fraeuleinfeldmaus

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At the Telephone, 1907

Photographer: Charles H. Davis, New York

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"How am I supposed to answer your questions if you keep deleting them?" Dx

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I've just finished writing Chapter 19. It took a lot of work, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52731094/chapters/169019860

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© plutoxoxi via x/twitter

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✨found on pinterest✨

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I want to live in these beautiful places ...

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going here would fix me actually

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Wings of Steel Book. 1

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52731094/chapters/133372987

Foreword

This book is fiction – a story rooted in a bygone era, but not bound by it. It is set in 1918, during the final spring and summer of the First World War – a time when the world was already scarred by death, yet kept on fighting. In the midst of this decay, this flickering transition between ending and chaos, move the characters of my story. Some of them are historically attested, others entirely fictional. The paths they follow are shaped by my imagination.

Even though I allow myself the freedom to invent actions, emotional developments and relationships – particularly those involving historical figures – I never want to lose sight of what that time truly was: raw, complex, contradictory, and deeply human. There are romantic and emotional elements in this story, even between real people – but these are entirely fictional. They never happened.

At the heart of this first book are two men who were real, yet fundamentally different: Arthur Roy Brown and Manfred von Richthofen. Two pilots. Two personalities. Two opposites.

Richthofen, the "Red Baron," has become legend: stylized, analyzed, idealized. His story has been told many times, interpreted in many ways. He became a symbol – of aviation, of national propaganda, of chivalry – and perhaps of an outdated ideal. And yet, in his letters and in his book The Red Fighter Pilot, you can sense a voice that was more than the image others made of him.

Roy Brown, in contrast, is nearly forgotten. Hardly anyone writes about him. Only a few sources, scattered notes, a handful of photos. Yet he was there – part of history, part of the events surrounding April 21, 1918, the day Richthofen fell. Whether he was brought down by ground fire or in a final air duel with Brown will likely never be determined. But it is precisely in this uncertainty, in this "perhaps," that the narrative space opens up for me.

I deliberately chose to place Roy Brown at the center of this story. Not because he was louder – but because he was quieter. Because he creates space. Because he allows for reinterpretation. This first volume – though originally intended differently – became his story. And Richthofen? He remains part of it. But his shadow, his myth, his echo – they act more like a presence running through the narrative than a character at its center.

Aviation itself plays more than just a supporting role in this book. I’ve long been fascinated by the technology, the machines, and the developments of that time. The early airplanes – fragile, dangerous, beautiful – are more than means of transport. They are expressions of an age when people began to rise above the earth – only to realize that war follows even into the skies.

I see these machines as mirrors of the men who flew them: brave, sometimes reckless, vulnerable, often driven. It was a pioneering time – both technically and emotionally. And this contrast between progress and despair, between flight and fall, is a central motif of my storytelling.

Many of my characters are inspired by classical archetypes, by traditional storytelling, by the everyday struggles and inner conflicts of people of that time. I tried to anchor them authentically in their world – not to modernize them, but to portray them from within their historical lens. Their dreams, hesitation, resistance, loyalty – I try to take all that seriously without idealizing them.

One of my main characters has been carefully developed over a long time – with great thought, care, and dedication. Not because she resembles me, but because she carries what I want to tell. Because she distills conflicts, holds thoughts, asks questions. She was the origin of many scenes, and within her, a part of this story’s narrative soul gathers.

Running through this book – often only hinted at – is a second level. One that cannot be explained with facts or logic. There are traces of another order, something deep beneath the visible. Not classical fantasy, not magic – but more of a philosophical resonance. A sense that history is made not only of what happened, but also of what we believe, feel, and fear. Something that cannot be proven, but can still be sensed.

I write this book alone – out of passion, curiosity, and love for this strange blend of history and storytelling. I am not a historian. I am an author. A storyteller. And I do my best to do justice to this world – not by reconstructing it perfectly, but by approaching it with depth and respect.

Sources and Research Approach

Although this story is fictional, much of it is based on intensive historical research. I work with a wide variety of sources – including contemporary texts, biographies, technical documents, eyewitness accounts, and publicly available archival material – both from English and German sources.

Particularly helpful to me was the two-volume work by Alan Bennett, which thoroughly explores the life and career of Arthur Roy Brown and his famous final engagement with Manfred von Richthofen. This project took nearly ten years to complete and stands out for its depth, accuracy, and attention to historical detail. Anyone interested in Roy Brown will find in it one of the most comprehensive portrayals available.

Also invaluable was this online resource:

Capt. A. Roy Brown – Reluctant Hero Community Stories / Museum and Heritage Ontario

The site offers not only insights into Brown’s wartime service, but also his postwar life, supported by many photos, background information, and carefully curated details.

As for Manfred von Richthofen, I consulted both German and English sources. Key materials include:

The Red Fighter Pilot – Richthofen’s own book

My War Diary – by Kunigunde von Richthofen, his mother

Numerous German aviation texts, memoirs, technical records, and combat reports – some written in Fraktur script, which I read fluently and which adds a unique historical texture

Additional key sources:

The Aerodrome (https://www.theaerodrome.com)

Imperial War Museums (https://www.iwm.org.uk)

Library and Archives Canada (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca)

I manage this entire project on my own. I write, research, translate, and edit without outside help – supported only by publicly available archives, personal notes, and a great deal of patience. Mistakes may occur – but I welcome feedback and am always eager to learn and improve.

Closing Note

This text has been added after I fully revised all previous chapters. It matters to me that even a fictional story remains coherent and believable. I aim to build a world that, despite its fictional nature, feels real, alive, and emotionally true.

If you're looking for a strictly accurate historical depiction, you may be disappointed. I don’t follow the traditional path of history writing. What I offer is an alternative narrative – inspired by real events and people, but expanded and reshaped with intent.

Even after this revision, my work is far from done. Just as I have spent the past two months reworking, adapting, and enriching every chapter, I also plan to rework the entire first book in full when the time comes. Not because I am dissatisfied – but because I believe good stories need time. They need space to grow, to evolve.

And of course, the story doesn't end here. A second book is already in progress – with new themes, deeper insights, and a greater focus on the reality of war, on aerial combat, and on life at the edge between duty and humanity.

Thank you to everyone walking this path with me. Thank you for your patience, your openness, and your interest in this small, different world.

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About Me & Blog Information

Welcome to my blog – I’m glad you’re here.

I write under the pseudonym Fraeulein Feldmaus, and my stories focus on historical themes from around 1880 to the early 1920s. I'm particularly drawn to the early days of aviation, the German Gründerzeit, Victorian England, and the major social shifts in Europe—those decades when technology, thought, and everyday life seemed to move in different directions yet collided in fascinating ways.

What inspires me most is the early era of flight: a time when courage, instinct, and ingenuity often mattered more than technical superiority. I’m deeply moved by the achievements of the first aviators—men and women who accomplished incredible things under the most precarious conditions, both in the skies and on the ground. Their spirit and stories shape much of what I write.

That said, it's important for me to clarify: My stories are fictional. While I draw inspiration from real historical events, people, and developments, everything I write is creatively interpreted and part of my literary world. Real-life figures may appear in new ways—always with deep respect for their legacy, but also with the freedom to explore them through fiction.

💻 I create all content on this blog myself—with a great deal of time, care, and heart. I'm supported by my digital assistant, an AI I affectionately call Kitty, who helps me organize, illustrate, and research everything this project demands.

🎨 All illustrations of Fraeulein Feldmaus are created by me with the help of Kitty. They are part of my personal creative work and should not be used or shared without permission.

Community Guidelines:

This blog is a space for thoughtful reflection, creativity, and a shared love for history. I welcome feedback and questions—but please keep the tone kind, respectful, and open-minded.

Thank you for being here. Yours, Fraeulein Feldmaus