h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Bertha von Suettner: Long Live the Future! - A87879118
Author: Dmitri Gheorgheni - U1590784

In response to Bluebottle's whingeing about contributions to PR, I submit this entry on Bertha von Suettner.

That's what you get for complaining, Bluebottle: now you have to read about Austrian pacifist lady novelists.

And yes, I will go back and work in a sideways reference to Charlotte Yonge. I just have to think how....

As always, an entry that is entertaining a well as interesting.

I'm sure you worked hard to ensure all those names are spelled correctly! (At least, I'm in no position to say if they're wrong.)

Was the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 connected with what we Brits call the Crimean war? If so, maybe it was the first inkling the society of nineteenth century Europe got that modern warfare was going to be nasty. (You can see I get my history of the time from Tennyson.)

Hey, there, thanks for reading!

The Crimean War was in the 1850s, and the Russo-Turkic War referred to here was in 1877-78. But yeah, they're connected, in that Russia and Turkey had an ongoing struggle in the 19th Century. In the 1877 war, Russia was trying to get back what it lost during the Crimean War.

I make light - the names, etc, will drive you batty - but these wars are not irrelevant to today's events. Think about the continuing Russian claims in the Crimea, and problems in the Balkans. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria were also involved.

Getting a closer look at what all that militaristic talk led to probably influenced the von Süttners' attitudes toward war.

Parking this here for the Artists:

http://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_Vh0PAAAAIAAJ#page/n5/mode/2up

'Whinge'? 'Whinge'? I didn't 'whinge'. Express concern, maybe, but not 'whinge'

Did you perhaps want to explain what the oriflamme is in a footnote? It symbolises the complete opposite of peace. It was the medieval French royal banner of St Denis, a long, thin, wavy banner that was red as the colour of ferocious blood. While it was raised it signified that French troops would not accept any surrender and intended to slaughter every single one of their enemies. This was expected to strike terror in the (often English) enemy. However, during the Hundred Years War it encouraged the English to treat the French the same way and take no prisoners, leading to French defeats such as Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt.
I didn't think it was still around by the time of Joan of Arc, who used religious characters on her own banner personally while the French generally had the fleur-de-lys instead…?

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Okay, I take it back. You didn't whinge.

That description is great - may I use it?

Oh, go on then as you asked so nicely

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Thank you, and done!

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Quite appropriate for a Nobel Peace Prize winner's entry to be accepted on Remembrance Day.



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I don't think I'd read this before. The 19th century abounded with amazing women.

I think the oriflamme may need its own entry, French heraldry and religious icons , differing interpretations abound, banner raised in times of national danger, the lance that held the banner being more important at one point than the actual colours flown, either vertically or horizontally, fascinating stuff.

Go tell Superfrenchie to write that entry.

I was assuming that he was volunteering himself.

<BB<

Ah. As long as I don't have to do it.

The word 'oriflamme' only appeared in this entry because Bertha von Suettner was a rather flowery writer. I personally will have no truck with the oriflamme or its heirs and assigns. I regret having mentioned it in the first place because nobody talks about anything else now.

It's like putting a small red boat in your seascape, and finding out nobody ever notices the rest of the painting...

Oops my apologies if I've offended you DG, and no BB!

Not at all, FWR. If we didn't have something to josh about, where would we be? (Not on h2g2.)