Thursday, 11 July 2019

'Well-behaved women seldom make history'

White, Laurel & Bloom | On Their Birthday Today

How could one easily forget the delightful endearing character of Stuart Little, who’s been such amazing entertainment for us all, all along!


It’s more than seven decades now, and Stuart Little is going from strength to strength, with each passing day, ain’t he?

Well, Stuart Little, happens to be E. B. White’s first children’s book, published in the year 1945. Then came up yet another famed novel from White, titled, Charlotte's Web, which went on to be voted as one of the most favourite children's novels of all time!

Garth Williams, the illustrator to Stuart Little, endears us with his quaint and elegant illustrations, that proves the first ever visual representation of Stuart Little to us all!

Let’s hopstop next on yet another writer of high renown, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who’s known for her famous line, "well-behaved women seldom make history."

Her famed book of the same name, titled, Well-Behaved Women examines the myriad ways in which women all over the world have shaped the course of history. Ulrich cites from the lives of many of history’s famed women to authenticate her point. Moreover, her perspective towards history has been described as an endeavour or a tribute to the “the silent work of ordinary people”! How noble!

Therein lies her forte!

Our third celebrity writer up for a little discussion today, would be Professor Harold Bloom, who was in a way, responsible for starting the ‘canon’ wars with such vehemence! ;-)

Incidentally, Bloom also got into intermittent quarrels that arose due to literary differences of opinion, with the New Critics. Ironically, he dedicated his first major work, The Anxiety of Influence, to the renowned New Critic, William K Wimsatt.

His monographs on literary stalwarts have been a staple of almost every serious student of literature all over the world.

What’s more! He’s been one of the few literary critics who has been translated into more than 40 languages from around the world. So much for the impact and the influence of Harold Bloom amongst the literati. More on Harold Bloom HERE on our past blogpost.

So yes! please join me in wishing E. B. White, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, and Harold Bloom, a very happy birthday today.

In the mighty words of Michael Jackson, and tweaking em a bit,

These three literary stalwarts have

Healed the world
Made it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race!

Happy Birthday Bloom, Laurel and White!

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