Norfolk and Classical Literature

Children's Writers

Captain Marryat, who wrote the children's classic "The Children of the New Forest", was born in London but lived at and is buried at Langham, Norfolk.

Anna Sewell is one of the few well-known writers who was born in Norfolk. She was born in Yarmouth but wrote "Black Beauty" whilst living in Old Catton; the horse that inspired her famous book was said to have been stabled in Sewell Barn, Norwich.

Sir Henry Rider Haggard, who was born in Bradenham, wrote "King Solomon's Mines", which inspired a "lost world" genre of fiction.

Arthur Ransome was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, but set "Coot Club" and "The Big Six" on Norfolk's Broads.

"Biggles" creator, W.E. Johns, was a sanitary inspector in Swaffham.

Novelists

In "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe, Crusoe anchored in Yarmouth Roads and was then shipwrecked in the sea outside Winterton. Defoe is thought to have named his hero after seeing the grave of a Robinson Cruso in King's Lynn.

P.G.Wodehouse wrote "Money For Nothing" whilst relaxing at Hunstanton Hall. Hunstanton Hall was the inspiration for Rudge Hall in "Very Good, Jeeves".

In "Emma", Jane Austen writes that "Percy was a week at Cromer once".

Charles Dickens visited Yarmouth in 1949 and used it as a setting for "David Copperfield".

Poets

William Wordsworth is associated with his beloved Lake District but his sister, Dorothy, moved to live with her uncle at Forncett St Peter rectory in 1788. Wordsworth visited her in Norfolk and his uncle was going to find him a local parish; his uncle then discovered that Wordsworth had fathered an illegitimate child in France and Wordsworth's chances of religious life in Norfolk ended although his career as a romantic poet took off.

Lord Byron's famous poem, "Don Juan", was influenced by the experiments with Italian ottava rima narrative form by John Hookham Frere, whose family home was Roydon, Norfolk.

A very early writer, Geoffrey Chaucer, mentions the "Holy Cross of Bromholm" in "The Canterbury Tales".

Two poet laureates have Norfolk connections. John Skelton, who is thought to have been born in Diss in the 15th century, styled himself as a poet laureate; in the 20th century, John Betjeman visited Diss in 1963, became fond of the town, and later wrote "Dear Mary, Yes, it will be bliss, To go with you by train to Diss" to Mary Wilson, wife of the former prime minister.

This information is provided by Justin whose blog is flats and houses; a recent blog entry is ARLA agents.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.