What is Thomas Hardy best known for?

One of the most prolific novelists and poets of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, English writer Thomas Hardy had an original style, and his works have remained relevant to this day. A highly diverse writer, Hardy wrote short stories, poems, novels and essays. Let's read about the writer whose birth anniversary falls in June.

Imagine hanging from a cliff, suspended in the air, as you stare into the eyes of a trilobite embedded in the rock. This was the fate of Henry Knight, one of the protagonists of "A Pair of Blue Eyes", which was published serially in a publication. And readers had to wait over a month to know if Knight had survived or not.

Sounds like a cliffhanger? Well, indeed it is. The plot device "cliffhanger" is believed to have its roots in English writer Thomas Hardy's work "A Pair of Blue Eyes". He was one of the most prolific novelists and poets of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Hardy's career spanned two eras, the Victorian and the Modern. Noted for his unique and original style, Hardy's work was modern as well as ancient, remaining relevant to this day. A highly diverse writer, Hardy wrote short stories, poems, novels, and essays.

Early life

Born on June 2, in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England, Hardy was the eldest of the four children of a stonemason Thomas Hardy and his wife Jemima. Growing up, Hardy spent his childhood in a rural setting, in an isolated cottage near an open heathland (wide, open shrubland). This experience of being accustomed to rural life and oral culture left a profound impact on Hardy and became intrinsic to his later writing. In fact, it was his mother's love of reading and books that got passed on to the son. At the age of eight, Hardy studied in a village school and then shifted schools.

He continued his primary school education till he was 16 and later apprenticed to a local architect. In 1862, before his 22nd birthday, he moved to London to become a draftsman.

Literary work

Hardy's job as an architect affected his education. Although he wanted to study at a university and become an Anglican minister, the lack of funds and gradual loss of interest in religion made him abandon the notion and turn to writing.

His first novel manuscript was "The Poor Man and the Lady" (1867-68) and this got rejected by several publishers. But one publisher encouraged him and he changed his style of writing. His writing career picked up after publishing "Desperate Remedies" in 1871, and he was in a good place to leave the field of architecture.

That was when he landed a contract for writing 11 monthly instalments of the serial story "A Pair of Blue Eyes", in the Cornhill Magazine. The next novel was "Far from the Madding Crowd" (1874). The next two novels, "The Return of the Native" (1878) and "The Mayor of Casterbridge" (1886), helped establish him as a writer.

Hardy himself classified his novels under three headings viz. "novels of character and environment", "romances and fantasies" and "novels of ingenuity". "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" (1891) is another famous novel of his.

While the book is appreciated now, it attracted negative reviews when published as it was seen to be at odds with the Victorian sensibilities. This is considered to be one of the reasons for Hardy abandoning fiction for writing poetry, plays and short stories.

Starting 1898 towards his death in 1928, Hardy published eight volumes of poetry. Noted mostly for his lyric poetry Hardy carved a space for himself in the poetic milieu. His poems are known for colloquial diction and intense imagery. He also published a huge poetic drama called 'The Dynasts" between 1903 and 1908.

With 'The Dynasts", Hardy was so ahead of his time and created something that was neither a story, play or poem but rather a shooting script. He was broke free from the norm and invented a work of art that was in accordance with the conventions of the medium of cinema. "The Dynasts" was published in three parts over five years.

Post his death, on January 11, 1928, Hardy's body was buried at Westminster Abbey. His heart (having been removed before cremation) was buried in Stinson, England, near the grave of his first wife and his ancestors.

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Who was H.G. Wells?

Known as the father of science fiction, H.G. Wells was not juts a prolific writer, he was also a visionary who advocated world peace and social equality through his books. Here's a recap of Wells' life and works as another birth anniversary goes by.

The setting of the story is Surrey, Woking in England. It begins with the narrator observing that no one would have thought that our world would be watched keenly by intelligent beings. And that as we busied ourselves with our concerns we were being studied and ‘scrutinized’.

The narrator notes”… perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water…."

The unnamed narrator slowly takes us on a journey of a planetary invasion. What began as flashes of light on the surface of Mars soon turns into a full-blown planetary invasion with 'Martians' landing on Earth. A Martian Invasion!

The War of the Worlds (1898), a science fiction novel by English writer H.G. Wells talks about the extraterrestrial race and the conflict between humans and Martians.

The War of the Worlds is just one among the many works by the author who is considered the father of science fiction.

Early Life

Wells was born in 1866 in Kent, England to parents who were household helps. When Wells was just years old, he broke his leg. During the time he spent recuperating, he started reading. This unfortunate event, in fact, made him an ardent reader.

At the age of 14, Wells was apprenticed to a draper (a dealer in cloth). When he was 17, he started teaching at a grammar school.

When he was 18, he clinched a scholarship at the Normal School of Science in London and studied biology. But he left the college without a degree and started teaching in private schools. It would be years later that he would obtain his degree. He graduated in 1888 and started teaching science. But he turned to writing soon.

Wells as a writer

His penchant for science is seen in the bevy of science fiction he created.

In The Time Machine (1895), the story takes us on a journey of time travel when the narrator invents the time machine.

It would be interesting to note that The Time Machine is the first novel Wells published.

It was not just science fiction he delved into. Wells also wrote about the lower classes. Having had a very humble upbringing, Wells could draw upon his life experiences as well.

He wrote novels about the lives of the lower- and middle-class people and also reflected on the problems of Western society. He also advocated world peace and social equality through his books.

Vocal about social progress

Wells was a socialist. He was actively promoting social progress through his books. This can be seen in A Modern Utopia (1905), where he maintains that science can change the world. He also joined the Fabian Society, a British socialist organization.

Futuristic Wells

Wells has written over 100 books. A visionary, Well's novels are oddly prophetic Reading him would make you wonder how he could foresee so much into our future. But perhaps that's what science fiction is all about. The modern-day inventions of the phone, email, tanks, lasers, gas warfare and so on echo in Well's novels.

 But there are a few predictions that haven't come true, such as the invention of the time machine, a Martian invasion, and a man who turns invisible, to cite a few.

A World State

Wells envisioned a world government, which he detailed in A Modern Utopia (1905). He thought that this idea of a world state would ensure peace.

One can surmise that the outbreak of the war made him despondent and dejected. His last book Mind at the End of its Tether (1945) reflects this, with its gloomy future for humankind

He passed away in 1946, in London.

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What is the life story of Stephen King?

A dusty box of fantasy horror fiction books that belonged to his father, who had left his family, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Stephen King. The young author quickly devoured the entire set and hankered for more. Soon, he began writing his own stories and got started on the path to becoming one of the world's most acclaimed horror fiction authors.

Born on September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine, King worked as a high school English teacher for many years, before he found success as a writer. In 1974, his first published novel "Carrie", about a friendless girl, who uses her telekinetic powers to take revenge on those who bully her, became an instant bestseller and was adapted into a big budget Hollywood film a couple of years later. The works that followed - "Salem's Lot", "The Shining" and "IT cemented his reputation as a bestselling writer.

The mysterious Richard Bachman

Wanting to know if his books could sell without riding on their authors fame, King started writing a few books under the alias Richard Bachman in secret.

He adopted the alias for four books ("Rage", "The Long Walk", "Roadwork", and "The Running Man"). They remained relatively obscure and no one suspected that their author was one of the most well-known and successful writers of the 20th century!

But Brown a bookseller, who had read many of King's books, was surprised to see the similarities between the two writer's styles. He was shocked to read Bachman's latest book, "Thinner' as it read like a classic King! Intrigued, he dug up further to discover that it was indeed King who held the copyright to the title of one of Bachman's books. He wrote a letter to King's agent, informing him about his discovery. And that's how he blew the lid on what may have been the biggest literary ruse of the century! Following the controversy, King decided it was time to say goodbye to his pseudonym. He announced that Bachman had died from 'a cancer of the pseudonym.'

Oh really?

  • Before becoming a teacher, King worked at an industrial laundry, and later part-time as a high school janitor.
  • On June 19, 1999, King was hit by a van while walking along a road near his summer home in Maine. He had to undergo multiple surgeries to repair his broken leg and shattered hip.

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What is the life story of Robert Lawrence?

When he was nine years old, American author Robert Lawrence Stine found a typewriter in the attic of his house. Brushing off the cobwebs, he carried it over to his room and started typing out stories and jokes. Bending over the machine, he spent hours typing till his fingers became numb. His mother begged him to go outside and play, but he did not pay heed to her. Spooked? Don't be. This is not a horror story. Stine had simply fallen in love with writing - and he has been writing ever since. Over the last four decades, he has written over 300 children's books teeming with creatures of all kinds from ghosts and ghouls to vampires and demonic ventriloquist's dummies.

The write start

Born on October 8, 1943, in Ohio, Stine enjoyed reading and writing humour stories, but not horror. In fact, Stine did not believe in ghosts or any supernatural creatures, and never even thought of writing about them. He wrote dozens of humour books for kids under the name Jovial Bob Stine and created the humour magazine "Bananas", which ran for 72 issues between 1975 and 1984.

It was only in 1989 when he penned the "Fear Street" stories, which became extremely popular among young adults, that he turned his attention to horror writing. The success of the series presented Stine with an opportunity to write scary stories for seven to 12-year-olds, something not many authors had tried before.

The first four in the "Goosebumps" series did not sell at all. According to Stine's website, the books started gathering dust on the shelves. And just when he started to think that maybe the whole endeavour was a mistake, the sales picked up. Soon, "Goosebumps" became a hit turning Stine into an international celebrity.

F for "Fear Street"

The "Fear Street" series ran for a decade from 1989 to 1999, as Stine stopped writing the series after "Fear Street Seniors". The entire series takes place in the fictitious town of Shadyside and features average teenagers who encounter malignant, sometimes paranormal, adversaries. While some of the Fear Street novels have paranormal elements, such as ghosts, others are simply murder mysteries. These books are far more frightful than the "Goosebumps books.

Sleep with your lights on!

While "Fear Street" is meant for teen readers, "Goosebumps" has been written for a preteen audience. The "Goosebumps" series consists of as many as 62 books, but they can be read in any order. These tales do not focus on adults finding ways to fight off monsters. Instead, children and teenagers are the main characters.

What makes "Goosebumps" fun is the unique mix of horror and humour. These eerie tales are not meant to be taken too seriously. Some of the stories will have you rolling on the floor laughing, while others will unleash your imagination. For instance, in "Say Cheese and Die" saga, a kid finds a family of skeletons doing mundane, everyday activities. These books also contain valuable life lessons for kids. The stories teach us the importance of standing up for what's right and facing our fears. Stories such as "Be Careful What You Wish For..." tell us to not take our lives for granted and to appreciate our flaws.

OH, REALLY?

  • To create an eerie atmosphere while he is writing, Stine keeps a mask, a skeleton and a three-foot-long cockroach in his writing studio.
  • The Goosebumps Movie", starring Jack Black as RL Stine, was released in 2015.
  • In 2014, Stine came out with his first picture book, titled "Little Shop of Monsters Marc Brown of "Arthur fame did the illustrations.

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What is the life story of the author Dante Alighieri?

Dante Alighiens duly remembered as the author of the Dane Comody and as the father of the Italian language. On the Mch Anniversary of his death (around September 13-14th, 1321) we list five things you need to know about a titan of world literature.

Known as the Father of the Italian language"

Dante is credited with helping create the Italian language by  using the Tuscan vernacular of his time-rather than Latin-to write his masterpiece. The Divine Comedy originally called simply Comedy is an imaginary journey through hell purgatory and heaven published in several stages in the early 14th century, its popularity led other medieval Italian authors, such as Petrarch and boccaccia to also write in the vermacular, laying the literary foundations of Italian.

On par with Shakespeare

The Diviine Comedy is a poem, a personal tale of redemption a treaty on human virtue, as well as one of the most influential pieces of science fiction British poet T.S. Eliot famously said: "Dante and Shakespeare divide the modem world between them there is no third."

Dante in popular culture

Generations of writers painters sculptors musicians filmmakers and cartoonists have been inspired by the Divine Comedy, particularly the "inferno" portion. These include everyone from Sandro William Blake Botticelli Salvador Dali and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, to the creators of X-Men comic books and novelist Dan Brown.

Se7en and Dante

The "Divine Comedy" was also a key inspiration for Oscar-nominated thriller "Se7en", for a popular video game ("Dante's Infemo"), while Dante is quoted in popular TV series such as "Mad Men".

Durante, but call me Dante

Dante is usually known only by his first name, which is a diminutive of “Durante”. He was born in Florence in 1265, exiled in 1302, and he died in Ravenna, on Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast, on September 13 or 14 1321.

Hailing from a wealthy family, Dante never worked for a living and dabbled in politics as well as literature, philosophy and cosmology. He had at least three children with his wife Gemma Donati.

Dante the politician

Dante was active in politics, serving as one of Florence’s nine elected rulers, or priors, for a regular two-month term in 1300. When he became increasingly critical of papal encroachment in political affairs, he was put on trial and banished from Florence AFP.

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What is the life story of Russian author and playwright Leo Tolstoy?

Widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time, Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, better known as Leo Tolstoy, was born on September 9, 1828. His ideas on non-violence had a profound impact on Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Read on to learn more about him...

Early life

Born on his family estate, Yasnaya Polyana in the Tula province of Russia, Tolstoy belonged to an affluent family. Unfortunately, he lost his parents at a young age and lived with different relatives over the years.

At 16, Tolstoy began studying law and Oriental languages at Kazan University, but since he was home-schooled, he struggled to cope. Frustrated, he dropped out of the university and started looking for a non-academic career.

Sowing the seeds

Intent on taking up farming, Tolstoy moved to the family's estate and began managing serfs and farmhands. Though he enjoyed the toil, he had to give up farming as he wanted to return to Moscow, which he missed. On his brothers insistence, he joined the Russian Army. Tolstoy fought in the Crimean War, between Russia, and Britain and France. The violence and bloodshed he witnessed during the war scarred him for life. He left the Army as soon as the war ended.

A new religion

Seeking solace in religion, he tried to evolve his own views on religion wherein he rejected the authority of the church and promoted ahimsa or non-violence. He believed in leading a morally and physically ascetic life. His followers moved onto the authors estate to be near him and came to be known as Tolstayans. Many of these communes are operational even today.

Among those influenced by Tolstoy's social beliefs were Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Gandhi established a co-operative colony named after Tolstoy in South Africa and corresponded with the author, crediting him with his own spiritual and philosophical evolution, particularly with regard to Tolstoy's teachings on peaceful non-resistance to evil.

Tolstoy died on November 20, 1910, a few months after embarking on a pilgrimage with his daughter.

OH REALLY?

A Bombay High Court judge asked an accused civil rights activist to explain why he had a copy of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" at home. The comment has drawn criticism from people across the world.

Tolstoy maintained a journal throughout his life in which he kept a detailed record of all his activities. In the diary, he jotted down a list of rules he aspired to live by. This included sleeping by 10 p.m. and waking up by 5 a.m. with no more than a two-hour nap in the afternoon: eating moderately and avoiding sweets.

While fighting in the Army, Tolstoy wrote: "Childhood", an autobiographical novel, followed by "Boyhood" and "Youth" His other works include "Anna Karenina", "Resurrection", "Family Happiness" and "The Death of Ivan Ilyich".

Did you know?

Tolstoy's wife helped him in finishing "War and Peace" on time. After completing the first draft in 1865, Tolstoy kept revising it over and over again. His wife, Sophia, patiently wrote out each version by hand sometimes she even used a magnifying glass to decipher his scribbles. Over the next seven years, she rewrote the complete manuscript at least eight times.

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What is the life story of Satyajit Ray?

A gifted filmmaker and storyteller, an artist and editor of a children’s magazine, Satyajit Ray wore many hats. But one thing that stood out the most was his love for children and his ability to capture the simple joys of childhood in his works.

The young Apu and his sister Durga from “Pather Panchali” watching a train for the first time; relishing the making of a mango pickle, and attending folk theatre as they lead a simple, rustic life come to mind. The fantastic inventions of the mad scientist Professor Shonku and the Holmes-like Feluda with his trusted sidekicks Topshe and Jatayu never fail to resonate with children.

Who was Satyajit Ray?

Born on May 2, 1921 in an illustrious family in Kolkata, Ray’s great grandfather was Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury and his father was Sukumar Ray, one of the stalwarts of Bengali literature. Unfortunately, Sukumar passed away when Ray was just two and a half years old. Once, a young Ray met Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan and asked for his autograph in his cherished violet coloured notebook. Much to Ray’s delight, not only did Tagore sign his initials, but also wrote a few lines and told him to read it once he grew up. This is what he wrote: “For many a year, I have travelled many a mile to lands far away, I have gone to see the mountains, the oceans. I have been to view. But I failed to see that lay not two steps from my home. On a sheaf of a paddy grain – a glistening drop of dew.” (translation taken from the book “Satyajit Ray in 100 Anecdotes by Arthi Muthanna Singh and Mamta Nainy.”)

Cinemascope

Before he became a filmmaker, Ray worked as a commercial artist. India’s first and only Oscar-winning director, Ray was inspired to become an independent filmmaker after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and watching Vittorio De Sica’s Italian neorealist 1949 film “Bicycle Thieves” in London.

In his long career, Ray directed more than 36 films, including “Pather Panchali” (Song of the Road), which retold Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s iconic 1929 novel of the same name. the film won 11 international prizes, including Best Human Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival and an honorary Academy Award in 1992. In the same year, Ray was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, by the Government of India.

Feluda

Ray’s unbridled imagination and sensitivity is reflected in his short stories and novels for children and adolescents. Ray’s popular “Feluda” series follows the private investigator as he solves complex mysteries using his sharp observational skills. The character made his debut in a crime thriller written by Ray for the Bengali children’s magazine Sandesh in 1965. Over the years, a total of 35 stories in the “Feluda” series were published. Ray even adapted the series to the silver screen, with noted actor Soumitra Chatterjee playing the young and charismatic sleuth.

Shonku and more

Ray also wrote science fiction for kids. His “Professor Shonku” series revolves around a scientist, who makes fantastic inventions in his laboratory. From El Dorado to the prehistoric caves of France to the Nilgiris and the Himalayas, Shonku goes on adventures to different countries and imaginary places.

Another of Ray’s cherished works is the “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne” series based on his grandfather’s book of the same name. a socio-political satire, Ray weaves a magical tale of the village simpletons Goopy and Bagha. The series is packed with magic, rhyming dialogues, catchy songs, lively dances, and even ghosts (Bhooter Raja).

What’s in store?

  • “Another Dozen Stories”, a collection of 12 magical, bizarre and spooky stories for children written by Ry, has been translated from Bengali to English by Indrani Majumdar and will be out on May2. Sharmila Tagore has written the foreword.
  • Penguin India is also coming up with “3 Rays: Stories from Satyajit Ray”, a collection of previously unpublished autobiographical writings, stories, poems, illustrations, fiction and non-fiction. The book is expected to be out on May 10.

Oh really?

  • Besides filmmaking and writing, Ray had a deep love for typography. He designed the calligraphy in the opening titles for all his films and was credited with contributing several fonts to the Bengali and English language including Ray Roman, Ray Bizarre, Daphnis and Holiday Script.
  • After Ray, his son Sandip and other renowned filmmakers have kept the “Feluda” series alive. Even, Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor played Feluda in a television series “Kissa Kathmandu Ka” in 1986 for Doordarshan.

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What is the life story of Bard of Avon?

Can you imagine what it would be like if the mighty Iron Man starts spewing Shakespeare's sonnets? Or if Hulk and Captain America face each other in a Shakespearean duel with swords? Well, you won't have to wait too long to find out.

The superhero films are all set to be presented in a new avatar with a classical twist. Marvel Studios along with Quirk Books will be releasing The Avengers", "Avengers: Age of Ultron", "Avengers: Infinity War, and "Avengers: Endgame" in the form of Shakespearean plays. Titled "William Shakespeare's Avengers: The Complete Works, the plays will be released on September 28.

Immersing Marvel's favourite team of superheroes into a Shakespearean world isn't as far-fetched as it may sound. In fact, viewers got a taste of it in the very first "Avenger" film in 2012 when Tony Stark aka Iron Man encounters the God of Thunder for the first time. Looking at Thor's medieval clothes, Stark jests about indulging in some Shakespeare in the park. "Doth Mother know you weareath her drapes?" Stark famously asks Thor.

And it was actually this scene that inspired Marvel to come up with the unconventional collaboration. The studio wondered what would have happened if the most epic cinematic franchise of all time had been penned by the greatest playwright of all time?

What's in store

According to the Marvel website, "William Shakespeare's Avengers: The Complete Works" reimagines all four films as plays by the Bard of Avon, complete with authentic metre and verse, stage directions, and entertaining Easter eggs. Fans will also experience their favourite scenes, characters, and lines in a new way, through monologues and dialogue by everyone from Captain America to Groot (Tis !!).

Written by lan Doescher, the author of "William Shakespeare's Star Wars", the book will feature a two column layout and dozens of full-colour illustrations capturing the iconic moments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Who was William Shakespeare?

Born on April 23, 1564 Shakespeare was the son of a glove maker in Stratford upon-Avon. A small-town boy with only secondary school education, he grew up to become the greatest English-language playwright in the world. Love him or hate him, you just cannot ignore Shakespeare. His works have been admired by the world for hundreds of years and are part of the school curriculum.

And even though, the young minds might struggle to comprehend his Victorian English, Shakespeare's stories continue to move us and remain relevant even today.

His life and achievements

Shakespeare had a successful career in London as an actor. writer. He was also part-owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.

Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories. He devoted the latter half of his career to writing tragedies. Some of his notable works are "Hamlet" "Romeo and Juliet "Othello", "King Lear and "Macbeth". In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies.

A man of mystery

For a man who was so prolific with his pen.

Shakespeare did not leave much evidence of his life. No one knows for sure whether Shakespeare is one person or a group of writers using the name collectively. Nobody even knows if that's how Shakespeare spelled his name: the only surviving examples of his handwriting are six signatures spelled in different ways. He is believed to have died at the age of 52 on April 23 1616.

OH REALLY?

  • Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays for the theatre and over 150 poems! But the exact number is unknown.
  • In the latter part of the 16th Century, Shakespeare disappeared from records for a few years! Historians often refer to this part of the writers life as the lost years.
  • Plays in Shakespeare's time were different from the ones we have today. There were no female actors. If the audiences didn't like the performance, they would boo and even throw food at the actors.

Picture Credit : Google

What is the life story of Bard of Avon?



Can you imagine what it would be like if the mighty Iron Man starts spewing Shakespeare's sonnets? Or if Hulk and Captain America face each other in a Shakespearean duel with swords? Well, you won't have to wait too long to find out.



The superhero films are all set to be presented in a new avatar with a classical twist. Marvel Studios along with Quirk Books will be releasing The Avengers", "Avengers: Age of Ultron", "Avengers: Infinity War, and "Avengers: Endgame" in the form of Shakespearean plays. Titled "William Shakespeare's Avengers: The Complete Works, the plays will be released on September 28.



Immersing Marvel's favourite team of superheroes into a Shakespearean world isn't as far-fetched as it may sound. In fact, viewers got a taste of it in the very first "Avenger" film in 2012 when Tony Stark aka Iron Man encounters the God of Thunder for the first time. Looking at Thor's medieval clothes, Stark jests about indulging in some Shakespeare in the park. "Doth Mother know you weareath her drapes?" Stark famously asks Thor.



And it was actually this scene that inspired Marvel to come up with the unconventional collaboration. The studio wondered what would have happened if the most epic cinematic franchise of all time had been penned by the greatest playwright of all time?



What's in store



According to the Marvel website, "William Shakespeare's Avengers: The Complete Works" reimagines all four films as plays by the Bard of Avon, complete with authentic metre and verse, stage directions, and entertaining Easter eggs. Fans will also experience their favourite scenes, characters, and lines in a new way, through monologues and dialogue by everyone from Captain America to Groot (Tis !!).



Written by lan Doescher, the author of "William Shakespeare's Star Wars", the book will feature a two column layout and dozens of full-colour illustrations capturing the iconic moments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.



Who was William Shakespeare?



Born on April 23, 1564 Shakespeare was the son of a glove maker in Stratford upon-Avon. A small-town boy with only secondary school education, he grew up to become the greatest English-language playwright in the world. Love him or hate him, you just cannot ignore Shakespeare. His works have been admired by the world for hundreds of years and are part of the school curriculum.



And even though, the young minds might struggle to comprehend his Victorian English, Shakespeare's stories continue to move us and remain relevant even today.



His life and achievements



Shakespeare had a successful career in London as an actor. writer. He was also part-owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men.



Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories. He devoted the latter half of his career to writing tragedies. Some of his notable works are "Hamlet" "Romeo and Juliet "Othello", "King Lear and "Macbeth". In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies.



A man of mystery



For a man who was so prolific with his pen.



Shakespeare did not leave much evidence of his life. No one knows for sure whether Shakespeare is one person or a group of writers using the name collectively. Nobody even knows if that's how Shakespeare spelled his name: the only surviving examples of his handwriting are six signatures spelled in different ways. He is believed to have died at the age of 52 on April 23 1616.



OH REALLY?




  • Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays for the theatre and over 150 poems! But the exact number is unknown.

  • In the latter part of the 16th Century, Shakespeare disappeared from records for a few years! Historians often refer to this part of the writers life as the lost years.

  • Plays in Shakespeare's time were different from the ones we have today. There were no female actors. If the audiences didn't like the performance, they would boo and even throw food at the actors.



 



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What is the life story of Charles Addams?



Who was Charles Addams?



Growing up in the shadow of World War I. Addams found humour in the darkest of places-death. Born in New Jersey on January 7, 1917, his parents encouraged him to channel his creativity into doodles. One of his first jobs involved retouching photos of corpses that appeared in a detective magazine. It helped him come to terms with death and inspired, his macabre cartoons, which were later published in The New Yorker magazine under the pseudonym Chas Addams.



In over a five-decade-long career, Addams contributed over 1,300 cartoons, with at least 80 of them featuring reccurring gothic mysterious and spooky characters, Gomez Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Fester, who came to be known as "The Addams Family".



Getting started



At the age of 12, Addams faced his first rejection. He was told that he was not talented by a New York Herald newspaper cartoonist. Instead of feeling disappointed, Addams spurred into action and enrolled at a prestigious art school. In just one year, Addams sold his first drawing, a sketch of a window washer, to The New Yorker. It was published on February 6, 1932. Within a few years, he became a regular contributor to the magazine. And from 1938 till his death on September 29, 1988, the magazine published 'The Addams Family" series regularly.



The franchise and adaptations



What began as a humble monochromatic cartoon strip in The New Yorker turned into a giant franchise after the series was adapted for television by producer David Levy. However, Addams kept his distance from "The Addams Family" television series. He only decided on the characters' names and descriptions. The series ran on ABC for two seasons, from 1964 to 1966, and gained global attention.



Intrigued by the popularity of the series, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera introduced an animated version of the Addams Family characters as guests in an episode of the "Scooby Doo" series. The episode titled, "Scooby-Doo Meets the Addams Family", first aired on television on September 23, 1972. The characters were drawn to the exact specifications of the original Addams cartoons. And the fans loved them so much that Hanna-Barbera created their own animated show featuring the beloved characters.



Considering the enduring appeal of the Addams Family, Netflix has announced a live-action TV series adaptation to be based around the character of Wednesday Addams. With the legendary director Tim Burton at its helm, the series will follow Wednesday as she solves mysteries using her psychic ability.



DID YOU KNOW?




  • In 1961, Charles Addams received a Special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

  • Addams loved collecting armour and arms, as well as tinkering with cars.

  • Keeping with his dark sense of humour, Addams married his third and final wife, Marilyn Matthews Miller in a pet cemetery. And their home in Sagaponack, New York was called "The Swamp".



OH REALLY?




  • Addams was friends with author Ray Bradbury. In fact, the duo were planning to collaborate on a project. But Addams died before it could materialize.

  • Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock too was a friend of Addams, and owned two pieces of original Addams art.

  • The University of Pennsylvania has a Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall on its campus at 36th and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia. There is a small sculpture of the Addams Family in front of the building.



 



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What is the life story of Beverly Cleary?



Have you met the residents of the Klickitat Street? Henry Huggins and his neighbours Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby and her younger sister. Ramona made their way into the hearts of children across the world through the writings of the beloved children's author Beverly Cleary. But did you know that there is a real Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon, in the U.S.? Or that Cleary spent most of her childhood there? Read on to find out...



Who was Beverly Cleary?



Born in 1916 on a farm in Yamhill, Cleary moved to Portland as a child. She lived on the 37th Street, also known as the Klickitat Street. Both the street and the people in her neighbourhood left a strong impression on Cleary's mind. A school assignment in Class VII kindled her love for writing.



Unlike most women then, Cleary was determined to attend college and stand on her feet. She even moved to South California with her aunt and uncle because California's colleges were free to its residents. Cleary earned a degree in English from the prestigious UC Berkeley and librarianship from the University of Washington.



Half a century of children's books



Working as a librarian, Cleary started writing in her 30s. Her first, "Henry Huggins" was published in 1950. Cleary received $500 for the book and there was no looking back after that. In a career spanning over 50 years, Cleary came up with many children's classics including the “The Mouse and the Motorcycle" trilogy, which is centred around rodents and motorbikes. Among the "Henry" titles were "Henry and Ribs," "Henry and the Paper Route" and "Henry and Beezus." Her last book, "Ramona's World", released in 1999.



Beverly and Ramona



Of all her creations, Ramona is perhaps the best-known. Ramona made her debut in "Henry Huggins", but became so popular that she inspired her own spin-offs. In all there were eight Ramona books, including "Beezus and Ramona", "Ramona the Pest and "Ramona and Her Father." In 1981, "Ramona and Her Mother” won the National Book Award.



Twilight years



Although Cleary took a break from writing towards the end of her career, three of her books were re-released on popular demand. And to make them even more special, they contain forewords by three of her famous fans-Judy Blume, Kate DiCamillo and actress Amy Poehler.



Cleary breathed her last on March 25, 2021, at the age of 104.



OH REALLY?




  • The Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in her hometown is dedicated to the beloved children's author. Artist Lee Hunt has created sculpted figures of some of Cleary's characters, while quotes from her famous books are engraved on the granite slabs in the garden.

  • Out of all the magical books she wrote, only her "Ralph Mouse" series has been adapted to the silver screen.

  • Cleary has written two memoirs "A Girl From Yamhill" and "My Own Two Feet” in which she discusses her life candidly.



 



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What is the life story of William Steig?



One of the highest grossing animated film franchises of all time, the "Shrek" films are popular with one and all. The adventures of the green ogre, Shrek and his faithful companion, Donkey, voiced by comedians Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, will leave you chuckling with delight.



With the film franchise completing 20 years in April, the first film 'Shrek", which released in 2001, is set to return to the big screen on April 24, 25 and 26. But did you know that the films are based on a children's picture book? William Steig's "Shrek!” released in 1996, is the source material for the films.



Who was William Steig?



Growing up in New York, William Steig was interested in swimming and playing touch football more than books. He didn't complete his college education even though he attended three colleges. He studied at the City College of New York for two years, then the National Academy of Design and spent just five days at the Yale School of Art.



A gifted illustrator, Steig started working with the prestigious magazine The New Yorker in 1930. He produced 117 covers for the magazine. One of his cartoon characters, Poor Pitiful Pearl, inspired a popular line of dolls, starting in 1956.



From Pitiful Pearl to Doctor De Soto



Steig forayed into writing for children at the age of 61. it was his cartoonist friend Robert Kraus who persuaded him to wield the pen. Steig's first children's book was released in 1968. He excelled in writing as well, and his third book, "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" (1969), won the Caldecott Medal. He went on to pen more than 30 children's books, including the "Doctor De Soto" series, and he continued to write well into his nineties. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration and subsequently in 1988 for writing.



Steig's unique characters



What sets Steig's books apart is that it can appeal to children and adults alike. Moving beyond rainbows and unicorns, his books explore complex topics and give a realistic view of life. They are unafraid of touching upon topics that adults usually hesitate to talk to kids about. In "Brave Irene", a dressmaker falls ill as she completes a gown for a duchess; her daughter, Irene, volunteers to deliver it, but is caught in a snowstorm. A lesson on survival, the story follows Irene's ordeal as she braves the snowstorm. In "Doctor De Soto", a mouse dentist finds ways to outwit a fox in the guise of a patient who wants to eat him.



Beauty of the beast



Steig's picture book “Shrek!” (1990) formed the basis for the DreamWorks Animation's film "Shrek" (2001).



Shrek! is one of the unique characters in children's literature. A monster, Shrek is depicted as not only ugly but also cruel. He's so hideous that people faint at the sight of him. However, Shrek doesn't scare the readers. And, the story doesn't end with Shrek finding his inner beauty, but by accepting himself for who he is. A valuable lesson in today's world!



After the release of "Shrek 2" in 2004, Steig became the first sole creator of an animated movie franchise that went on to generate over $1 billion after only one sequel. The character also received a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.



Legacy



Steig passed away in Boston, Massachusetts on October 3, 2003 at the age of 95, but left behind a legacy of thought provoking cartoons that teaches all about life.



OH REALLY?




  • Steig had a gift for puns and sarcasm, which is obvious in his works. "Spinky Sulks" is a hilarious tale of a family whose youngest son holds a grudge for an impressively long time.

  • In 1930, Steig sold his first comic to The New Yorker. It depicted one prison inmate telling a fellow inmate about his incorrigible son. Initially, editor Harold Ross wanted another artist to redraw it, but Steig refused permission. The cartoon went on to become extremely popular.

  • In 1984, Steig's film adaptation of "Doctor De Soto", directed by Michael Sporn, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

  • For a time, Steig lived at 75 1/2 Bedford Street, which is considered to be one of the narrowest houses in Manhattan.



 



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What is the life story of author Jessica Townsend?



Jessica Townsend published her first book at the age of 32- the same age as her idol J.K. Rowling was when she wrote the bestselling "Harry Potter series.



Growing up on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, Townsend's sister Sally persuaded her to write a book. She came up with "The Three Koalas" and she enjoyed it so much that she made a wish: someday she wanted to become a famous writer



Her wish came true when she turned 18. One day, while attending a music conference, Townsend found the keynote speaker to be so boring that she began scribbling on the paper lying in front of her. She wrote down a story about a little girl who went to live with her aunt Morrigan, a slightly eccentric, but magical woman.



As she started writing the story, she realised that the aunt was actually much more interesting than the niece. So Townsend began writing her backstory, chalking out what the characters childhood would have been like and how she grew up and what turned her into this interesting person. And that's how Morrigan Crow was born.



The next “Harry Potter”?



The first book in the "Nevermoor" series, "Nevermoor Trials of Morrigan Crow", tells the story of Morrigan Crow, a girl who is born on the unluckiest day of the year. Everyone believes her to be cursed, which means she is blamed for everything that goes wrong, like local misfortunes and, hailstorms. To make matters worse, she is destined to die on her eleventh birthday. The only thing that can save her is a membership to the Wundrous Society. But that's not as easy as it sounds. Little Morrigan must pass through four difficult trials to emerge victorious. Each participant possesses a special talent that helps them sail through the trials. Will Morrigan be able to identify her special power?



"Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was released in 2017. It bagged two major book awards - 'Book of the Year at the Indie Book Awards and the Gold Australian Book Industry award. So far, three sequels "Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow" and "Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow have been released. And, Townsend has already plotted out seven more books in her head.



DID YOU KNOW?



On the wildside



Before she became a writer, Townsend was working at the Australia Zoo run by Terri Irwin and her late husband Steve Irwin. Her job was to sell souvenirs and goodies to curious tourists at the gift shop. Irwin recognised her talent and promoted her to write for the in-house wildlife magazine "Crikey". Soon, Townsend became its editor.



The bidding war



It took nearly a decade for Townsend to finish writing the first book "Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow". Eight major publishing houses entered into a bidding war to acquire the rights for the book. Finally, Hachette Book Group managed to sign a three-book deal for the U.S., Britain and Australia for a six-figure sum. Simultaneously, the film rights were sold to 20th Century Fox.



 



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What is the life story of George Orwell?



Born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903 in Bihar, Orwell spent a part of his childhood in India. Later, he moved to England for schooling but he hated school. He was often pulled up for playing pranks. He was expelled from grammar school for sending a birthday message attached to a dead rat to the town surveyor, according to Sir Bemars Crick's "George Orwell: A Life. And while studying at Eton College Orwell made up a song about John Crace, his school's housemaster, in which he made fun of Crace's appearance and his liking for Italian art



Orwell or P.S. Burton?



Orwell was disillusioned with the British Raj, He realised that the British government was oppressing people in the colonies and also in England. So he began exploring the backward areas of London on foot sometimes even dressing up like a beggar and adopting the name P.S. Burton to hide his identity. He recorded his experience as a low-life in his book "Down and Out in Paris and London" published in 1933.



A teacher and a journalist



Orwell moved to Paris to focus on writing. He became a successful journalist writing for Le Monde, a political and literary journal. Later he worked as a teacher, His stint As a teacher didn't stop him from pursuing more adventures. On one occasion, as part of research for a novel, he tried to get arrested so as to be able to interact with the prisoners But he could not succeed in his attempt as he was released 48 hours after being taken into custody. A few years later, he gave up teaching to become a full-time writer.



IN ORWELL'S WORDS




  • Doublespeak: It is a language that deliberately distorts facts and confuses the readers. The term "doublespeak" derives from two concepts in Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four, "doublethink" and "Newspeak", though the term does not figure in the book. Doublespeak is often used in politics, media and advertising to misrepresent the truth. The word downsizing (used instead of "lay-offs") is an example of doublespeak. Doublespeak is so commonly used by politicians and the media that the National Council of Teachers of English in the U.S. in 1971 founded the Doublespeak Award as an "ironic tribute to public speakers who have perpetuated language that is grossly deceptive, evasive, euphemistic, confusing, or self centered." Its recipients are usually politicians, government officials, or departments.



 




  • Cold War. Orwell used the term 'Cold War in his 1945 essay, "You and the Atom Bomb", written two months after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the term 'cold war referred to some of Hitler's policies, Orwell was the first to apply the word to conditions that arose in the aftermath of World War II. With much of Orwell's speculation about the geopolitical effects of a nuclear bomb coming true, the term Cold War began be used to describe the prolonged state of hostility between the U.S. and the Soviet.



DID YOU KNOW?




  • Orwell's book "Animal Farm" was the underlying source of inspiration for Pink Floyd's 1977 album "Animals Roger Waters used Orwell's animal imagery to criticise capitalism through his songs.

  • Orwell considered using his old pseudonym. P.S. Burton to write novels, but decided against it and settled on George Orwell instead He chose the name as he thought it would make people take him seriously.



Orange marmalade



The British Council rejected his food essay, which contained a recipe for orange marmalade. In 1946, Blair was commissioned to write an essay on British cuisine. Days after submitting the essay, he received a letter stating that his recipe for the marmalade was bad. "Too much sugar and water" it read. More than 70 years after the incident, the Council in February, 2019 sent a letter to the author apologising for rejecting the essay, but not the recipe.



Soldier, spy!



In 1949, he compiled a list of artists he suspected to be communists and passed it on to the government. This list included names of Charlie Chaplin, Katherine Hepburn, John Steinbeck and Orson Welles.



 



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What is the life story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?



Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" stories are considered to be milestones in detective fiction. However, it's not widely known that Doyle also helped investigate a real-life crime in the 20th Century and came to the rescue of a British Indian lawyer who was wrongfully convicted. In a new book, "The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer: Arthur Conan Doyle, George Edalji and the case of the foreigner in the English village," which released on March 10, London-based author and historian Shrabani Basu digs up details about this long forgotten case.



According to the book, George Edalji, a barrister, wrote to Doyle in 1907 asking for his help. Edalji was jailed for allegedly committing a series of mysterious crimes in Staffordshire in England. But Edalji claimed to be innocent.



Doyle, who published "A Study in Scarlet", had become a household name in England and was often flooded with letters from fans asking him to help investigate crimes. Usually, Doyle did not take up any of these cases, but made an exception for Edalji. In a true Holmes like fashion, Doyle gathered all the clues and successfully proved that Edalji was wrongly convicted and framed on account of racism.



Rings a Bell?



Doyle was born in Edinburgh on May 22, 1859. He developed a love for storytelling from his mother Mary Doyle. Surprisingly, he chose to pursue medicine instead of arts-his family consisted of reputed artists. At med school, Doyle met his mentor, Professor Dr. Joseph Bell, whose keen powers of observation inspired him to create the famed fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.



Writing and cricket



Although a doctor by profession, Doyle's interests lay in writing and cricket. He frequently contributed to magazines and newspapers. One day, inspiration struck and he started writing a mystery novel, which would later become "A Study in Scarlet" marking the birth of the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes.



Cricket too played an important role in Doyle's life. He joined a team of cricketers named Allahakbarries, which translates to Heaven Help US. The side was made up of literary luminaries such as Jerome K. Jerome, PG Wodehouse as well as the son of Alfred Lord Tennyson.



In fact Doyle named Sherlock Holmes after two county cricketers - Sherrinford and Shacklock. Sherlock's mysterious brother, Mycroft too is named after another cricketer and so is his archenemy. Moriarty.



A remarkable legacy



Doyle passed away on July 7, 1930 at the age of 71. But his legacy is unparalled. The genre of detective fiction grew leaps and bounds because of his contribution.



WHAT'S NEW?




  • Sherlock Holmes has been adapted to the screen multiple times. But the latest eight-part series by Netflix, gives Sherlock a supernatural twist. "The Irregulars", set to release on March 26 follows a group of teenagers who and embark on dark adventures. They are manipulated into solving crimes by a sinister Dr. Watson.

  • In October 2020, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle filed a lawsuit against the creators of the film "Enola Holmes" for portraying Sherlock's softer side. The estate claimed that the film about Sherlock's sister infringed the copyright by depicting a warmer and emotional Sherlock. The lawsuit was subsequently dismissed.



OH REALLY?




  • The other side of the coin: Although Doyle gained recognition writing tales of the analytical and rational detective, he became obsessed with supernatural phenomena in the latter part of his life. This was a result of the untimely deaths of his children and brother in World War I.

  • Doyle was a first-class cricketer and is famous for taking the wicket of the legendary W.B. Grace. But did you know that Doyle even played football? He played as a goalkeeper for Portsmouth FC under the pseudonym AC Smith

  • Doyle brought back dinosaurs! His book, "The Lost World" was the inspiration behind films such as "King Kong" and "Jurassic Park."



 



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