The fate of the story: astronomy from astrology

Catherine Marsh was a young girl, she was fascinated Dwarfs Diego Velazquez works. A few years later, that obsession with inspiration Jepp, Who Defied star, her latest novel for young adults.

Marsh joined NPR guy Raz discusses her book, which is rooted in history, dotted with fantasy. It carries her readers, in the late 16th century, the Netherlands, Spain, told the future era story Jepp Astraveld.

"He is a dwarf, when we meet him, he lives with his mother, who ran a small inn, one day, a stranger came to the inn, and asked him if he wanted to go to court, a court dwarf, This opens up various possibilities Jepp. Court, I mean Palace of in Coudenberg [Brussels], this is where Princess Isabella's life, he decided he wanted to do this, he may the possibility of him there, and he can not be found in his small town, he has some reservations, he is a little worried to leave the house, but this is his chance to see the world. "
"This is an amazing history of court dwarfs, this is something I learned them back to ancient Egypt, Chinese emperor - all of these court dwarves. They are very popular in Europe, as well as between the monarch. Indeed are many usually, they are clowns. they tease, where members of the royal family, they are sometimes treated as friends and partners, but most of the time to deal with their property and toys ... many of these events court dwarfs are asked to do things, especially demeaning, for example, jumped out of the cake, wearing animal costumes, doing acrobatics to do a simulation of the wedding.

"I was really attracted to these characters, because on the one level, they are insiders, they see these powerful court within the Chamber of Secrets, on the other hand, they are outsiders, because they were regarded as entertainment, freaks .

What it means to the Jepp defy the law of star

"Basically, he decided that he wants to achieve their own self-worth, and have the opportunity to develop their own intelligence on the court, he decided he wanted to control their own destiny.

"What is interesting is that most people have a strong sense of religion, they have this very strong sense of destiny, and a strong sense of responsibility, and the stars will control their own destiny, however, is just the beginning, this sense comes from the possibility of the emergence of science, you can have free will, you can decide their own destiny. "

When Catherine Marsh is a young girl, she was absolutely fascinated by Diego Velazquez painting Dwarfs. Years later, also a fan of the inspiration for her latest young adult novel. This is the so-called "Jepp, who Defied the stars." This is a story rooted in real events journey through the 16th century, Spain, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, takes the reader through the Jepp's Astraveld the eyes.

Catherine MARSH: he is a dwarf. When we meet him, he is - with his mother, who operates an inn live here. One day, a stranger came to the inn, and asked him if he wants to go to court to become the court dwarf. This opens up the possibilities Jepp.

Marsh: I mean Coudenberg Palace by the court, which is one of the Princess Isabella's life. He decided he wanted to do so. He believes that it is possible for him, he could not find his small town. He has some reservations. He was a little nervous, running away from home, but this is his chance to see the world.

RAZ:, Catherine, we get a more in-depth plot here, I have to mention, there is such a thing court dwarves. Like this does exist in the 15th, the 16th, and even in the 17th century. Court Dwarfs Velazquez paintings and other artists.

MARSH: Court dwarf is an amazing history, which is something I learned. They go back to the ancient Egyptians, the Chinese emperor. All these court dwarves. They are very popular in Europe, including the monarchy. The work, really, is multifaceted. Under normal circumstances, they are clowns.

RAZ: funny there ...

MARSH, where they amuse the members of the royal family. And, you know, sometimes they regarded as a friend and partner, but most of the time to deal with their property and toys.

RAZ:, the Jepp show Isabella in court, the facts prove that he is forced to endure a series of humiliations.

Marsh: That is correct. I is based on the true history of humiliation. There are a number of court dwarfs are asked to do things, especially to belittle these incidence ...

RAZ: (unintelligible) jump out of the cake.

MARSH: For example, pop out of a cake, wearing animal costumes, doing acrobatics to do a simulation of the wedding. I'm really attracted to these characters, because on the one level, they are insiders. They see these powerful Court of the Chamber of Secrets. On the other hand, they are outsiders, because they were regarded as entertainment, freaks. This dual role, for me, is a very interesting.

RAZ: In this book, Jepp very quickly become frustrated and upset in his - find yourself in this case. Things happen.

MARSH: Yes. Basically, he decided he wanted to achieve their own self-worth, and have the opportunity to develop their own intellectual in court. He decided he wanted to control their own destiny.

RAZ: Now, this is a very complex book. I mean, in this sense, it is very layered, complex, but it is a great story. Like background, the transition of all this - the 16th century - from astrology, which is regarded as a science, and astronomy. This is what we begin to start to understand what Jepp anything happen to you, because at that time, my understanding is that your sign is your destiny, people think that this is really happening.

Marsh: That is correct. What an interesting time, is what appealed to me about this time, most people have strong religious, their fate this very strong sense, a strong sense of responsibility, and the stars will control their own destiny. However, the beginning may be the sense that, from the emergence of science, you can have free will, you can decide their own destiny.

RAZ: eventually, he successfully cross paths with a very important real-life astrologer / astronomer living a real life in the 16th century, Tycho Brahe. Tell me about him and fictional encounter between Brahe and Jepp.

MARSH: Tycho Brahe naked eye astronomers, which means he had before the age of the telescope. He is one of the best, he is every day. He has collected data of a surprising number of stars and planets.

RAZ: Before Kepler, Galileo.

MARSH: Yes, Yes, Yes. Kepler after his actual use of the data.

RAZ: there, he really became a scholar. I mean, he really began to study under the guidance of this incredible astronomers.

Marsh: That is correct. This book is a true story from innocence to experience. When he arrived there, he felt a lot of self-doubt. He felt that he made a lot of mistakes in his life, he did not feel any sense of self-worth. And this is only really when he there to see what had happened, he began to be excited to ask things in life.

RAZ: I know you write the first draft of this book, you actually give a person who is a little bit to check its accuracy.

MARSH: I did not do it. I think this is very important to ensure that, as a writer, I put myself in the character's shoes. Readers who read it very helpful to ensure that this book is as accurate as possible, from this point of view. He really likes this book. In fact, all the people who read it, praise the most meaningful I.

RAZ: This is Catherine Marsh. Her new novel for young adults called "Jepp Who Defied the stars." Catherine, thank you very much to.

Marsh: Thank you for giving me. Copyright National Public Radio NPR, provide transcripts.