Posted on 03/31/2009 12:18:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway
For decades, Agatha Christie's family filled its spare time by filling out something called an Album of Confessions. Such things were popular in the late 19th century.
Every member of the Miller family, into which the mystery novelist was born, answered questions about his or her favourite colours, people, virtues, etc.
It's a biographer's treasure trove, now. Laura Thompson, in her book Agatha Christie: An English Mystery, revels in the answers of Christie's grandmothers and mother, and writes, "What Godly creatures these women were! And how Victorian their tastes: their love of Mendelssohn, Landseer, Prince Albert and 'Miss Nightingale,' their dislike of 'deceit and affectation.'"
One question was: "Present state of mind?" Agatha's father once answered, "Extremely comfortable, thank you." Given that he frittered away the family fortune, that line looks sinister in hindsight.
Anyone with a Facebook account can't help but recognize, in the "present state of mind" question, the antecedent of the status update. (The question on Facebook used to be "What are you doing?" and is now "What's on your mind?")
It's not as if the Victorians used the opportunity to write thoughtful essays. Agatha's brother, a bad seed, once answered the "state of mind" question: "Oh my!?!" That could be a status update today, complete with the vigorous punctuation.
Agatha's father wrote that his "pet aversion" (a nicer word than "peeve") was "getting up in the morning." Agatha first played the "confessions game" at the age of seven, answering "If not yourself, who would you be?" with "A fairy."
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.canada.com ...
I don't believe a word of it.
I've got that same garbage up on myspace, but all I listen to is Latoya Jackson and I read Archie and Jughead comics.
You have terrible taste. You should be listening to Latoya Jackson’s books on tape version of Archie and Jughead comics. Especially the one where Archie and Jughead kill Superman.
Do you have Prince Albert in can?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.