Curiosities of literature

Format:

Book

Title:

Curiosities of literature

Author:

Sutherland, John, 1938-

ISBN:

9781602393714

9781905211975

9780099519294

Publication Information:

Physical Description:

xi, 273 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

General Note:

"A Herman Graf book."

Contents:

Literary baked meats -- Body of literature: heads, lungs, hearts, and bowels -- Tools of the trade -- Sex and the Victorians -- Better than sex, some say -- Some curious literary records: best, worst, and most -- Literary crimewatch -- Who? Who? Who? -- Name games -- Readers distinguished and less so -- Mammon and the book trade -- Wheels -- Morbid curiosity -- Curious connections: a terminal quiz.

Summary:

One of our best-known and best-loved literary critics turns his attention to the more bizarre areas of literature in this miscellany of fact and trivia. Which author had the heaviest brain? What was the original title of 1984? What do 12% of all winners of the Booker prize have in common? When did cigarettes start making an appearance in English literature? And, while we're at it, who wrote the first Western, and is there any link between asthma and literary genius? Sutherland's irreverent literary masterpiece illuminates every topic imaginable, from author advances to civil war literature to Victorian sex to odd-things-eaten-by-literary characters (think Patrick Bateman's girlfriend in American Psycho). This is the ideal anthology of useless information for all book lovers.--Publisher description.

Subject(s):

Literature -- Miscellanea.

Literary curiosa.

Genre:

Trivia and miscellanea.

Added Author:

Rowson, Martin.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Monmouth Public Library	802 Sutherland, J. 2009	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

When did cigarettes start making an appearance in English literature? Which author's heart was purportedly eaten by a cat? One of our best-known and best-loved literary critics turns his attention to the more bizarre areas of literature in this miscellany of fact and trivia. Which author had the heaviest brain? What was the original title of 1984 ? Who made the first bouillon soup? What do 12 percent of all winners of the Booker Prize have in common? What didn't happen on Thomas Carlyle's famous wedding night? And, while we're at it, who wrote the first Western, and is there any link between asthma and literary genius? Sutherland's irreverent literary masterpiece illuminates every topic imaginable from author advances to Civil War literature to Victorian sex to odd things eaten by literary characters (think Patrick Bateman's girlfriend in American Psycho ). Other fascinating insights include the fact that the number one title among American Civil War soldiers was Les Miserables . This is the ideal anthology of fascinating information and trivia for all book lovers.

Author Notes

John Sutherland was born on October 9, 1938. After graduating from the University of Leicester in 1964, he began his academic career as an assistant lecturer in Edinburgh. He specializes in Victorian fiction, 20th century literature, and the history of publishing. He is Lord Northcliffe Professor Emeritus of Modern English Literature at University College, London and is currently teaching at the California Institute of Technology. He writes for The Guardian and is a well-known literary reviewer.

He is the author of more than 20 books including Stephen Spender: The Authorized Biography, How to Read a Novel: A User's Guide, The Boy Who Loved Books, Curiosities of Literature, 50 Literature Ideas You Really Need to Know, Lives of the Novelists: A History of Fiction in 294 Lives, and Magic Moments: Life-Changing Encounters with Books, Film, Music. He is also the co-author, with Stephen Fender, of Love, Sex, Death and Words: Tales from a Year in Literature.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Author and literature professor Sutherland collects a sundry list of literary fact and trivia into a chaotic assortment of narratives. Organized under a stream-of-consciousness list of themes ("Literary Baked Meats," "Better Than Sex, Some Say," "Mammon and the Book Trade"), Sutherland has set few boundaries for himself regarding subject matter: irritable bowel syndrome, the wedding night, and Rose of Sharon's absurdly generous gift in the conclusion of The Grapes of Wrath all come into play. Though he might be self-indulgent, Sutherland delves into the minutiae with grace and good British wit, bringing humor and appeal to even the most (seemingly) dull subjects. Average readers don't need to worry about comparative illiteracy; Sutherland is so thorough that prior knowledge isn't necessary. A lively read for anyone who wants to learn more about their favorite classics, and a lively cheat sheet for those who want to impress their friends in the lit crowd. (Apr.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Booklist Review

The fact that Sutherland is British, an author, and a professor of literature delightfully informs this collection of literary miscellany across the ages and the Western world. He begins with food references, including speculation on how the shortbread cookie came to be named for the classic Victorian novel by Lorna Doone, and villainy involving victims forced to dine on their own brains. Sutherland expounds on contests for the worst novels, the shortest, the fastest and slowest written, and exposes famous misquotes. Writers' favorite drugs include Kerouac's love of Benzedrine inhaler drops in his coffee. Bitter cases of love gone bad in real life are found in novels by Philip Roth, Norman Mailer, and Saul Bellow. Sutherland notes that Jane Eyre's presence on essential reading lists didn't keep editors from rejecting it when it was submitted under a fake name, and he ponders name changes: Joseph Conrad was born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, and Pride and Prejudice was originally titled First Impressions. True to its subtitle, this book is indeed a feast for book lovers.--Bush, Vanessa Copyright 2009 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Sutherland (English, Univ. Coll., London) presents a collection of little-known facts and literary trivia that should appeal to fans of Jeopardy!, Trivial Pursuit, and the like. Categories include writers' gastronomic preferences, oddities of body parts and illnesses (e.g., brain size and the relationship of asthma to genius), who really wrote what, and the recent practice of "product placement" (i.e., naming actual brands of merchandise) in literary works. The section on reading preferences of U.S. presidents is of particular interest-for instance, we learn that Reagan enjoyed the techno-thrillers of Tom Clancy, while Eisenhower read westerns by Zane Grey. Although the concept of this book is appealing, it is not well suited to American readers since it contains many references to obscure British concepts, writers, and works. In addition, topical references will limit its shelf life, and occasionally convoluted sentences make sections difficult to read. The main problem is that the book is too academic for most public libraries but not scholarly enough for academics. Buy if needed.-Denise J. Stankovics, Rockville P.L., Vernon, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.