The world of books and art, 1789 – 1914
Happy birthday, Thomas Hardy! Today is the birthday of Thomas Hardy (b.2 June 1840 – d.11 January 1928). Hardy was a celebrated and influential English novelist and poet. And is a favourite of mine. Author of such works as Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891),... Continue Reading →
Can you identify these famous opening lines? [Answers below] Answers: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1864) Middlemarch by George Eliot (1871) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878) Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (1895) Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (1911) Ethan Frome... Continue Reading →
Can you identify the famous opening lines above? [Warning - clue below] To help you here is a list of titles from which the lines were extracted, in order of date published: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1864) Middlemarch by George Eliot... Continue Reading →
At some point most of us take stock of our life, and maybe draw up a life list to get us where we want to go. I've written a few myself! Here is such a list from one of the greatest writers in history - Leo Tolstoy. Here is a list from the great Russian... Continue Reading →
Ralph Waldo Emerson died 134 years ago today (b. 25 May 1803 - d. 27 April 1882). Emerson was an American poet, essayist and lecturer. If you've become cynical and dejected about life, his little books may help reawaken your sense of wonder. Here are 10 of my favourite Emerson quotes: 10. “I dream of... Continue Reading →
Mark Twain died 106 years ago todayHere are 10 of my favourite quotes attributed to the great man. 10. “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write 'very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” 9. “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” 8.... Continue Reading →
I am currently reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. A writer of thumping good reads. I don't expect Great Literature from him, but I do expect to thoroughly enjoy myself between the pages. I also expect many references to food, drink and meals, like the one above. And here is a quote from The Woman... Continue Reading →
The Long Victorian 