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

Entry: Ouida - A87732516
Author: Pheroneous II - U186787

Not so many days ago Dimitri G mentioned in passing "A Dog in Flanders" as a story likely to provoke tears. This reminded me of a piece I have been intending to write for a while about the author of that tale. The original inspiration came from a plaque on the wall of a former hotel in a little town in Italy. The plaque commemorates "an English novelist, a lover of Italy and of animals." I saw the plaque and thought "Who?". So I found out and now I know who and, should you have sufficient stamina to get to the end of this piece, so will you!

Lovely entry, about a character I really had no idea about, it seems interesting. I wonder if it would be worth changing the title to better represent what the entry is about? 'Ouida, Victorian Sentimental Author'.

I also wondered if it would be possible to get more a sense of her writing, the first thing you say is that it is best forgotten, but it would be lovely to have a quote or two.

Feel free to ignore all of it!

Thanks for reading, I realise its not going to be the most widely read piece here.

Good point. I didn't want to do literary criticism though. (I don't know why, I am not usually shy of pronouncing on subjects that are way beyond my competence!!) I was just admiring a life. I'll see, though, about adding a couple of bits.

Out of all of the contents of the piece the thing that gave me the best picture of the writing was the title of one her pieces 'A Dog in Flanders'. It struck me as being 'Outrageous sentimentality about animals and not giving a stuff about the human victims of the war.

... But maybe that's just me.

I've always wanted to know who Ouida was, but not enough to do anything about finding out! Thank you!

Cool story.

If you want some quotes, you might find a bit from 'A Dog of Flanders', available on Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/7766/pg7766.html

I disagree that the story privileges sentimentality about animals over caring for people. The story just takes the dog into account, as well. You learn more about the way working dogs were used than you did before. But her technique is typical of the time - you end up having your heart broken by the tale. In this, she's not that different from Frances Hodgson Burnett et al.

She's just really, really good at it.

Never heard of her - til now.

Very interesting, Pheroneous. Thanks for the read. She sounds like a fairly obnoxious individual to me, I must admit - but an eventful life.

Thanks all of you. I must say that I didn't expect many to take the time.

"Dog in Flanders" was written well before the First World War, so no comparison of suffering. It is still 'sold' as a 'Christmas Story". I was amazed to find it on my electronic device beginning with a k.

I find her less than obnoxious. There are women (imho) that sort of flourish in, and only in, the company of men. There are people who are scatty and disorganised. There are people who let fame go to their head. There are people who assume their opinion is the right one, and the Government (and other important people) needs to know what they are thinking! Immediately. (Isn't it called 'Twitter' in modern parlance?) I prefer fascinating. Or, less kindly. totally irresponsible and totally self-centred.

Well, I did tone it down! "The jumped-up, self-important, prima donna reality TV star of her day," was my first thought.

Is Peckham the new Florence?

I gather from A1043164 that Peckham is in South London? but know nothing about the place, other than that it has a library.

If this place is the new Florence, we ignorant people who are unfortunate enough to 'belong to other nations' (WS Gilbert A613199) need a Guide Entry.

After all, considering its importance, it is unforgivable that we have a Guide Entry on Gaffney, South Carolina (A60698262), and none on this part of LONDON, the site of the 2012 OLYMPICS...

Guys, can we try to keep PR a kind of safe haven from that stuff as much as possible? It's done pretty well at it so far.

In fact, I think I'll yikes those posts for that reason, but don't think it's anything personal or vindictive.

Agreed

I'm sorry. I was unaware that there was anything personal involved.

I thought you guys were referring to someplace in the UK I didn't know about.

If that has potential for causing offence, I apologise.

I am sorry.

You are right, PR is not the place for that sort of remark. In fact, it would be nice if h2g2 wasn't the place, either.



(Meanie).

I know what you mean, Blue. This crap has been going on for a year, and I know I'm not the only one who is tempted to just quit the site because of it. If it takes over PR along with everywhere else, I probably will: it's the only half-enjoyable part of h2g2 any more.

Anyway, let's get back to reviewing Pheroneous's entry.

yes, I agree that PR is the last sanctuary against all that sort of stuff, so I am glad it has been sorted.

Thanks for submitting this to us Pheroneous, I sat and became intrigued by the piece. There's a sort of fascination towards this sort of mysterious past, which you evoke very well.

There're a few small nitpicks/typos.

Stufa - you later have Stufe, I don't know which would be correct.

The villa soon became the base for her Monday soirees attended by everybody who was anybody either in Florentine society[,] or visiting.

I think this would benefit from an additional comma where indicated, and possibly the word [merely] or [just] before the word visiting.

which was not well received by it’s easily recognized protagonists

stray apostrophy

There was an assassination attempt.

On whom? On Ouida herself or on one of her coterie? I like your style where you intersperse short sentences between longer ones, but in this case I am not getting enough information from the text.

Her mother, her constant companion, died. Through all this she continued her writing.

Can you make the second of these sentences

Through all this [Ouida] continued her writing.

She was writing short stories and children[']s stories

missing apostrophe

a Madame Grosfils[,] wanted the villa back

extra comma needed

to everyone[;]s astonishment

She died of Pneumonia in January - no capital letter for pneumonia

a spa town nearby where the Brownings ---> a spa town [near to] where the Brownings

(Ducks all the snarky comments about nitpicky subeditors in Peer Review)

I imagine this lavishly illustrated with some imaginative images. There are lots of possibilities for the Artists to work with.

Thanks Lanzababy. I have attended to your points and embellished in several places.

I have tried to think of a modern parallel. A less clever Germaine Greer?? - No, she was vehemently against the suffragettes. A more talented Jordan?? No, there is a core of humanity and talent. A more flighty Jilly Cooper?? I can't think of anyone. I leave you to decide.

I didn't understand the Peckham reference but, Dimitri G, Peckham, or more properly Peckham Rye, has an ancient history but is best known these days as being the home of "Only Fools and Horses" and of several of the more notorious council estates in South London.

There are horses? This place sounds interesting. Thanks for the tidbit there.

Could Ouida be compared, perhaps, to Sarah Bernhardt? She's certainly in the diva range.