Category: Whimsical words
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When Harry met Frederica
This bit of whimsy brings together two surname-sharing characters created by two famous but very different British authors. No, three! Here is an explanation of the genesis of this piece, written over 20 years ago. On July 11th, The Guardian reported the broadside fired at J.K. Rowling, the author of five best-selling books about boy…
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Beethoven’s Doctor
Here is a preview of the biography of Dr Schmittendahl, ‘Beethoven’s doctor’. This was written after an anxiety-provoking dream in which one of my senior colleagues looked incredulous when I admitted that I knew nothing about the illustrious (illusory?) doctor. I decided to invent a life and career for this person. Dr Mary Hann provided some…