(no subject)

[le_russe_satan]

Last night, after an awesome day out with sharpiefan and latin_cat , I stayed up late reading "The Man Wellington Through The Eyes Of Those Who Knew Him."

First of all, let me say "OH. MY. GOD". The author (Muriel Wellesley) didn't fangirl him. Oh, no, I believe she worshipped him. And had a dodgy altar where she sacrificed little animals in his name. It is not a bad thing in it's own right *hides her own altar*  but combined with the constant cropping up of passages that I believe can be filed under the heading of purple prose it is MERCILESS. I groaned. I scoffed. I puked.

Let me give you an example, actually several examples, cause I am just cruel like that.

"So the sensitive little Arthur retired within himself, and the opening petals of his young soul, chilled with the east-wind of misunderstanding, began to fold inwards again, and passers-by only saw the dull outer colours, and knew nothing of the warm glow within." p. 5

On Arthur & Kitty

"And so for Arthur another milestone on the road of life is passed, a new and wonderful experience is opening up before him. But alas, this pleasant dream was of short duration and into the Land of Enchantment crept the chilly shadows of parental authority and disapproval ... the young lovers separated, closing behind them the gate of the happy country, which neither of them was ever to enter again. True, they were destined to be reunited, and to enter into the closest of human relationships, but never again to enter the Land of Enchantment, for Time had stolen the key." p. 17

And this one was just fun:

"... which would give the smouldering Tippoo time to erupt in unexpected places." p. 45.

Secondly, despite the "interesting" style, the book does quote numerous first-hand sources, sometimes in rather delicious big chunks, which is always cool. There are lots of good ones, but I will give you two: one, I think, is rather widely quoted, but still makes me go Aaaw, and the other makes me squee over Alava. :D

"About the middle of the night [records George Napier] , as Dr. Hare was sitting dozing in a chair opposite Lord March's bed, who had fallen asleep, the door of the room gently opened and a figure in a white cloak and military hat walked up to the bed, drew the curtains quietly aside, looked steadily for a few seconds on the pale countenance before him, then leaned over, stooped his head, and pressed his lips on the forehead of Lord March, heaved a deep sigh, and turned to leave the room, when the doctor, who had anxiously watched every movement, beheld the countenance of Wellington! his cheeks wet with tears."

Alava and the contusion Wellington received at Battle of Orthez:

"[Larpent noticed Wellington] limp a little, and he said he was in rather more pain than usual, but it was nothing. At dinner yesterday, he said he was laughing at General Alava having had a knock, and telling him it was all nonsense, and that he was not hurt, when he received ... a worse one, in the same place himself. Alava said it was to punish him for laughing at him."

Phew. *crawls away*