Bird in a Gilded Cage

You may be looking for the Star Trek: TOS zine The Gilded Cage.

Zine
Title:	Bird in a Gilded Cage
Publisher:
Editor:
Author(s):	Meg Lewtan
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	early 1980s
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	The Professionals
External Links:
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cover

sample page

Bird in a Gilded Cage is a 175-page circuit zine that was self-published by its author Meg Lewtan.

Unlike most Professionals circuit stories, it sported a black and white illustrated cover. A few copies had a color cover.

Related Works

It is one of three novels by Lewtan that are historical AU novels set in the Victorian Era:

• Bird in a Gilded Cage
• Murder on the Moor
• Luck of the Draw

The Author's Forward: "A Health Warning"

The following message is intended for readers of the story "Bird In a Gilded Cage" (a.k.a. "The Wounded Heart" A Novel of Victorian Romance and Suffering ) by Meg Lewtan.

Please be advised that this novella is an "Alternative Universe" story and was written purely for the entertainment of the author and must, of necessity, bear a HEALTH WARNING. This tale contains elements of the plot of "Desire of the Heart", a novel by Barbara Cartland. It owes its inspiration and a further selection of plot elements to several viewings of "East Lynne" in which Mr Martin Shaw performed so ably. The author wishes to express her eternal gratitude to Miss Cartland and Mr Shaw for their contributions to her efforts. Please note there are VERY few connections to the characterisations of the personalities known as Bodie and Doyle of the "Professionals" television series. The author has exercised her prerogatives to the hilt and committed wholesale character rape at every opportunity (which averages out at half a dozen times per page throughout this novella). No effort has been made to relate the incidents in this tale to anything which might resemble an organisation such as CI5. There is also nothing which might be described as mystery, action and high adventure to be found within its chapters. It is purely a drooling, sentimental example of the author's highly individualistic, and unashamedly romantic predilection for human melodrama, unnecessary conflict, never-ending misery, failed nobility and plain stupidity. The author makes no apologies for the meanderings of the plot and admits that she enjoyed making her characters suffer to the limit. Any inconsistencies are cheerfully acknowledged and any frustrations experienced by the readers, due to their inability to endure the nauseatingly self-sacrificing nature of the protagonists who cannot see beyond their own aristocratic noses, are incurred purely on a voluntary basis, in plain English... Most of the historical details contained in this work have been vaguely researched in a limited fashion and many of them must be acknowledged as quotes from the work of Miss Barbara Cartland. To those whose interests lie in accuracy, the author invites them to amuse themselves by cataloguing those details which are incorrect. The same invitation is extended to those linguists and fluent speakers of the French language who may choose to peruse this offering. Having acknowledged the sources of inspiration, delivered the necessary warnings and pointed out the discrepancies which may exist, you are now free to READ ON. Should you not enjoy this story, please DO NOT waste your energy by writing to the author. As stated this work was written for her enjoyment and as an exercise in unadulterated self-indulgence and goes far beyond the realms of pure fantasy; i.e. THE PLOT IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE! However, it must be pointed out that the novels on which it is based were accepted by publishing houses and both sold commercially after their release. Finally, the distribution of this story is voluntary and was not intended to infringe on the rights of the above named authors, the creators of the characters contained here-in and any other interested parties. Nor was it meant to offend the sensibilities of those who consider themselves to be discerning readers of "Hatstands." It was written simply because the author felt like writing it.

SO BEFORE YOU TURN THE PAGE, PLEASE HAVE A BOX OF KLEENEX AND A BROWN PAPER BAG READY AND REMEMBER—YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!!

Reactions and Reviews

Unknown Date

In all honesty, I have to admit how impressed I am with this story. The author set out to write a B/D story that was reminiscent of a Barbara Cartland novel. I've never read Barbara Cartland or any sort of adult romance novel before, and now I know why. This was *exactly* like a romance novel, only there were two men instead of a man and woman. That's the only difference. {shudder!} Of course, now I have validated my theory that Slash stories are nothing like romance novels. I'd always expected that, and now I have proof! This was the furthest thing from a Slash story I've ever seen. Set in 1898, it is set in both an English manor house and Paris and the French countryside. A Lord bound by duty and tradition is urged to marry... A minor French nobleman who disguises himself as an Irish valet falls in love with his master... The story is filled with angst, civility, class consciousness and mistaken identity. The purplest of purple prose! I strongly suspect that readers of romance novels will be thrilled with this story.

– Raonaid's Zine Recommendations

1989

"Bird in a Gilded Cage" is one of my favorite reads when it comes to historicals. Meg maintains a wonderful, light touch in her bow to those heavy breathing, bodice-ripping, improbably plotted novels so popular with so many. It's one of the best ways I know to escape a pressurized world when life gets a bit too fraught to deal with.

Bird in a Gilded Cage is engrossing, believable, a thoroughly enjoyable read that captures the essence of a gothic romance and combines it with two characters I love.

1991

An English aristocrat, who has been emotionally deprived since childhood, finds love in the arms of a French noble-person; is left by this friend for exceedingly noble reasons; suffers a physical breakdown? and finds his love again after much soul-searching, only to discover that his lover was also his valet, whom he failed to recognise. *Sigh!*