Happy 200th Birthday, Pride & Prejudice!

I know I know I have not blogged and not visited most of my virtual and non-virtual friends’ blogs for ages. Family and work commitments have taken over my life and together with a few health issues have demotivated me from writing even a few lines. But today is one of my favourite novel’s birthday and I could not miss it for the world.
 
Yes, today "Pride and Prejudice" turns 200 years old. That's right, that crisp, subtle, ironic Jane Austen's masterpiece boasts two centuries of life, but it is like it was born yesterday. Since it was published on 28^th January 1813 with only 1500 copies, it has never been out of print. The London-based publishing house T. Egerton had the honour to be the first to distribute "Pride and Prejudice", which was a huge success and required a second printing almost immediately, followed by a third edition a few years later. You needed 18 shillings to buy a copy of the book with its elegant blue binding, a price that many were willing to pay to be able to smile at Jane Austen’s refined sarcasm, describing the English high society of the time pointing out flaws, quirks and sentimentality. But both at that time and still now, what it draws most of the readers to the book is the beautiful love story between the reluctant Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding Mr. Darcy, so inclined to hate and love each other at the same time. Even after 200 years Mr Darcy still represents most women's favourite fictional romantic icon. And this thanks to Jane Austin’s masterly words that will remain with us forever. Thank you, Jane, for your wonderful gift.

Festa della Liberazione

Today in Italy we celebrate the “Festa della Liberazione”, the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Italy from fascism and Nazi German occupation. A national holiday in Italy, this day will be marked by both commemoration and celebration – from solemn ceremonies of remembrance to parades, speeches and open air concerts in Italian piazzas. The biggest ceremony is held in Milan, the site some of the fiercest fighting, and of the grotesque public display of Mussolini’s body in the days that followed. However, despite the numerous events planned to mark the occasion at national and local level, the ‘festa della liberazione’ has never been a straightforward day of celebration for all Italians.


The date marks the end of almost two years of ferocious civil war and foreign occupation in Italy, as the collapse of fascism turned the country into a battleground between the Allies, advancing upwards from Sicily, and the Nazi Germans who occupied Italy in September 1943 to prop up Mussolini’s dying regime. While Rome was liberated by the Allies in June 1944, the tug of war continued in northern and central Italy for almost another year. Numerous groups of resistance fighters, la Resistenza, dominated by the Italian communists, were formed in the occupied areas, and the German and fascist position was gradually weakened by guerrilla warfare, in preparation for the long awaited Allied surge. Finally, 25 April 1945 was decided on as the Italian ‘D-Day’. A mass popular uprising was to take place across the northern Italy, to prepare the ground for the Allies. Mass strikes paralysed the industrial cities of Milan and Turin, destroying what little authority the fascists still retained, and days of street fighting forced the Germans into retreat. Many towns and cities were already out of German and fascist hands by the time the Allies arrived to ‘liberate’ them.

Especially in Northern Italy we are very proud of our Resistance fighters who fought against the Italian fascists and the German nazists all through WWII, although many of our towns and villages paid with fire and blood the price of hiding and supporting the “partigiani”. Today is a day of remembrance in Italy, let’s pray that the past will never come to haunt us again.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my dear mummy, to Her Majesty the Queen and to my capital city, Rome. Yes, I really mean the city of Rome.


According to legend, on 21st April 753 B.C. Romulus, who was then to become the first King of Rome, drew the 'sacred furrow' on the Palatine hill, which was the first step towards the founding of the Eternal City. The anniversary came into vogue with the Risorgimento. Then it became a national holiday with fascism and was abolished in 1945. The celebration was renewed in 1994 with all its ceremonies. This weekend Rome will hold several festivals, concerts, and special events this weekend. Historical societies put on gladiator displays and performances in and around the forum area. There's usually a spectacular fireworks display by the Tiber River.

The story of Romulus, his twin brother Remus, and the founding of the city is one of the most familiar legends about ancient Rome. The basic legend about how Romulus came to be the first king of Rome begins with the god Mars impregnating a Vestal Virgin named Rhea Silvia, daughter of the rightful, but deposed king.

After the birth of Mars' sons Romulus and Remus, the king orders them to be left to die in the Tiber River. When the basket in which the twins were placed washes up on shore, a ‘lupa’ (wolf) suckles them and a woodpecker named Picus feeds them until the shepherd Faustulus finds the twins and brings them into his home.

When they grow up, Romulus and Remus restore the throne of Alba Longa to its rightful ruler, their maternal grandfather, and set out to found their own city.

Sibling rivalry leads Romulus to slay his brother and become the first king and founder of the city of Rome.

15th April 1912 2.20am

The Convergence of the Twain
Thomas Hardy (1912)

(Lines on the loss of the "Titanic")

I
In a solitude of the sea
Deep from human vanity,

And the Pride of Life that planned her,

stilly couches she.

II
Steel chambers, late the pyres

Of her salamandrine fires,

Cold currents thrid,

and turn to rhythmic tidal lyres.

III
Over the mirrors meant

To glass the opulent

The sea-worm crawls --

grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent.

IV
Jewels in joy designed

To ravish the sensuous mind

Lie lightless,

all their sparkles bleared and black and blind.

V
Dim moon-eyed fishes near

Gaze at the gilded gear

And query: "What does this vaingloriousness down here?". . .

VI
Well: while was fashioning

This creature of cleaving wing,

The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything

VII
Prepared a sinister mate

For her -- so gaily great --

A Shape of Ice, for the time fat and dissociate.

VIII
And as the smart ship grew

In stature, grace, and hue

In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too.

IX
Alien they seemed to be:

No mortal eye could see

The intimate welding of their later history.

X
Or sign that they were bent

By paths coincident

On being anon twin halves of one August event,

XI

Till the Spinner of the Years

Said "Now!"

And each one hears,

And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres.

A Touch of Royalty

Fifteen thousand people packed into York city centre for a hugely successful Maundy Thursday visit by the Queen last Thursday 5th April. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice of York on her first official engagement in the city, she was cheered by huge crowds at Micklegate Bar, the Minster, Mansion House and the Museum Gardens.

After arriving at York railway station, the royal party was taken to Micklegate and then travelled further to the Minster, where thousands of people (me among them), many waving Union Flags and carrying flowers for the Queen, gathered in the sunshine to see the royal party.

A massive cheer greeted their arrival before the Queen went on to present Maundy money to 172 elderly people - pensioners nominated for the honour for their service to the church and community.

A massive cheer greeted their arrival before the Queen went on to present Maundy money to 172 elderly people - pensioners nominated for the honour for their service to the church and community.

The Royals then posed on the steps of the Great West Door alongside the Queen’s Yeoman, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the Dean of York and flower children.
Following a reception in the Deanery, the party went on to the Mansion House for a civic lunch. The visit ended at the Yorkshire Museum where a new exhibition marks the 800th anniversary of York being granted a Royal Charter by King John.

(From York Press)

Altogether Her Majesty was in York no longer than 5 hours (she arrived by train and took off by helicopter!) and a few people complained that all of this was a waste of money and effort, especially because allegedly she did not devote enough time to parade (and talk) in front of the public. But I’m glad she came, she brought much happiness to the city, which makes a change from seeing loads of misery around in this very difficult climate. Also this much awaited event will have brought much needed cash to the city, as I presume most of the 15,000 visitors will have had lunch or tea and spent some cash in the shops while here.

Happy Easter ...late wishes!

I hope you all are having a happy Easter time. Sorry I haven't been posting for a while but that does not mean I haven't been thinking of you. All the best!

The Woman In Black

Yesterday night I attended a special preview of The Woman In Black followed by a Q & A session with the film's director, James Watkins. The Woman in Black is a tale based on the classic ghost story written by Susan Hill and starring Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps, a lawyer who is forced to leave his young son and travel to a remote village to attend to the affairs of the deceased owner of Eel Marsh House. The house stands at the end of a causeway, wrapped in fog and mystery, but it is not until Arthur glimpse a woman dressed all in black that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold of him, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to speak of the woman in black and her terrible purpose. I cannot reveal more about the plot without spoiling the view.

I had a great night watching a very good film that I recommend to anyone. I have always wanted to see the play which has been running on stage in London for over 23 years, but I have never found the time (and the tickets!) to go. Now the film, adapted for the big screen by Jane Goldman, scares the mind without the gore. You are constantly waiting for the next jump out of your seat moment, but you cannot predict when it's coming. Daniel Radcliff is excellent as the lead and proves that there still acting life for him after Harry Potter. I think it is a great British film, made with a limited budget but still beautifully produced with an unsettling atmosphere and exquisite period details.

This preview was part of the VW See Film Differently campaign to sponsor independent cinemas across the UK. We were also treated to free drinks and popcorn and we also found a free copy of Susan Hill's book on every seat. York was chosen as The Woman In Black’s preview venue not only because of its reputation of the most haunted city in England - if not in Europe - but also because Susan Hill was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire and where the play was shown for the first time.

The film opens nationwide in the UK next Friday 10th February.