The Royal Shakespeare Company has released their highlights of 2012 – check them out below.

January to March

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Following her acclaimed production of Julius Caesar in 2009/10, Lucy Bailey directs Shakespeare’s romantic comedy exploring love, sexual politics and the art of illusion. The cast includes Lisa Dillon and David Caves as sparring lovers Katharina and Petruchio.

Stratford-upon-Avon – from 19 January

UK Tour

• Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – from 23 Feb
• Milton Keynes Theatre – from 6 March
• Theatre Royal, Nottingham – from 13 March
• Richmond Theatre, Surrey  – from 20 March
• Theatre Royal, Bath  – from 27 March

THE HERESY OF LOVE 

Helen Edmundson (who also adapted the current West End production of Swallows and Amazons) was inspired by the life of the legendary Mexican nun poet, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz to write her new play The Heresy of Love.

Catherine McCormack plays the central role of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.  Catherine’s films include the lead in Anna Campion’s Loaded, Braveheart, Spy Game and Dangerous Beauty.   The cast also includes Dona Croll, Marty Cruickshank and Diana Kent.  Directed by Nancy Meckler.

Stratford-upon-Avon – from 2 February

March to September – World Shakespeare Festival

WHAT COUNTRY FRIENDS IS THIS? 

RSC Associate Director, David Farr, leads What Country Friends is this? – a trilogy of plays with one company of actors set in one world of shipwreck, grief, laughter, love and reunion.  They are Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest and Twelfth Night.  Jonathan Slinger plays Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Prospero in The Tempest. (Farr directs The Tempest and Twelfth Night, and Palestinian director Amir Nizar Zuabi makes his RSC debut with The Comedy of Errors).

• Stratford-upon-Avon – The Comedy of Errors from 16 March, Twelfth Night from 8 March, and The Tempest from 30 March
• Roundhouse, London – The Comedy of Errors from 1 June, Twelfth Night from 5 June, and The Tempest from 9 June

NATIONS AT WAR

RSC Associate Director, Roxana Silbert, leads Nations at War, three plays exploring the struggle for absolute power and the right to lead a nation, including Shakespeare’s  Richard III and King John as well as the world premiere of A Soldier in Every Son – An Aztec Trilogy by Luis Mario Moncada – a co-production with the National Theatre of Mexico.  (Roxana Silbert directs Richard III and A Soldier in Every Son – An Aztec Trilogy and Maria Aberg directs King John).

Stratford-upon-Avon – Richard III from 22 March, King John from 6 April and A Soldier in Every Son – An Aztec Trilogy from 29 June

JULIUS CAESAR

Chief Associate Director, Gregory Doran, directs a brand new pan-African production of Julius Caesar, one of Shakespeare’s greatest political thrillers.  The cast includes Ray Fearon, Paterson Joseph, Adjoa Andoh, Jeffery Kissoon and Joseph Mydell.

• Stratford-upon-Avon – from 28 May
• Theatre Royal Newcastle – from 19 July
• Noël Coward Theatre, London – Summer 2012, the London season is supported by BP

ROMEO AND JULIET IN BAGHDAD

Baghdad’s Iraqi Theatre Company will create a version of Romeo and Juliet for a new generation, infused with Iraq’s rich traditions of poetry, music and ritual. The play will be set on the soil of contemporary Iraq, a country where sectarian strife between Sunni and Shia, ignited and fuelled from outside, has left the population exhausted by a cycle of violence and revenge. The play will be perfomed in Arabic with English surtitles.

• Stratford-upon-Avon – from 26 April
• Riverside Studios, London (as part of LIFT) – from 28 June

TWO ROSES FOR RICHARD III

From Brazil, Companhia BufoMecânica brings Two Roses for Richard III, a breathtaking production combining Shakespeare’s text with circus, multimedia, visual metaphor and aerial choreography. Inspired by Shakespeare’s history plays, the bloody events of War of the Roses are vividly reimagined in a glorious black carnival of villainy, corruption and seduction. This will be performed in Portugese with English surtitles.

• Stratford-upon-Avon – from 7 May
• Roundhouse, London – from 18 May

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

A vibrant and colourful production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Iqbal Kahn, will transpose Shakespeare’s vivacious, and at times unsettling, comedy of love and deceit to an Indian setting. Actor, comedienne, writer and singer Meera Syal will play Beatrice.

• Stratford-upon-Avon – from 26 July
• Noël Coward Theatre, London – summer 2012, the London season is supported by BP

TROILUS AND CRESSIDA

RSC Associate Director Rupert Goold and Elizabeth LeCompte co-direct Shakespeare’s epic Trojan play about love, war and politics, Troilus and Cressida. The production will be made up of an Anglo-American company in a ground-breaking, multimedia collaboration between the RSC and The Wooster Group.

Stratford-upon-Avon – from 3 August

IN A PICKLE

Oily Cart will bring their new production of In a Pickle, taking their young audience through the landscapes of Shakespeare’s imagination and the music of his language. Renowned for their ‘wonderlands’, Oily Cart create a total theatre experience for children aged 2-4, their families and friends. Multi-talented performers, live music, enchanting visuals, intriguing textures and delightful colours come together to create a magical introduction to the theatre.

• Stratford-upon-Avon – from 23 May
• Stratford Circus, London – from 19 June
• Northern Stage – from 27 June

OPEN STAGES

As well as showcasing the best of UK and international creative talent, the World Shakespeare Festival encourages the creativity of young people, emerging artists and amateur companies. Over 260 amateur groups involving 7200 people (aged from 6 to 90) are taking part in the RSC’s Open Stages, sharing skills and working with the RSC and nine partner theatres to perform their own interpretations of Shakespeare everywhere from castles, parks and village halls, to pubs, churches and a coffin works. Some of the most exciting amateur companies will perform in Stratford-upon-Avon in July 2012.

Royal Shakespeare Company 2012 Highlights is a post from: Anglotopia.net

David Tennant recently did a reading of the Pied Piper of Hamelin for BBC Radio Four.

Here’s a description:

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is the subject of a legend concerning the departure of a great many children from the town of Hamelin, Lower Saxony, Germany, in the Middle Ages. The earliest references describe a piper, dressed in pied (multicoloured) clothing, leading the children away from the town never to return. In the 16th century the story was expanded into a full story – that of the poem , in which the piper is a rat-catcher hired by the town to lure rats away with his magic pipe. When the citizens refuse to pay for this service, the piper retaliates, turning his magic on the children, leading them away to the mountains. Only one boy remains behind ..

Listen below:

David Tennant – Pied Piper of Hamelin

Source.

David Tennant: Actor Reads the Pied Piper of Hamelin is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The earliest films might not have been made until the mid 1890s but that didn’t stop people in Victorian Britain enjoying all sorts of visual spectacles and wonders, created using lights, smoke, mirrors – and plenty of imagination. In this short film, ‘Professor’ Mervyn Heard performs a magic lantern show, while Dr John Plunkett (Exeter University) and Phil Wickham (curator of the Bill Douglas Centre) explore why the stories of Charles Dicken’s were adapted so often in the pre-cinema age.

History: Charles Dickens and the Magic Lantern – Video is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Royal Mail is releasing a series of stamps in honor of Roald Dahl book characters – as a lover of stamps and Roald Dahl – this couldn’t get more awesome.

Each stamp features illustrations by Quentin Blake, whose drawings are synonymous with the children’s classics.

Here’s a gallery of the stamps released:

They’ll be available to purchase from January 10th.

You can buy them direct from the Royal Mail, click here.

Royal Mail Releases Roald Dahl Themed Stamps – Images Inside is a post from: Anglotopia.net

There is no author more connected with Christmas than Charles Dickens. On the eve of the 200th anniversary of his birth, The Telegraph takes a tour around the house where he was born with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, his great-great-great granddaughter.

Video: A guided tour around Dickens’ birthplace is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Herein lies a special review: Taylor’s immediate reaction to her first viewing of the new Sherlock.

I am thoroughly prepared to eat my words upon second viewing but this reflects my initial thoughts.

~Warning. Spoilers abound and post is sorely unedited or proofread~

I feel like there are two reviews I want to write regarding the newest Sherlock episode ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’. The first is a glowing review of the superb cast, lovely direction, and interesting story line. The other is a bit of a canon related lament, which I honestly feel guilty about given the treatment of Irene Adler characterwise.

Perhaps I went into things with my expectations too high, but I honestly was not all that impressed.

However, I wouldn’t want the more casual viewer to get the wrong impression. The episode was quite a joy, the character development that was brought in felt like a special treat. I was particularly happy with new glimpses we get at the relationship between the Holmes brothers. The combination of fine acting and subtle writing perfectly struck a balance between the lack of emotion shown by the brothers and the level of care and concern they each feel for each other.

Other stand out moments certainly included:

• Sherlock’s concern for Mrs. Hudson and the particular brand of payback he dishes out to her attacker
• John’s ugly jumpers, the real reason I watch anyway
• The list of cases at the beginning of the episode and the way the harken back to the canon stories, particularly fond of the The Speckled Blonde
• Sherlock’s stealing of an ash tray from Buckingham Palace
• In fact, all of the scenes at Buckingham Palace. The playful banter between Sherlock and John is simply shining
• Sherlock’s shamming at being a priest who has been attacked
• Sherlock sincerely apologizing to Molly

I’m sure I’ll think of much more but I’ll leave it at that for now, as this review is intended to be an immediate reaction, and I should like to move on without thinking about it way too much.

Now, for the bad. Actually, I don’t think bad is the correct word. Disappointing might be better. I am so very happy that Irene Adler was not treated as a love interested and was shown as an equal to Sherlock. However, the show once again fell into two traps I’m not particularly fond of:. 1. Irene, while she does get the best of Holmes momentarily, does not come out of it completely victorious. It seems as if for the sake of storyline and fan we once again have a case of, Sherlock can’t be defeated fully. and 2. Despite proving her self a strong and intelligent character, Irene is not only working for Moriarty, but vulnerable to many different agencies of higher up bad guys.

Again, this does not detract from the episode itself, but for me, as a person who has been nothing but thrilled with the canon plausibility of the the series as a whole, I had really hoped that we would see an Irene who was working for herself, not involved in a larger plot, and ultimately victorious over Sherlock completely.

I would most certainly suggest that everyone watch it however. Even if you’re a die hard Sherlockiana, the departures from canon do little to impact the magnificence of the shows writing, acting, and directing. Feel free to send us your comments on twitter @BakerStBabes and maybe we’ll have time to address them in one of our Sherlock reaction episodes in the coming weeks.

Sherlock: Series 2 Episode 1 – A Baker Street BabeTalks BBC’s Sherlock – A Scandal in Belgravia is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The following is a guest post from Lucy Ryder as Visit Bath Tourism! Thanks Lucy!

Famous for its Roman history, Georgian architecture and spa culture, Bath is often described as one of England’s most beautiful cities.  Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Bath offers a striking cityscape of sweeping crescents, grand parades and Georgian buildings and is home to some of the best-preserved Roman remains in Europe.  It is also the only place in the UK with natural thermal springs making it an ideal spa retreat.  Here are our top tips for a visit to Bath including things you shouldn’t miss, what to see and do and where to stay…

Don’t miss

If you’re only in Bath for a short time, here are the three things you can’t leave without seeing:

Roman Baths – No visitor can come to Bath without paying a visit to one of the UK’s top attractions; the Roman Baths.  Around Britain’s only hot spring, the Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water.  See the water’s source and walk where Romans walked on the ancient stone pavements around the steaming pool.  The extensive ruins and treasures from the spring are beautifully preserved and presented using the best of modern interpretation.

Thermae Bath Spa – If you fancy experiencing Bath’s hot waters as the Celts and Romans did thousands of years ago, take a spa session at the Thermae Bath Spa.  Modern architecture blends with historic buildings to create a remarkable spa with a roof-top pool as its piece de resistance – a fantastic way to soak up Bath’s beautiful vistas.

Architecture – one of Bath’s most appealing attractions is its Georgian architecture.  All buildings in Bath are constructed from Bath stone – a stone quarried nearby that gives Bath its uniform, honey-coloured, cityscape.  Top sights include the Royal Crescent – a semi-circular terrace of 30 houses –

The Circus – a circular row of houses including one that used to belong to Nicolas Cage! – and Pulteney Bridge – one of the only bridges in the world with shops built into it.  All are a fantastic example of Bath’s unique architecture; however, if you stroll around Bath’s streets you’ll discover many hidden gems with cobbled streets, Georgian townhouses and grand 18th Century buildings aplenty.

Introducing Bath

Although a compact city that is easy to explore, join one of the city’s many tours to discover Bath’s history.  As well as the City Sightseeing bus tour – that allows you to get on and off at your pleasure – there are also boat trips, walking tours with knowledgeable guides (including a free walking tour that leaves from the entrance of the Pump Room), and even comedy and ghost walks that take a slightly different look at Bath and its history.

Things to do

With 17 museums in the city-centre alone, you won’t be short on things to do when in Bath.  Whatever your interest, there is a huge choice of museums, with some linked to Bath’s history, such as No. 1 Royal Crescent and the Jane Austen Centre, and others, like the Fashion Museum, that just happen to be here.

City of Festivals

Bath is known as a city of festivals because of its year-round calendar of events.  Even in the winter months, you’ll still find plenty going on.  Highlights to look out for include the Bath International Music Festival in May, the Jane Austen Festival in September and the picturesque and festive Christmas Market in winter.  In addition, you’ll find frequent events celebrating everything from literature to Mozart!

The Jane Austen Connection

Bath has long been attracting Jane Austen fans because of its connection to the famous author.  Two of her novels were based in the city and she lived here for several years.  The Jane Austen Centre celebrates the life and writing of Austen, while the annual Festival attracts people from around the globe who come to take part in talks, shows, music performances, films and popular Regency Promenade.

Tasty Bath

You won’t be short of places to eat out in Bath with restaurants, cafes and pubs lining the streets.  Bath is a cosmopolitan city so the choice of cuisine on offer extends from Europe to Asia and everywhere in between.  For a quintessentially British dining experience, try an afternoon tea at the elegant Pump Room.  Part of the Roman Baths complex, the Pump Room is where Bath’s hot spa water is drawn for drinking.  Here, you can enjoy delicious scones, finger sandwiches, cakes and tea (or perhaps Champagne as an alternative!) while being serenaded by the Pump Room Trio.  Another popular place for afternoon tea is Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House.  Located in one of the oldest houses in Bath, Sally Lunn’s serves the most famous local delicacy; the Original ‘Sally Lunn’ Bun.  According to legend, Sally Lunn, a French refugee, arrived in 1680 and established her bakery in Bath.

Family fun

If you’re visiting Bath with your family, there are some fantastic things to see and do.  The Roman Baths has a special audioguide dedicated to children, while the open top bus tour provides a great way to see the city for both young and old.  The area surrounding Bath also has some interesting attractions that are certain to keep your kids amused.  In the nearby countryside, you’ll discover accommodation ideal for families, where your kids can let off steam without the worry of disturbing other guests, with stylish self-catering properties and family-run B&Bs.

Where to stay

The city of Bath welcomes over 4 million visitors every year, and so, as you would imagine, there is a vast range of accommodation to suit different travellers, budgets and tastes.  Whether you prefer the personal touch of a bed and breakfast – and we have lots in Bath! – the luxury of a spa hotel, or the self-sufficiency of a fully equipped apartment, you can find it all in Bath.  To search and book accommodation online, use the official tourism website: www.visitbath.co.uk.

Reaching Bath

Reaching Bath is easy.  The city is compact and walk-able, and with a central train and coach station, you won’t need a car.  There’s a frequent, daily train service from London that only takes 1.5 hours.  If you decide to drive, Bath is just a short distance from the M4 motorway.

Discover more

To find out more about Bath, its attractions, events, accommodation and more, see the official tourism website for the city of Bath and surrounding area: www.visitbath.co.uk.

Guest Post: Top 10 Bath Travel Tips – Best Things to See and Do in Bath is a post from: Anglotopia.net

There is such a romance when I think of train travel. What it must have been like to sit in a grand car that was an opulent feast for the senses. However when I think back of what train travel  must have been like I usually completely forget about what the train station. In college I took a course on the history of railroads, we did not cover the history of the stations. Oliver Green’s Discovering London Railway Stations, is a wonderful source to learn some history of some of London’s most famous railway stations.

Did you know that in the year 1900 London had fourteen railway stations? The book lovingly and accurately looks at each of these beautiful stations. London has some of the most beautiful railway stations I have ever been to and it was wonderful to learn the unique history of them.  Green covered  the past and present history of these fourteen stations. The collection of pictures are fantastic as well.

I loved this book, even though I am not a huge fan of railway history. My first ever view of London was taking the Heathrow Express into Paddington Station. As I stepped out of the train and looked up at the marvelous glass and iron ceiling I was awe struck. That sense of awe has never left me when visiting London’s grand railway stations. I have sipped champagne in St. Pancras, took the Euro Star from Waterloo (the Euro Star now leaves from St. Pancras.) and been to platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station. Having been to most of  London’s stations, I have often wondered about the history of these amazing places. Green’s book was fun and easy way to learn the history of the stations.

The book dedicates each chapter to one particular station. Each chapter starts with the construction of the station to the present day. The chapters also have wonderful photographs and illustrations showing the pictorial history of the stations. The book is wonderfully organized by dedicating each chapter to a particular station.

Overall, this book was really cool. I am not a railway history buff so this isn’t normally a book that I would read, but I had always wondered about the history of the stations. Green’s book was such a fun and easy read. I would highly recommend this book for any anglophile, railway buff, history fan, or those who just love London. This book is a real gem.

Brit Book Review: Discovering London Railway Stations By Oliver Green is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The hit novel Wolf Hall is set to be made into a Drama by the BBC in partnership with HBO.

According to The Guardian:

The BBC and HBO are developing a TV drama mini-series adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Man Booker prize-winning historical novel Wolf Hall.

Peter Straughan, whose writing credits include the recent Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy movie, is working on scripts for a four-parter which, if commissioned, would be broadcast on BBC2, the BBC has confirmed.

Wolf Hall is a fictional biography set in the first half of the 16th century, charting the rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.

Cromwell was involved in arranging Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and his marriage to Anne Boleyn, and the English church’s break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries. He later fell out with Henry and was executed.

Source.

Sounds like a cracking miniseries!

Hilary Mantel also recently revealed that she’s working on two sequels to Wolf Hall. So, we may have another Game of Thrones type series on our hands.

Have you read Wolf Hall? Are you looking forward to this?

HBO and BBC Team up to Make Wolf Hall Drama is a post from: Anglotopia.net

There is such a romance about the British country house, I wonder what it would have been like to be a guest at a grand country house during this time in history. I would have adored participating in all of the events of a grand weekend in the country. While I cannot travel in time, Life in The Victorian Country House by Pamela Horn, gives a wonderful idea of what it would have been to be there. Reading the book, I felt almost as if I were actually in a Victorian country house.

The book encompassed all aspects of what a grand country house would have been like, from who lived and worked in the home to the activities that would have taken place, and everything in between. The book has a wonderful collections of pictures of daily life and illustrations from the time period.  The information in the book allowed me to immerse myself in the daily life of the Victorian country house.

I loved this book. I loved all of the illustrations that showed the daily life. I really enjoyed the parts of the book that talked about Victorian and Edwardian fashion. I wonder what it would have been like to go about my daily activities dressed in such style. I loved that book gave such an accurate view of such a grand style of life that is rarely seen today.

Life in the Victorian House is a wonderful glimpse into daily life of the Victorian home. The book is organized in a easy to read way that allowed me to feel almost as if I were a grand lady living a day in beautiful country home. I especially loved the chapter on growing up in the grand country house. I found the book to be a historically accurate view of this type of life.

I would highly recommend, Life in the Victorian Country House to any Anglophile. It was a wonderful view into such a grand way of living. I enjoyed seeing the real photographs and illustrations throughout the book. The book covered such a vast array of topics about the country house that I would have not originally sought out to research, but I was glad to have read about. I highly recommend, Life in the Victorian Country House by Pamela Horn.

Brit Book Reviews: Life in The Victorian Country House by Pamela Horn is a post from: Anglotopia.net

If you’re looking for an entertaining and exciting Anglophile novel for the holidays then the Power Behind the Throne by Sally Nicoll is the book for you.

The book itself has a rather absurd premise – that Prince Charles had an illegitimate son with an American and the ‘establishment’ in the UK would do anything to make the American heir go away. Once your brain gets around the idea that the Royal Family could be threatening in anyway – it’s a fun and satisfying adventure through London, British Culture and history.

Author Sally Nicoll writes with great skill and it’s very clear that she has a deep knowledge of Britain, British Royal History and London. I found myslef transported to London’s rainy streets, following along our characters as they journey through familiar London locations as the plot resolves.

Here’s a great plot summary:

Ten Centuries of Royal tradition under threat… and all because a boy wants to meet his father.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II is finally drawing to a close. American student Jack Hollander is the one man who can stop Prince Charles from fulfilling his destiny. He just doesn’t know it. Something else he doesn’t know: His death warrant has been signed by the Sceptre Committee, a secret organisation with a simple but vital objective; to protect the monarchy at all costs. Jack Hollander, freshly arrived in London to study architecture, is trapped in a high stakes game he doesn’t realize he’s playing – until he discovers the shocking truth about his own identity and the grim secret that has already destroyed his family. Torn between ex-girlfriend Megan and Rachel, the English rose he meets on a tour of Buckingham Palace, he sets out to extract revenge. But will Jack Hollander get to meet his father before the Sceptre Committee sends him back to Seattle in a body bag? And if he succeeds against all odds, will the British monarchy survive ‘its greatest threat since Oliver Cromwell’? Sally Nicoll’s debut novel combines meticulous research with high octane thrills. Like her previous best-seller, Bets and the City, it is a genuine page-turner with a breathtaking climax – and an astonishing sting in the tail. The Power Behind The Throne will appeal to fans of David Baldacci, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, and Michael Dobbs.

It’s available on the Kindle and costs just $2.99 – which is pretty good price for the hours or entertainment that it will provide. It reads very much like a Dan Brown novel – you can’t put it down until your done and when it’s done, you’re left thinking – what can I read next?

Brit Book Reviews: The Power Behind the Throne by Sally Nicoll is a post from: Anglotopia.net

With the success of dramas like Downton Abbey, the Edwardian lifestyle is once again brought to the small screen, bringing curiosity about how people lived during this time. The Edwardian Home by Yvonne Bell is an excellent resource to see how those who weren’t in charge of a large manner house lived.  So much of England is filled with Edwardian architecture but rarely does one get a peek inside, behind the front door.

The Edwardian House wonderfully describes how a middle class family would have lived, from the kitchen to the garden and everything in between.The book starts with the beginnings of the Edwardian home, from the style in which the homes were built all they way to the loo. The book shows how the rooms that the Edwardian lived in shaped their daily life. The book is filled with pictures of daily life, some taken and printed during this period in time.

I loved that The Edwardian Home did not shy away from areas of the home that one does not usually see, such as the bathroom. The pictures in the book are outstanding as well. Merely, by paging through the book one can easily get a sense of what it must have been like to live in the Edwardian Home. I loved that this book showed what a basic middle class family would have had, because after all, we aren’t all Earls of Grantham.

The book starts from the most basic aspects, from building and design of the Edwardian home to going through the rooms that comprised of the Edwardian home. Ms. Bell even included the Edwardian garden and what roll it played in daily life. Each room in the home was pictured  and it was explained how each room would have been lived in. As many of the pictures were taken during the Edwardian era they are historically accurate.

Overall, I really liked The Edwardian Home by Yvonne Bell. It gave me a clear understanding of how a middle class family would have lived during this time. This era in history has always fascinated me, thinking of how their world was changing quickly and technology was advancing. This book perfectly illustrates that point, showing how the Edwardian yearned to embrace that newest technology into their homes and daily lives.

Brit Book Review: The Edwardian Home by Yvonne Bell is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Dickens and London will use sound and projections to recreate the atmosphere of Victorian London that inspired the novelist’s writing. Paintings, photographs, costume and objects will illustrate the themes that Dickens used. Visitors will also be able to see some of his manuscripts including Bleak House and David Copperfield written in the author’s own hand.

Charles Dickens (1812–70) wrote about the great social questions of the 19th century including wealth and poverty, prostitution, childhood mortality and philanthropy. These will be examined in the exhibition and an audio-visual experience will bring to life the desk and chair where Dickens worked on his novels.

A specially commissioned film by William Raban, one of the UK’s leading documentary film-makers, will explore the similarities between London after dark today and the nighttime city described by Dickens over 150 years ago.

The Museum of London is open daily 10am–6pm, admission free. The Dickens exhibition will run from 9 December to 6 June, admission adults £8 (£7 advance booking), children and concessions £6 (£5), family tickets £18–£36, depending on numbers.

Museum of London, London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Tel: +44 20 7001 9844
Websites: www.museumoflondon.org.uk/dickens
www.dickens2012.org
Facebook: Museum of London
Twitter: @museumoflondon
YouTube: Museum of London
Flickr: museumoflondon
Blog: mymuseumoflondon

Massive Dickens Exhibition Coming to Museum of London in December is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes has caused a lot of controversy with Sherlockians and Holmesians alike, so Babes: Curly, Kafers, Ardy, and Taylor take it on. Why they love it, what they don’t love about it… and why is the Bromance JUST SO AMAZING?!

We welcome new BSB Taylor into the crew, rescue Ardy from Skype Purgatory, weigh in on Rachel McAdams’ Irene Adler, and let you know about some fabulous things including a Rupert Graves shot glass and a bunch of Scots that are making Sherlock Holmes headway of their own. It’s Episode 5 and it’s less than an hour long!! Also listen to the hauntingly beautiful Ghosts of Baker Street by Sam Hoare at the end. It’s quite lovely.

Listen here!

The Sherlock Holmes Society of Scotland (The Self Important Scotland Yarders) can be found @SHolmesScotland and Barry’s blog is here! http://bit.ly/qGtkgI

Sam Hoare: I’m 16, from Oxford, UK. I sing, and have done basically since I discovered the function of vocal chords, and I’ve written song since I could hold a pencil. I play the guitar (self taught) and I write my own songs, an equal mix between fandom and original. I write stuff for Doctor Who, Sherlock and Harry Potter. They’re basically my life. I love Sherlock, and the original Sherlock Holmes books, and have found that the fandom has very quickly become my favourite of all time, because the people are so creative and lovely, and so supportive of whatever random creation I throw at them to give opinions on. And, I hope to definitely move out to London and attempt to make a career out of writing and performing my own songs, be them about silly things that I become obsessed with or real, serious musician things. Listen to more of Sam’s songs at Soundcloud and @SamSailsShips

Baker Street Babes: Episode 5 – Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes is a post from: Anglotopia.net

David Tennant made an appearance last night in the final episode of Stephen Fry’s Planet Word talking about language and Shakespeare. In the video Stephen Fry talks to David Tennant about Hamlet, for ‘Planet Word.’

David Tennant: Former Doctor Who Star Appears on Stephen Fry’s Planet word talking about Language is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This is making the rounds on the various social networks this morning so I thought it was worth sharing.

Combine any of the three columns below to build your own Shakespearean insult and preface each one with Thou.

Source.

Friday Fun: Shakespearean Insult Kit is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Babes: Curly, Ardy, and Jenn look at the Women in Sherlock Holmes, both canon and BBC, beyond Irene Adler (though we chat about her too!) Join us as we look at the role of women in Victorian times and the stories themselves, compare them with other Victorian heroines, look at the strong ones and weak ones alike, and try and grapple with the BBC!Verse women. Most importantly though! We answer questions from all of you!! We have some news to tell as well, a favour to ask, and a song about a snarky and sexy Blackberry loving lady at the end. It’s The Baker Street Babes and it is Episode 4!

Listen Here!

Exciting Reading List of Excitement!
Here’s the Irene Adler series; eight novels by Carole Nelson Douglas: http://carolenelsondouglas.com/book-series/irene-adler/
You all may be interested to know that there are also Victorian!Lestrade novels, by M. J. Trow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_J_Trow.

Thanks to @alistaird221b For pointing us to this book as well!
http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Women-Life-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/1593304811

Baker Street Babes: Episode 4 – The Women of Sherlock Holmes is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The books are all published.  The movies have all been released.  But the magic of Harry Potter has not yet come to an end.  In June 2011, JK Rowling released a video announcing plans for a free-to-use, immersive website called Pottermore, where fans of the series can continue exploring the seven books and the world of Harry Potter.

Currently the site is in a beta testing phase.  Invites to this beta test were issued to one million users worldwide through the Magical Quill challenge, a trivia challenge that required users to complete a series of tasks in order to register with the site.  This Magical Quill challenge took place over seven days, beginning on July 31, Harry’s and Rowling’s birthdays, and beta-testers were given limited access to the site in early August.

Usernames are generated by the site upon registration and are derived from a combination of magical-sounding adjectives and items found throughout the Harry Potter universe.  Other than general country location, personal information is not included on user profiles.  These are examples of measures that have been taken to make Pottermore a safe site for children to explore as they read the book series.  Additional privacy information can be found in the site’s terms and conditions.

Features on the Pottermore site fall into three primary categories: chapter exploration, potion brewing, and participating in Wizard Duels.  It is necessary to thoroughly explore each book’s chapters to unlock the other features on the site.  Objects, gold galleons, and potion supplies can also be discovered and collected throughout each chapter.  Once an object is collected it is placed in the trunk on the user’s profile.  Some objects also reveal extra information about the books’ characters, locations, and events.  While most of this information can be learned from reading the books, a key feature of the Pottermore site is this additional information from Rowling’s journals, expanding the Harry Potter universe and revealing character background, her development process, and peripheral storylines that were not included in the published books.  Users will learn how Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia met, why Harry’s friends received their names, and other fascinating details that help make Harry’s world so realistic.

Chapter by chapter, Pottermore leads users through the locations and events of each book.  Only the first book has been available during the beta testing phase.  As users follow Harry’s introduction to the wizard world they can purchase school supplies in Diagon Alley using the gold in their Gringotts bank account and visit Ollivander’s shop to receive their wand by answering a series of questions.  Upon their arrival at Hogwarts, users are sorted into Houses.  Unlike other Sorting Hat and wand quizzes found online, the questions on Pottermore are not obviously tied to one choice over another.
Information such as height and simple decisions, such as heads vs. tails, are taken into consideration, making results difficult to manipulate.  Once sorted, users can access their House Common Room, where they can leave comments for other users, make friends, and track House Points.  House Points are earned through finding information and items across the site, successfully making potions, and winning Wizard Duels.

Brewing potions and participating in Wizard Duels are two mini-games featured on the site.  Both require a wand and spellbooks, and some patience and practice to master the mechanics.  To brew a potion, users select one from their potion textbook, purchase the ingredients in Diagon Alley, and follow instructions to add ingredients, stir, and heat their concoctions.  Users must follow the potion instructions very carefully, otherwise their potion will be ruined and they will have to start from the beginning.  Once successfully brewed, users receive House Points and can gift these potions to other users.

Wizard Duels are harder to describe than the potion mini-game, and unfortunately Hermione is not around to tutor users in proper wand technique – swish and flick!  Timing and spelling (no pun intended) are important skills, since this activity requires users to select letters from the spell’s name on their keyboards or using their mouse.  Users can compete against each other in duels or practice the spells on their own.

As part of beta testing, feedback is being collected to improve the site and user experience.  A survey is available to users, however the most effective way to provide feedback at this time is by leaving comments in the threads available on each page.  Common feedback from users includes requests for the inclusion of music or ambient sounds, interactive features for the items stored in users’ trunks, and shortened brewing times for the potion-making mini-game.

Additional plans for the site include the publication of e-books for the entire Harry Potter series and additional “behind-the-scenes” information expanding the Harry Potter universe and treating users to peripheral storylines and information that didn’t make it into the published books.  Open access to the site is expected later this month, in October 2011.  Official statements about the site can be followed on the Pottermore blog.

Here’s a gallery of screenshot for those interested in the interface of the site.

Katie Hicks is a doctoral student studying archaeology.  Her first visit to England was in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.  Since then she has made several return trips, including six months studying in Leicester, during which she participated in Dark Age reenactment, camped across the country with a group of English friends, and developed an addiction to Ribena and prawn crisps.  She is planning a trip to London for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Harry Potter: The Magic Continues – Pottermore Opens for Beta Testing – Review is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Something that is currently very much in vogue is giving your UK tours a unique edge, by adding a running theme to the places you visit.

There are so many novel ways people have come up with here; some pay homage to Britain’s football heritage by touring around its most famous stadiums and museum, others will head up to Bronte country, the inspiration for many of the Bronte sisters’ novels.

If you want to give your UK tours a literacy-twist, then why not take a trip to the locations that inspired and gave home to Britain’s most famous literary export, Eric Arthur Blair, otherwise known by his pen name, George Orwell.

Here are three locations you should take in to your UK tours if you want to see Britain that inspired one of the world’s greatest writers.

Jura, Scotland

The bulk of Orwell’s last, and perhaps best piece of work, Nineteen Eighty-Four was written on this small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland whilst he was battling with the disease that would eventually kill him, tuberculosis.

Orwell retreated to this remote island in 1946 to escape the intensity of London and concentrate on his final novel. The cottage Orwell stayed is isolated at the northern tip of the island and during his stay, his nearest neighbour was a mile away and the nearest store 25 miles away.

You can reach the island by car from Port Askaig, where a small ferry runs at 30 minute intervals and has many other sites of historical interest, as well as stunning landscapes and wildlife.

Sutton Courtenay, England

Sutton Courtenay is a village and civil parish located in Oxfordshire, on the River Thames, two miles south of Abingdon. It is also the final resting place of George Orwell, who is buried in the All Saints Parish Church.

Orwell has wished to be buried in the churchyard closest to wherever he died; however, as this was in London, all the churches were full. As a child, Orwell fished in the local stream here and his friend, David Astor, explained to the local vicar the situation and arrangements were made to have him buried here. Orwell is buried under his real name, Eric Arthur Blair.

Orwell’s London

No homage to Orwell would be complete without a trip around his old stomping grounds in London, the setting for many of his books, most notably Down and Out in Paris and London. Orwell lived as a tramp in London, which served as the research for half of this non-fiction work.

The London George Orwell knew is still very much brimming in the capital city today. For more information, pick up a copy of John Thompson’s Orwell’s London, which details the specific sites of Orwell’s life in London.

Of particular interest though, might be The Senate House on Malet Street, which is now the headquarters of the University of London. The building’s architecture is thought to be the inspiration for the ministries in Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Guest Post: Exploring George Orwell’s Britain is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Lost in Austen was a little known comedy that aired on ITV a few years ago that saw a modern woman send back in time to live with the characters of Pride and Prejudice.

Here’s a video about it:

The idea has caught the attention of Hollywood, which is going to remake it.

From the BBC:

Oscar-nominated film maker Nora Ephron is set to to turn ITV’s Lost In Austen into a Hollywood movie, according to reports.

Industry magazine Variety said the When Harry Met Sally writer will pen the script as well as direct the project.

The story follows a modern New York woman transported into the middle of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Gemma Arterton will play the role of Elisabeth Bennet and American Beauty director Sam Mendes will produce.

Ephron made her mark writing original material, but in recent years has adapted scripts such as the 2000 remake Bewitched.

The original series was screened on ITV in 2008 and written by Guy Andrews, whose other credits include Poirot and last year’s remake of Bouquet of Barbed Wire.

I never saw the original. Is it any good?

Hollywood to Produce Lost in Austen Film is a post from: Anglotopia.net

We’re geeking out this episode with discussions on Victorian England and London, as well as a proper ode to the Granada Television Series! Join along as we giggle about chamber pots, the workhouses of London, and poisonous French ladies! We’ve got a Sherlock Season 2 Set Report, a PA about Undershaw, more fabulous news, more fabuous canon, and a fabulous song in honor of the fabulous Martin Freeman!

Babes: Curly, Kafers, Ardy, Jenn
Special Guest: Trudi

Listen here!

Episode 3 Reading List

“The Maul & The Pear Tree: The Ratcliffe Highway Murders 1811″ by P.D James & T.A Critchley. Faber & Faber. 2000
“Necropolis: London & Its Dead” by Catharine Arnold. Simon and Schuster. 2006
“Beating the Devil’s Game: A History of Forensic Science & Criminal Investigation.” by Katherine Ramsland. Penguin. 2007.
“The Science of Sherlock Holmes.” by E.J Wagner. Wiley. 2006
“Irrefutable Evidence: Adventures in the History of Forensic Science.” by Michael Kurland. Ivan R. Dee. 2009
“London Labour & the London Poor” by Henry Mayhew. Oxford University Press. 2010
“The Gaol: The Story of Newgate – London’s Most Notorious Prison.” by Kelly Grovier. John Murray. 2009
“Mr Brigg’s Hat:The True Story of a Victorian Railway Murder.” by Kate Colquhoun. Hachette Digital. 2011

Baker Street Babes: Sherlock Holmes Podcast – Episode 3 – Victoriana and Granada is a post from: Anglotopia.net

With the second series of ‘Downton Abbey’ airing in the UK, it seems that English country houses have never been so popular. So what exactly is their appeal?

When I first started delving into the secrets of the servants’ hall and the drawing room for my ‘Swallowcliffe Hall’ trilogy of historical novels, I thought maybe it was the luxury and comfort these houses offered that was so compelling: like today’s five-star hotels but without the bother of paying. I read about dining tables groaning with silver and hothouse flowers, shooting parties and picnics, armies of servants to gratify the guests’ every whim. Such vast mansions could be draughty and cold, though, and by the time the often indifferent food arrived from a distant kitchen, it might be just as chilly. (When champagne was served to the Earl of Beaconsfield near the end of one interminable dinner, he was heard to mutter, ‘Thank God for something warm at last.’) Beauty, of course, also has its part to play. The first sight of Castle Howard in Yorkshire, or Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, or Chatsworth House in Derbyshire (the list is endless) is enough to stop you in your tracks. These are jewels in the most perfect of settings: the gentle green valleys of the English countryside. And yet far homelier houses have their charm too.

As I researched, I began to realize that country houses in their heyday were truly worlds apart, with their own customs and strict codes of behavior. Here, two societies existed side by side but poles apart: the ruling class and the people who looked after them. Etiquette manuals told servants they must be seen and not heard, must never address their master or mistress directly, must keep their eyes and their voices lowered. There was even a rigid hierarchy within the servants’ hall, where the upper servants (butler, housekeeper, cook, valet and lady’s maid) lorded it over the maids and footmen. And this is why I wanted to write about a country house: because of the stories and secrets bubbling away inside it. The frustrations of servants confronted by such luxury yet excluded from it; the pressures for aristocratic families of maintaining large estates as their income dwindled because of death duties and their workforce disappeared to factories and to war. It’s only fifty years from the late-Victorian peak of country-house entertaining to the start of World War Two (the time frame of my trilogy), but by the end of that period, hundreds of these once-magnificent houses lay abandoned and empty.

It’s this blend of tradition and decay that I think we respond to, besides our fascination with details of the butler’s pantry and Her Ladyship’s closet. We yearn for a time when life was ordered and elegant and everyone from the under housemaid to the mistress of the house knew what was expected of them; a time when the pace of life was slower, when the existence of airplanes was scarcely imaginable, let alone their being hijacked and crashed into skyscrapers. And because we know those years have gone for good, they shine back at us through the kaleidoscope of history with a particular golden charm.

By Author Jennie Walters who wrote the Swallowcliffe Hall Trilogy set in a grand English Country House.

Kindle editions of the ‘Swallowcliffe Hall’ trilogy have just been released on Amazon. Look out for ‘Swallowcliffe Hall’ on Facebook too!

Guest Post: The English Country House: A World Apart – Great New Book Series is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Author Bill Bryson is going to do a short 6 city book tour this October in the USA to talk about his books and life as an American Expat in Britain.

We had the chance to see him last year when he came to Chicago and it was a wonderful evening. I highly recommend making the trip if he’s coming anywhere near you.

Here’s a list of Bill Bryson’s 2011 Book Tour stops:

Greenwich, CT — Talk & Book Signing
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 7:00pm
Greenwich Public Library, Greenwich, CT

Washington, DC — Talk & Book Signing
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 7:00pm
Sixth & I Synagogue

Boston, MA — Talk & Book Signing
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 6:00pm
The Coolidge Corner Theatre

San Rafael, CA — Talk & Book Signing
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 7:00pm
Dominican University of California, Angelico Hall

San Francisco — Talk & Signing
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 7:00pm
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

Naperville, IL — Talk & Book Signing
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 7:00pm
Anderson’s Bookshop

Check with each venue on details for getting in – some may require tickets as they will be VERY popular events. People queued for 2 hours in Chicago last year and the auditorium was full.

Bill Bryson To Tour USA This October – Bryson 2011 Fall Book Tour is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Lewis Carroll’s novels were first published 150 years ago and still fascinate children and adults around the world. The Rev Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Carroll’s real name) first told his stories to the young children of Henry Liddell, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. Ten-year-old Alice Liddell begged him to write them down and in 1864 he presented her with a handwritten manuscript entitled Alice’s Adventures Under Ground. In 1865 the story was published as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Carroll’s original manuscript is the starting point for this exhibition, which will offer visitors a rare opportunity to see the author’s own drawings and photographs, alongside Victorian Alice memorabilia and John Tenniel’s preliminary drawings for the first edition of the Wonderland novel.

Surrealist artists from the 1930s onwards have been drawn towards the fantastical world of Wonderland where natural laws were suspended. Wonderland has inspired conceptual artists and pop and psychedelic art. Plans for exhibits include works by Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Peter Blake and Yayoi Kusama. Alice in Wonderland will also showcase a selection of contemporary art with works by Anna Gaskell, Annelies Štrba and Torsten Lauschmann.

Tate Liverpool is open daily 10am–6pm, admission free. Alice in Wonderland will be on show from 4 November to 29 January, admission £8 (£6 concessions).

Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB
Tel: +44 151 702 7400.
Website: www.tate.org.uk/liverpool
Facebook: Tate
Twitter: Tate
Flickr: Tate Gallery’s photostream
You Tube: Tate channel

Through the Looking Glass into Liverpool – Alice in Wonderland is a post from: Anglotopia.net

A book written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that was previously unpublished has not been published.

According to the BBC:

The previously unpublished first novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will finally be available to buy from Monday.

Entitled The Narrative of John Smith, the novel – written between 1883 and 1884 – comprises the reflections of a man confined to his room by gout.

Conan Doyle sent it to a publisher but it was lost in the post. The book was then reconstructed from memory.

The British Library is now releasing the novel, alongside an audiobook read by actor Robert Lindsay.

The four notebooks that comprise the manuscript form part of an exhibition that runs at the Library until 5 January.

“This publication and exhibition show that there are still new things to discover about this iconic literary figure,” said Rachel Foss, who co-edited the novel.

“It’s a testament to the richness of Conan Doyle’s life and the archive he left behind him… that we can still unearth such little-known gems.”

The novel has been part of the Library’s collection since 2007 and is being published with the consent of the Conan Doyle literary estate.

The author continued to revise the text and drew on passages from it in his later writings but he never re-submitted the novel for publication.

Source.

Very cool – you can check out the book on Amazon below:

Unpublished Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Book Hits the Shops is a post from: Anglotopia.net