Some JA contemporaries
Posted by Hil on August 23, 1998 at 06:31:12:
This isn't strictly JA related, but I thought these might divert you as much as they did me with their resonances to things Austen. I got a book out of the library today called "Stipple, Wink, & Gusset", by James Cochrane (Century, 1992). Its about men and women who gave their names to history, and flipping through I came across these contemporaries of Jane Austen. (There are others, too .... Latrine, Lacrosse, Gusset, Wink, Fiasco, Duffel, Doldrum, Corset, Carousel, Cabriolet, Bogus, and Avocado to mention some.):
"MARZIPAN, Maria-Theresa, Marquise de c. 1760-1827. Born in Stepney, London, as Eliza Marchpane, this famous courtesan travelled, at the expense of her various lovers, throughout Europe. She took the (entirely invented) title of Marquise de Marzipan while living as the mistress of Prince Mwawalele Akimbo (yes, he is in this book too, as in arms akimbo!) in London in 1801. Earlier she had almost certainly seduced the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Vienna, where she discovered her passion for sweetmeats made of sugar and crushed almonds. Her devotion to this confection, which she introduced into England, led to her becoming immensely stout, a fact which did not prevent her becoming the mistress of the Prince Regent and the subject of a cartoon by Rowlandson. She died, peacefully, in Brighton."
"BOTCH, Jeremy c.1770 - 1834 English jobbing carpenter and bricklayer, notorious for the unreliable character of his work. He was employed briefly on the construction of brighton pavillion - where the phrase 'a Botch job' first became current - but was dismissed when a chinois screen he had made fell on the heads of the Prince Regent and Mrs Fitzherbert. He spent the rest of his life wandering around the British Isles in search of places his reputation had not yet reached. It has been suggested, convincingly, that the phrase 'jerry-built' may also derive from his name and reputation."
- Another unsung historical hero... The Mysterious H.C. 17:35:11 8/25/98
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- Henry, Henry... Hil 23:23:17 8/25/98
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- I hate to be a spoiler Constanza 15:49:08 8/26/98
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- Humph! :-) Hil 21:59:36 8/26/98
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- LOL!Mr Darcy Speaks! Caroline 09:33:26 8/27/98
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- Mr. D Hil 22:57:08 8/27/98
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- Mr. D Hil 22:57:08 8/27/98
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- LOL!Mr Darcy Speaks! Caroline 09:33:26 8/27/98
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- Humph! :-) Hil 21:59:36 8/26/98
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- Zendian Ken 07:31:29 8/26/98
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- I can't help but think of all the disappointed ladies ..;) Ann2 07:27:22 8/28/98
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- I can't help but think of all the disappointed ladies ..;) Ann2 07:27:22 8/28/98
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- I hate to be a spoiler Constanza 15:49:08 8/26/98
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- Henry, Henry... Hil 23:23:17 8/25/98
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- Oh, how funny! wendy b 14:56:26 8/23/98
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- LOL! (nfm) Hil 16:27:49 8/23/98
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- LOL! (nfm) Hil 16:27:49 8/23/98
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- Extreme skepticism The Mysterious H.C. 14:17:31 8/23/98
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- 'Bin haid' Hil 16:26:32 8/23/98
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- 'Bin haid' Hil 16:26:32 8/23/98
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