herself a short, full skirt, belted sack, and Turkish trousers; but both head and fet seemed like to remain bare, as neither shoes nor cap of the proper size were to be found, or could easily be procured. Page 1667-167
The vivandière, rising calmly to her feet, stood between her friend and his enemies.
"They won't hurt me," said she, quietly. "I know one of them. They won't fire at you for fear of shooting me." Page 231
"No rebel is a friend of mine," exclaimed the vivandière, proudly; " I am the daughter of a Union regiment." Page 264
"But, hark! we're going to have a crack at the graybacks, and a lot of us have got the colonel to promise to take you."
"Into action? O, good!"
"He didn't want to; but we asked him, What's the use of having a vivandière, if she's not to go to the scene of the action?" Page 299
Victor Hugo Ninety-Three
Published 1874
Synopsis: This story takes place in France, 1793, during the Reign of Terror. A peasant woman attempts to protect her three children whilst Republicans and counter-revolutionaries attack and battle around her.
Vivandière references: The first chapter, hastily organized troops encounter a displaced mother with her three children whom they agree to feed and protect.
Thirty grenadiers, detached as scouts, and commanded bgy a sergeant, marched at considerable distance in front of the main body. The vivandière of teh battalion accompanied them. The vivandières willingly join the vanguard; they run risks, but they have the chance of seeing whatever happens. Curiosity is one of the forms of female bravery. Page 3
...the vivandière ventured to peer throught the underbrush, and at the moment when the sergeant was about to cry, "Fires!" this woman cried, "Halt!"
Turning towards the soldiers, she added, "Do not fire, comrades!"
She plunged into the thicket; the men followed. Page 4
"Are you Blues? Are you Whites? Who are you with?"
"I am with my children."
There was a pause. The vivandière said,--"As for me, I have no children; I have not had time." Page 8
The vivandière seated herself by the woman, and drew the eldest child between her knees. He submitted quietly. Children show confidence as they do distrust, without any apparent reason; some internal monitor warns them. Page 9
The vivandière took the brass cup which hung at her belt beside her hand-bell, turned the cock of the can she carried slung over her shoulder, poured a few drops into the cup, and held it to the children's lips in turn. Page 12
He stretched out his two hands above the mother and her babes.
"Behold the children of the battalion of the Bonnet Rouge!"
The vivandière leaped for joy.
"Three heads under one bonnet!: cried she.
Then she burst into sobs, embraced the poor widow wildly, and said to her, "What a rogue the little girl looks already!"
"Vive la République!;" repeated the soldiers. Page 14
Louisa May Alcott Jo's Boys
Published 1886, edition I'm citing published by Dover Publications, 2002.
Synopsis: The sequel to Little Men, readers return to the Jo's academy at Plumfield, where Jo and Meg greet several of the original twelve boys who attended the academy, but who have now scattered far and wide. Grown up, the boys return as men with dreams and experiences to share.
Vivandière reference: Chapter 16, entitled "In the Tennis-court," Josie and Bess play tennis with Dolly and Stuffy; Jo comes down with rootbeer for the group.
Sitting on the stile that crossed the wall near by was Mrs. Jo, with two jugs slung over her shoulder by a strap, several tin mugs in her hand, and an old-fashioned sunbonnet on her head.
"I knew the boys would be killing themselves with ice-water; so I strolled down with some of my good, wholesome beer. They drank like fishes. But Silas was with me; so my cruse still holds out. Have some?"
"Yes, thanks, very much. Let us pour it." And Dolly held the cup while Stuffy joyfully filled it; both very grateful, but rather afraid she had heard what went before the wish she fulfilled.
She proved that she had by saying, as they stood drinking her health, while she sat between them, looking like a middle-aged vivandière, with her jugs and mugs:
"I was glad to hear you say you would like to have girls at your college; but I hope you will learn to speak more respectfully of them before they come; for that will be the first lesson they will teach you." Page 211
Margaret Penrose Dorothy Dale: A Girl of Today
Published 1908
Synopsis: Coming Soon!
Published 1929
Synopsis: Julie Gateau leaves her cantinière family to set out on her own, following Napoleon's army into the heart of Russia. During her journey she falls in love, has her heart broken and comes to terms with her place in society.
Vivandière references: Coming soon!
Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Margarita
Published originally in 1934 in Russian, translated edition used published by Meridian, Penguin Books in 1993.
Syopsis: Set in 1920s Moscow, the Devil arrives and wreaks havoc in atheistic Russia, leaving a trail of madness, death and destruction in his wake.
Vivandière reference: Chapter 18, entitled "Unwelcome Visitors," the Devil, referred to as the professor, or the magician, is playing host to the bartender of the theater at which the magician most recently performed, and is complaining about the refreshments provided.
"'Second-grade fresh'--that's what I call nonsense! There's only one degree of freshness--the first--and it's the last. If your sturgeon is 'second-grade-fresh,' that means it's stale."
"I'm sorry," began the bartender, at a loss how to parry this insistent criticism.
"No, it's unforgivable," said the professor.
"I didn't come to see you about that," said teh bartender again, now utterly confused.
"Didn't you?" said the magician, astonished. "What did you come for then? As far as I remember, I've never known anybody connected with your profession, except for a vivandière, but that was long before your time. However, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance. Azazello! A stool for the head barman!" Page 203
