British Writers – Cottage Capers

On this day in history….19th December 1843

On this day in history : 19th December 1843 – The classic story ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens is published….

First edition cover – Photographer : Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas – Public domain

We are all familiar with the tale of how Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser, was visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley – chained and tormented, doomed to an eternity of wandering the earth as a punishment for his greed and selfishness when he was alive…. Then came the visits from the spirits of Christmas past, present and future….and how Scrooge was transformed into a better person….

A Christmas Carol in prose. - caption: 'Marley's Ghost. Ebenezer Scrooge visited by a ghost.' — Marley’s Ghost – original illustration by John Leech – Public domain

The story touched a chord with many Victorians, with its attitude towards poverty and the Christmas spirit…. Earlier in 1843 Dickens had read a government report on the abuse of child labourers in mines and factories – and it sickened him…. It was something that resonated with him – as at the age of 12 he had been sent to work in a factory after his father was thrown into debtors prison…. His memories and the report prompted Dickens to write ‘A Christmas Carol’ – something he did feverishly – it took him just six weeks….

The book was published by Chapman and Hall but funded by Dickens himself…. Dickens had already had many successful books published: ‘The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club’, ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘Nicholas Nickleby’, ‘David Copperfield’, ‘Great Expectations’, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’…. But the publishers began to lose faith in his work when ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’ failed to live up to expectations…. they wanted to publish ‘A Christmas Carol’ in a less expensive format – or even serialised as part of a magazine…. However, Dickens was adamant he wanted it to be published as a proper book – and so struck a deal with Chapman and Hall…. It was agreed he would pay all printing and publishing costs and they would also receive a fixed commission on every book sold…. 6,000 copies were initially produced – and had sold out by Christmas Eve…. By the end of 1844 thirteen editions had been released….

In early 1844 ‘A Christmas Carol’ was published illegally by another company…. Dickens sued them and although he won the case, the rogue publishers declared themselves bankrupt….leaving Dickens to pick up all of the legal costs…. What with that and the high publishing costs Dickens made little money from ‘A Christmas Carol’….a story that is just as popular today as it ever was….

“Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster” ~ A Christmas Carol….

Charles Dickens in 1842 – Francis Alexander – Public domain

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….27th October 1914

On this day in history : 27th October – The birth of Dylan Thomas, perhaps the most legendary of 20th century poets – but also known for his hard drinking and boisterous behaviour….

Dylan Thomas in New York, 1952 – Fair use

Born Dylan Marlais Thomas, in Swansea, Wales, his father an English teacher and his mother a seamstress, the young Dylan developed an interest in language at an early age…. His father would read Shakespeare to him at bedtime – Dylan loved the sound of the words, even if he was too young to understand them….

5, Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea – birthplace of Dylan Thomas – Photo credit : Hywel Williams CC BY-SA 2.0

On leaving school at 16 Dylan became a journalist for a while – but had his first poems published whilst still in his teens…. Dylan wrote hundreds of poems, short stories, a novel and a play during his lifetime…. He was a disciplined writer, often re-drafting his work to the point of obsession – his poetry having a musical, nostalgic tone, frequently focusing on childhood and death…. Some of his greatest work was produced in the 1940s, particularly his 1946 collection which was heavily influenced by war….

In 1936 Dylan met Caitlin Macnamara and they married the following year at Penzance Registry Office…. They moved to Laugharne, a Welsh fishing village, in 1938 – where they settled and raised their three children…. It was a stormy marriage, fuelled by alcohol, infidelity and money problems – but they remained together until Dylan’s death….

The Boat House, Laugharne – where Dylan and Caitlin raised their family – Photo credit : GerritR CC BY-SA 4.0

In 1950 Dylan fulfilled an ambition to tour the United States, giving readings of his work – which attracted large audiences…. The very nature of the trip meant much socialising was done and Dylan returned home with very little money – he had effectively drank his profits…. Another two trips to the States ended the same way – not surprisingly this caused a rift between himself and Caitlin….

Dylan’s writing shed at Laugharne – Photo credit : wardyboy400 CC BY 2.0

Dylan’s father died on the 16th of December 1952; as an English teacher at a grammar school he had been disappointed with his position in life – he had longed to be a poet; how proud he must have been of his son…. Dylan had great respect for his father and watching him succumb to the ravages of cancer would have torn him apart…. Indeed whilst his father lay on his deathbed, Dylan wrote one of his most emotive poems ~ “Do not go gentle into that good night”…. Little did Dylan know at that time that in less than a year he would face his own untimely death – at the age of just 39…. On a last fateful trip to New York in October 1953 and after several bouts of heavy drinking Dylan was taken ill at the Chelsea Hotel on the 4th of November…. He was admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital where he died five days later – the cause of his death pneumonia and pressure on the brain – due to excessive alcohol…

"Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.  Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forced no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.  Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.  Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.  Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.  And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray Do not go gentle into that good night, Rage, rage against the dying of the light."                               ~ Dylan Thomas

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….17th September 1954

On this day in history : 17th September 1954 – William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’ is published by Faber and Faber, in London – a book familiar to many of us from our school days….

The plot of Lord of the Flies centres around a group of school boys marooned on an uninhabited island after a plane crash…. It is about the boys’ survival and how they attempt to govern themselves – and explores how quickly society breaks down without any form of proper authority or establishment….

Lord of the Flies was the first novel by Sir William Gerald Golding CBE (19th September 1911 – 19th June 1993) – who was a British novelist, playwright and poet…. At first, when Golding first submitted his manuscript, the book was rejected by Faber and Faber – but after catching the interest of Charles Monteith, a new editor at the firm – and who advised on some changes to the text – the novel was published…. It was slow to make an impact but eventually became an international bestseller – and has been in the 100 best novels of the Modern Library and listed at No.70 on the BBC’s best 100 English language works….

Sir William Golding CBE, in 1983 – Photographer unknown – CC BY-SA 3.0

Lord of the Flies has twice been made into an English language film; in 1963 directed by Peter Brook and again in 1990, this time directed by Harry Hook…. In 1975 a Filipino version was released, directed by Lupita A. Concio…. In August 2017 plans for a further film were announced by Warner Bros….this time to feature an all female cast…. A concept that was not very well received – as the general feeling being that it goes against the grain of the story’s original aim of exploring the theme of male power and the fight for dominance and leadership….

Golding was incredibly sensitive to reviews and criticism of his work – even being known to leave the country when his latest book was about to be published…. I don’t know about you – but Lord of the Flies is one of those books that has stayed ingrained in my memory….

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….24th August 1847

On this day in history : 24th August 1847 – Charlotte Brontë sends her manuscript for ‘Jane Eyre’ to London publishers Smith, Elder and Company – under the pseudonym Currer Bell….

image : Uploaded to en.wikipedia by Chick Bowen – Public domain

It was not unusual for female authors at this time to write under a male name…. Women authors were not taken as seriously as their male counterparts – it was assumed women’s heads were full of fluff and frivolity; they were deemed as having no perception of the real world – their place was in the home…. The Brontë sisters collectively felt that their work would not be regarded as being feminine and would be looked upon with prejudice if their real gender was revealed….

Charlotte Bronte – George Richmond Public domain

Charlotte, who was the eldest of the three sisters, had been unable to find a publisher for her first manuscript, ‘The Professor’ – however, Smith, Elder & Co of Cornhill expressed an interest to any longer works Currer Bell may wish to send…. So towards the end of August 1847 ‘Jane Eyre’ was submitted and published six weeks later….and was an instant success, gaining good reviews…. Because little was known about the author suspicions began to form that Currer Bell may be a woman – strengthening when ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Ellis Bell (Emily Brontë) was published – and then ‘Agnes Grey’ by Acton Bell (Anne Brontë)…. In 1848 the sisters admitted to their assumed names….and became celebrated in literacy circles – and their novels became classics of English literature….

img_3427-1 — Anne, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, painted by brother Branwell Bronte – Public domain

British History, Uncategorized

On this day in history….20th June 1906

On this day in history : 20th June 1906 – Dame Catherine Cookson, one of Britain’s most widely read novelists, is born in Tyne Dock, South Shields….

Registered as Catherine Ann Davies but known as Kate as a child, Catherine was born at 5, Leam Lane in Tyne Dock, East Jarrod – close to the mouth of the River Tyne…. She was the illegitimate daughter of Kate Fawcett, an alcoholic barmaid who had fallen on hard times…. Catherine grew up thinking that her mother was her sister and she was brought up by her grandparents, Rose and John McMullen; she was 7-years-old before she found out that her ‘sister’ was in fact her mother….

Catherine left school around the age of 14 and went into service as a maid for a while, before going to work as a laundry checker at the Harton Workhouse…. In 1929 she moved to the South Coast to run the laundry at Hastings Workhouse….

She worked hard, saved every penny she could and in 1933 managed to get a £1,000 mortgage….with which she bought a large 14 bedroom Victorian house – ‘The Hurst’…. She turned this into a lodging house/old-peoples’ home/nursing home….

In June 1940 Catherine married Tom Cookson, a teacher at Hastings Grammar School…. They could not have been more like ‘chalk and cheese’…. Whereas Catherine was strong-willed and of a dominant nature, Tom was shy and softly-spoken…. Catherine came from a working-class, poverty-stricken background…. Tom, the son of a verger, was an Oxford graduate…. Catherine was 34 when they married, senior to Tom by 6 years….

Their first child, a boy, was born three months premature and was still-born; during the Second World War years Catherine suffered a further three miscarriages…. It was also discovered she had telangiectasia – a rare vascular disease which causes bleeding…. She had a breakdown which was to take the best part of 15 years to recover from….

As part of the therapy for her depression Catherine took up writing…. She had been an avid reader as a child and had written her first short story ‘The Wild Irish Girl’ at the age of 11…. She had sent it to the local newspaper – but it had been returned unpublished….

She joined the Hastings Writers’ Group and started her first novel ‘Kate Hannigan’ in 1946 and it was published in 1950…. But her writing career really took off in the late 1960s; her first major success ‘Our Kate’, published in 1969, took her 12 years to write….

Catherine Cookson wrote 103 books, often two a year, selling over 123 million copies – and her work has been translated into nearly 20 languages…. She was also published under the pseudonyms of Catherine Marchant and Katie McMullen…. For 17 years she was the most borrowed author from British libraries…. Many of her books have been adapted for film, radio, stage and particularly TV…. Between 1990 and 2001 some 18 of her books had been adapted for the small screen….

Most of her novels were set in a run-down North East, reflecting the poverty of her early life; Tyneside was then one of the poorest parts of the Country…. But in later life the North East was where she and Tom were to return…. After living in several locations they finally settled in 1989 in the Jesmond area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne…. Catherine’s health had deteriorated considerably and she spent the last few years of her life bedridden….her final novels were written whilst she was in her sickbed….

Catherine died at home 16 days before her 92nd birthday, on the 11th of June 1998…. She had vascular disease, had suffered five heart attacks and was almost blind…. Her husband died just 17 days later…. After their deaths the couple’s £20m fortune was donated to charities…. Catherine had done much for charity in her lifetime; in 1985 she had given £800,000 to the University of Newcastle….who in gratitude set up a lectureship in haematology….

Catherine was awarded an OBE in 1985 and became a Dame of the British Empire in 1993…. In 1997 she was appointed Honorary Fellow of St. Hilda’s College, Oxford….