Sleep is good, books are better
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Henry Thoreau was many things: an essayist, poet, practical philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor and historian. Those were days when there was still room to do many different things, rather than the intense specialism that is common today. But perhaps most famously, he was author of the book... Continue Reading →
On this day in 1830, a poem (later a nursery rhyme) Mary Had a Little Lamb, by Sarah Hale was published. Later in the decade Lowell Mason set the poem to a melody adding repetition in the verses. The poem was the first thing recorded by Thomas Edison on his newly invented phonograph in 1878... Continue Reading →
Emily Dickinson - and the benefits of obscurity to a writer Today is the anniversary of the death of the great American poet, Emily Dickinson (10 Dec 1830 – 15 May 1886). Another author from my 'famous and appreciated … too late' series. All quotes in this post are from Emily's writing, unless mentioned otherwise.... Continue Reading →
Today is the anniversary of the death of Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856 - 1925). Haggard was a Norfolk born English writer famous for his adventure stories, but he also wrote non fiction. His two most popular books were King Solomon's Mines (1885) and She (1886). A Rider Haggard Society (UK) was formed in 1985.... Continue Reading →
Three Sisters of Haworth - a graphic story I have two interests that rarely get reflected on this blog. I collect/sell vintage prints (on a small scale) and I'm a fan of the world of speech bubbles (cartoons and graphic art). So I was delighted when my love of these collided with my love of... Continue Reading →
Famous and appreciated … too late Yesterday I tweeted a short piece on Anna Sewell (1820-78), author of Black Beauty on the anniversary of her death. She was an English novelist, the author of Black Beauty. Born in Norfolk, England into a devout Quaker family. “It is good people who make good places.” It would be... Continue Reading →
Book review – The Disintegration Machine by Arthur Conan Doyle (Professor Challenger #5). 1929. Regular readers of The Long Victorian blog will have observed that I am an enthusiastic reader of thumping good yarns. Not only does this sort of writing bring happiness to many, they are much harder to write than most suppose. Try... Continue Reading →
A topic that I have been interested in for some time is the idea of the doppelgänger. And I’m not the only person to be intrigued by the notion of a mysterious double and what it might mean. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was fascinated by the possibility of the doppelgänger, the seeing of which is... Continue Reading →
Crime in a rapidly changing society Reading the novels of Jane Austen one might be forgiven for thinking that hers was a calm and relaxing period in which to live (1775-1817). “Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” ― Jane Austen Far from it. The economy of the country was going... Continue Reading →
The peculiar life & times of Flaming June: "The most wonderful painting in existence". A world renown Pre-Raphaelite piece of art - that will take us from Clapham Common to Puerto Rico, but carefully avoiding Andrew Lloyd Webber's lefty granny.
The Long Victorian 