‘My characters shall have, after a little trouble, all that they desire.’

Jane Austen

I started getting excited about my visit to the Jane Austen centre weeks ago and as a result, drove everybody nuts talking about it constantly. The repeated question of “guess where I’m going?” was in the end answered with, “the bloody Jane Austen Centre,” and threats of death if I mentioned it again. Although, I was taken by surprise when one of my work colleagues dared to ask me who Jane Austen was, to which I answered very frankly, “You’re going to burn in hell for that.” Unfortunately, some people choose to avoid the imaginary worlds of books and scoff at those of us who enjoy nothing more than to read and of course, hunt out any landmark relative to the writers.

The Jane Austen Centre is in Bath and I wasn’t disappointed at all. It’s like taking a step back in time and you really feel like you’re living in the past. As I wandered through the museum looking at the period clothing and the remnants of Austen’s life, I was reminded of a simpler time when a richer English language, which is portrayed in her writing, was more prominent. The style of the clothing worn and the sturdy wooden furniture – now antiques, prompt one to think about what life would have been like when you couldn’t just flick on a light switch or plug in the kettle for a pot of tea.

Me in the museum

 

I enjoyed sitting down to Lady Catherine’s cream tea in the Regency Tea room with my sister Pauline and even though she hasn’t read any Jane Austen, I think she enjoyed it just as much as I did.  But that’s enough about the centre; let me tell you a little about Jane.



My sister outside the Jane Austen Centre

George and Cassandra Austen were honest and sensible parents. Jane who was born on the 16^th of December in 1775 in Steventon Hampshire, the second youngest of their eight children, enjoyed the arts and found pleasure in writing and also reading the stories produced by her siblings during an evening’s recital. This was common during that age as was singing and playing instruments to entertain, for there was no such thing as television. Much of Jane’s adult life was spent either living in Bath or visiting and she mingled with different classes which enabled her to write as though she knew the experience well.

Austen wrote six books in total and when they were first published, she chose to remain anonymous.  It wasn’t until she passed away that she was recognised as the author. In fact, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were both published posthumously with help from her brother Henry and sister Cassandra who were very close to Jane. The books are romantic and the relationships formed within are very similar to any epoch.  There’s the usual backstabbing and bitchiness which is slightly camouflaged by the style and language of the work, and as the books are written by a woman, there’s a resilient self-preserving female in each.

Jane Austen never married and she was described by the tour guide as a bit of a feminist who was indeed, strong willed and adventurous.  The author passed away in 1817 and is buried in Winchester. However, her work lives on and when read reiterates that, Once upon a time in a not so forgotten era, a woman with the idea of romance presented us with the classics that would bewitch us, body and soul.

 www.janeausten.co.uk

So long and thanks for all the fish - Douglas Adams

In front of the head stone of Douglas Adams sits a container full of pens left by his fans perhaps in the hope of him somehow being able to write from beyond the grave; or maybe just a mark of respect. The headstone is situated in Highgate Cemetery East not far from the entrance gate on the left of a main pathway. It only costs a few quid to go in and look around and there are a few other famous people buried there such as Jeremy Beadle & Karl Marx.  But let’s get back to this week’s subject.

The headstone where the ashes of Douglas Adams are. I think the pot
contains 42 pens

 

Douglas Adams was born on the 11^th of March in 1952.  Educated at Brentwood and Cambridge, some of his earliest writing was published whilst still at school. After leaving University, he returned to London and was determined to break into television and radio as a writer. After being discovered by Monty Python’s Graham Chapman, the two formed a brief writing partnership. He contributed to a sketch for the album, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and appeared twice in the fourth series of Monty Python’s Flying Circus after which his writing stalled for a while. But it was in 1977 that his work really took off.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy first entered his mind whilst laying drunk in a field in Innsbruck, Austria.  He was inspired by his inability to communicate with the townspeople and after wandering around drunk with a book called The Hitchhikers guide to Europe, ended up in a field staring up at the stars. It’s funny you know, writers can be inspired by anything and the mind takes all sorts of pathways to build the story. In the case of Douglas Adams, his mind took an intergalactic walk and provided us with one of the most popular Sci-Fi series of the 20^th Century.

Adams was also responsible for three Doctor Who series where he allowed in jokes from HHGG.  Incidentally, these were never published as books because Adams refused to let another writer publish his work. He also took the secret to the number 42 to the grave, the answer to life, the universe and everything given by the supercomputer Deep Thought.  Why Adams chose the number 42 is a mystery which he shared in the strictest confidence with very few.

The comedic imagination of Douglas Adams is truly phenomenal and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is one of my favourite science fiction series.  Whether you’re a fan or not, the stories get you in and they are really funny. So this week I finish by saying that Once upon a time in a galaxy not too far from here, a man who was slightly intoxicated, lay in a field and discovered the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything.

So long Douglas Adams and thanks for all the fish.

The Kindest Thoughts…..

Recently as my birthday approached, I made a list of books for my son Warren and Robbie (who is my cousin’s son but is like one of my own), so that they could choose one or two for me. Because, as we all know, it’s sometimes difficult to know what to give as a birthday gift. Whilst this was happening in London, it never occurred to me that on the other side of the world in Collins Street Melbourne my eldest son Brendan was visiting Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookseller, seeking out a first edition for me.  The coveted prize was carefully packed into my sister Pauline’s suitcase and delivered to me on the morning of my birthday.

When I opened the gift, I could imagine Brendan standing in the antique book store explaining the type of person I am and exactly what I do with my spare time which of course, as you know, is stalk dead writers.

Immediately after opening the present, I sent a text to Brendan thanking him and then went on to leaf through the pages of my very first, first edition. The book is illustrated throughout in colour and black & white and the boards are a trifle sprung.  The edges of the dust jacket are lightly rubbed and split and the outer leaves and edges slightly foxed. It was published in London in 1974. I know all this because tucked into the dust jacket’s plastic cover is a description of the book. 

The first edition from my son Brendan

Cobwebs to catch Flies is a book about illustrated books that were used to help educated children from 1700-1900, but not text books, more the type you would buy to home school your child. The compilation has been put together by Joyce Irene Whalley and when you open the book, the musty smell of knowledge wafts up.

Just three of the many that Warren & Robbie bought me

The stack of books that I received from Warren and Robbie will keep me occupied for quite some time.  They include works from Robert Louis Stevenson, George Eliot and Jane Austen. When I put together the list, I didn’t expect to get eight books and I kind of felt like the luckiest person in the world on Saturday morning when Warren handed me one after the other. There were also chocolates included in the booty and Warren’s girlfriend Aleks bought me a bottle of Tequila and some Ferrero chocolates as well. Needless to say, we had Margaritas that night and drank the whole bottle.

To top off this particular birthday, my sister is taking me to the Jane Austen Centre and I just can’t wait.  The trip is planned for the end of the month so you can expect to see some pics from the expedition. But as I wait feverishly in anticipation for the excursion I have my first edition and a stack of classics to remind me that Once upon a time in September 2012, the kindest thoughts produced one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had.

www.kaycraddock.com