When I am not blogging, it is because I am having a good time in other ways. Just back from a good day out with more planned this week, including the Viking Festival.
The British Isles present a wealth of nationalities, identities, social classes and regional accents. English humor exaggerates and juxtaposes several recognizable stereotypes. Some American humorists tap into this...
Bertram Cecil Featherstone Smyth-Cholmondoley says:
"'Then pip-pip, old chap...
"'Best we be off now, if we're to make Grushka by nightfall, eh, what? I've studied these jolly old maps of yours.'" (1, p. 13)
- whereas Hector MacGregor says:
"'Hoot, man...are ye awake the noo?
"'Aweel, 'tis time ye waur abed.'" (3, p. 37)
Those who are initiated into Hoka literature will readily understand that Smyth-Cholmondoley and MacGregor are one and the same Hoka:
"'Bertram?...Nay, Hieness, nae Sassenach I, but your ain Hector MacGregor - a rough, untutored Hieland mon, 'tis true, but loyal to my Prince, aye, loyal to the last wee drappie o' bluid. Ah, Charlie, 'tis lang and lang we've awaited your coming, lad.'" (4, p. 41)
Charlie has lost an Oxford tutor and gained a Highland madman. Now all that remains for him to do is to fulfill the prophecy of the returning Prince.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Can or has something as fantastic as this, a non-native like Bertram/Hector listening to a chance heard song, "The Prince of the Prophecy," starting a political revolution by insisting Charlie Stuart was the Prince of that Prophecy? I don't know of any incident from real history where something like the plot of STAR PRINCE CHARLIE actually occurred. It reminds me more of THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
Sean
Sean,
It seems very unlikely.
Dornford Yates acknowledged that two of his novels were influenced by THE PRISONER OF ZENDA and its sequel.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Very unlikely! A quick review of what I know of European and Asian history turned up nothing in my memory of any thing like what we see in STAR PRINCE CHARLIE.
For all we know, Anderson/Dickson had THE PRISONER IN ZENDA among other inspirations in mind while writing STAR PRINCE.
Sean
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