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P.G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse ( ; 15 October 1881 – 14 February 1975) was an English writer and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeves; the immaculate and loquacious Psmith; Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set; the Oldest Member, with stories about golf; and Mr. Mulliner, with tall tales on subjects ranging from bibulous bishops to megalomaniac movie moguls. Born in Guildford, the third son of a British magistrate based in Hong Kong, Wodehouse spent happy teenage years at Dulwich College, to which he remained devoted all his life. After leaving school he was employed by a bank but disliked the work and turned to writing in his spare time. His early novels were mostly school stories, but he later switched to comic fiction. Most of Wodehouse's fiction is set in his native United Kingdom, although he spent much of his life in the US and used New York and Hol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bertie Wooster
Bertram Wilberforce Wooster is a fictional character in the comedic Jeeves stories created by British author P. G. Wodehouse. An amiable English gentleman and one of the "idle rich", Bertie appears alongside his valet, Jeeves, whose intelligence manages to save Bertie or one of his friends from numerous awkward situations. Bertie Wooster and Jeeves have been described as "one of the great comic double-acts of all time". Bertie is the narrator and central figure of most of the Jeeves short stories and novels. The two exceptions are the short story " Bertie Changes His Mind" (1922), which is narrated by Jeeves, and the novel '' Ring for Jeeves'' (1953), a third-person narration in which Bertie is mentioned but does not appear. First appearing in " Extricating Young Gussie" in 1915, Bertie is the narrator of ten novels and over 30 short stories, his last appearance being in the novel '' Aunts Aren't Gentlemen'', published in 1974. Inspiration The Wodehouse scholar Norman Murphy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Bathurst Deane
John Bathurst Deane (27 August 1797 – 12 July 1887) was a South African-born English clergyman, schoolmaster, antiquary, and author. Early life and education Born at the Cape of Good Hope in 1797, Deane was the second son of Captain Charles Meredith Deane, of the 24th Light Dragoons. According to research undertaken by Deane and posthumously completed and published by his daughter Mary as ''The Book of Dene, Deane, Adeane: a genealogical history from Norman times of the families originating in Northamptonshire and the Forest of Dean'', the family claimed to be descended from a Norman royal cup-bearer, Roberto de Dena. '' The Athenaeum'' looked askance at the book's scholarship, noting that it largely constituted "a series of the baldest notes, in which the descent of every prominent Dene, Deane, Denny or Adeane is set forth, and any bearer of a similar name finds a place." ''The Genealogist'' reviewer noted "... sadness on finding the author indulging in a belief that the Denne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert McCrum
John Robert McCrum (born 7 July 1953) is an English writer and editor who held senior editorial positions at Faber & Faber over seventeen years, followed by a long association with ''The Observer''. Early life and education The son of Michael William McCrum, a Cambridge-educated ancient historian, Robert McCrum was born in Cambridge on 7 July 1953. He was educated at Sherborne School, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (MA (Cantab)), and the University of Pennsylvania as a Thouron Scholar. Career McCrum was editorial director at Faber & Faber from 1979 to 1989 and editor-in-chief there from 1990 to 1996. He served as literary editor of ''The Observer'' for more than ten years. In May 2008 he was appointed associate editor of ''The Observer''. McCrum is the co-author of '' The Story of English'' with William Cran and Robert MacNeil and wrote ''P. G. Wodehouse: A Life''. McCrum's novel ''Suspicion'' was published in 1997. McCrum received an honorary doctorate from Heriot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Wodehouse
Richard Lancelot Deane Wodehouse (30 May 1892 – 20 May 1940) was an English cricketer. Born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, his entire recorded cricket career took place in Asia. The youngest of four brothers, one of his older three brothers was the author P. G. Wodehouse. He was younger than any of his brothers by 11 years, and according to P.G. Wodehouse's biographer, "Dick" (as he was known to the family) did not spend significant time with his siblings at any point in their lives. Though he was born in and died in England, he lived most of his life in India and then China. Wodehouse died in Cookham, Berkshire, in 1940, leaving a widow, Winifred Baker Wodehouse, and property valued at £1,920. His address at death was given as Woodlands, Cookham Dean. Career In April 1919, Wodehouse made his debut for the Straits Settlements, playing against the Federated Malay States in Singapore. The following year, he played twice for Hong Kong; against Malaya and a combined Shanghai/Mal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amah (occupation)
An amah (, , Medieval Latin: ''amma'', ) or ayah (, Latin: ''avia'', Tagalog language, Tagalog: ''yaya'') is a girl or woman employed by a family to clean, look after children, and perform other domestic tasks. ''Amah'' is the usual version in East Asia, while ''ayah'' relates more to South Asia, and tends to specifically mean a nursemaid looking after young children, rather than a general maid. Role It is a domestic servant role which combines functions of maid and nanny. They may be required to wear a uniform. The term, resembling the pronunciation for "mother" (see Mama and papa), is considered polite and respectful in the Chinese language. Ayahs have been identified as a distinctive occupational group in India from the late eighteenth century, becoming the mainstay of childcare work during the periods of Company rule in India and the British Raj, as colonial wives and therefore children became more prevalent. Joanna de Silva, a native of Bengal, possibly of part Portug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Idylls Of The King
''Idylls of the King'', published between 1859 and 1885, is a cycle of twelve narrative poems by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892; Poet Laureate from 1850) which retells the legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom. The whole work recounts Arthur's attempt and failure to lift up mankind and create a perfect kingdom, from his coming to power to his death at the hands of the traitor Mordred. Individual poems detail the deeds of various knights, including Lancelot, Geraint, Galahad, and Balin and Balan, and also Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. There is little transition between Idylls, but the central figure of Arthur links all the stories. The poems were dedicated to the late Albert, Prince Consort. The ''Idylls'' are written in blank verse. Tennyson's descriptions of nature are derived from observations of his own surroundings, collected over the course of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peveril Of The Peak
''Peveril of the Peak'' (1823) is the longest novel by Sir Walter Scott. Along with ''Ivanhoe'', ''Kenilworth'', and ''Woodstock'' this is one of the English novels in the Waverley novels series, with the main action taking place around 1678 in the Peak District, the Isle of Man, and London, and centring on the Popish Plot. Plot introduction Julian Peveril, a Cavalier, is in love with Alice Bridgenorth, a Roundhead's daughter, but both he and his father are accused of involvement with the "Popish Plot" of 1678. Most of the story takes place in Derbyshire, London, and on the Isle of Man. The title refers to Peveril Castle in Castleton, Derbyshire. Composition and sources On 25 February 1822 Scott informed his Edinburgh publisher Archibald Constable that he was thinking of writing a novel about the Popish Plot. He seems to have begun composition of ''Peveril of the Peak'' immediately after completing '' The Fortunes of Nigel'' at the beginning of May and the first volume was com ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (1819), ''Rob Roy (novel), Rob Roy'' (1817), ''Waverley (novel), Waverley'' (1814), ''Old Mortality'' (1816), ''The Heart of Mid-Lothian'' (1818), and ''The Bride of Lammermoor'' (1819), along with the narrative poems ''Marmion (poem), Marmion'' (1808) and ''The Lady of the Lake (poem), The Lady of the Lake'' (1810). He had a major impact on European and American literature, American literature. As an advocate and legal administrator by profession, he combined writing and editing with his daily work as Clerk of Session and Sheriff court, Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire. He was prominent in Edinburgh's Tory (political faction), Tory establishment, active in the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Highland Society, long time a p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Revenge: A Ballad Of The Fleet
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the most frequently used word in the English language; studies and analyses of texts have found it to account for seven percent of all printed English-language words. It is derived from gendered articles in Old English which combined in Middle English and now has a single form used with nouns of any gender. The word can be used with both singular and plural nouns, and with a noun that starts with any letter. This is different from many other languages, which have different forms of the definite article for different genders or numbers. Pronunciation In most dialects, "the" is pronounced as (with the voiced dental fricative followed by a schwa) when followed by a consonant sound, and as (homophone of the archaic pronoun ''thee' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (; 6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was an English poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his first pieces, "Timbuktu". He published his first solo collection of poems, '' Poems, Chiefly Lyrical'', in 1830. " Claribel" and " Mariana", which remain some of Tennyson's most celebrated poems, were included in this volume. Although described by some critics as overly sentimental, his poems ultimately proved popular and brought Tennyson to the attention of well-known writers of the day, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Tennyson's early poetry, with its medievalism and powerful visual imagery, was a major influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Tennyson also focused on short lyrics, such as " Break, Break, Break", " The Charge of the Light Brigade", " Tears, Idle Tears", and " Crossing the Bar". Much of his verse was based on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Grenville
Sir Richard Grenville ( – ), also spelt Greynvile, Greeneville, and Greenfield, was an English privateer and explorer. Grenville was lord of the manors of Stowe, Cornwall and Bideford, Devon. He subsequently participated in the plantations of Ireland specifically the Munster plantations, the English colonisation of the Americas and the repulse of the Spanish Armada. Grenville also served as Member of Parliament for Cornwall, High Sheriff for County Cork and Sheriff of Cornwall. In 1591, Grenville died at the battle of Flores fighting against an overwhelmingly larger Spanish fleet near the Azores. He and his crew on board the galleon fought against the 53-strong Spanish fleet to allow the other English ships to escape. Grenville was the grandfather of Sir Bevil Grenville, a prominent military officer during the English Civil War. Origins Richard Grenville was the eldest son and heir of Sir Roger Grenville (d. 1545), who was captain of when she sank in Portsmouth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Church Of St Nicolas, Guildford
St Nicolas' is an Anglican parish church in Guildford, England. It is a Grade II* listed building. Location and parish Location St Nicolas’ church (spelt ‘Nicholas’ until the early 20th century) is on the left bank of the River Wey, at the bottom of Guildford High Street, which extends across the river via the now pedestrianised Town Bridge. The present church, consecrated in 1876, is the third church on the site. It is one of the three ancient parish churches of the town. The other two have combined in their ministry, Holy Trinity and St Mary's, on the east side of the river, which had the majority of the townsfolk until the 20th century when the town expanded westwards across the river. Parish The parish is one of the three ancient parishes of Guildford borough, together with Holy Trinity and St Mary's,. Those parishes lie on the east bank of the river, but the ancient borough extended across the river to include the westernmost part of the much larger St Nicolas’ pa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
