Season for Sensation

Taking into consideration three great writer's names, there, at first, doesn't seem to be any link between these men. However, each went through dealing with the public, society and controversy in their own ways. All three men enjoyed success of their writings within their lifetimes. Oscar Wilde and Henrik Ibsen both for their plays and Thomas Hardy for his fictional novels and poetry. Each also brought forth their observations of the inconsistencies of Victorian society and what was really going on back at home.
Wilde was wild! Born Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin, Ireland on 16 October 1854 to a doctor and a writer, he was exposed early on to genius in many realms. He went on to study and gained his own awards for his scholarly abilities and writings. He received great acclaim for his plays and the comedic take on society, especially "An Ideal Husband." Although himself a married man and father, he was also a known homosexual. Due to a relationship with Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, he was prosecuted for "gross indecency" and sentenced to two years hard labor. Wilde's health and popularity were affected by this trial, causing his name to be removed from authorship of his plays. Wilde left Britain after his imprisonment and remained abroad for the remainder of his life, dying in November 1900 of cerebral meningitis.
Another author born into what should have been prosperity and family was Henrik Ibsen, born Henrik Johan Ibsen in March of 1828 in Norway. However, his family suffered severe setbacks and were removed from their home early on in Ibsen's life. This dramatic change affected both of Ibsen's parents in different manners, influencing their son. In tandem with the loss of fortune, Ibsen was sent to study pharmacy as his parents' choice of profession. Due to the birth of an illegitimate child, Ibsen soon was providing for another but also seeking a way to pursue his true passion: writing. Eventually Ibsen was able to find success in this field. He married Suzannah Thoresen in 1858 and had one child with his wife. Due to some finanicing from a friend and the government, Ibsen went abroad and wrote many of his greatest plays, including "A Doll's House" (1879), which gathered controversy due to content. He eventually returned home and died of a stroke in Christiania on May 23, 1906. Ibsen's influence lived on as he is attributed with Modernism, as his plays dealt with the middle class and the psychological developments as plot drive. His works greatly influenced Anton Chekov, a Russian playwrite.
Thomas Hardy also dealt with social pressure against his novels and ultimately rejected writing more after suffering such attacks on his works. Hardy was born in England in June of 1840 and gained early experience in architecture under the instruction and influence of his own father. He was sent to be an apprentice and continued in architecture as a means of employment until his literary career took off. He married Emma Gifford in 1874 but never had any children. His writings mirrored the reality of life rather than the picturesque. Eventually, after the criticism over Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, he rejected the fictional world and only kept his pen active through poetry and playwriting. He died in January of 1928 of unknown causes. Interestingly enough, there is even controversy over his burial. He requested to be buried next to his first wife (she preceeded him in death and he later remarried). However, his request was not honored, as his body was interred in Poet's Corner and his heart buried with Emma. However, it is rumored that the housekeeper placed his heart on the kitchen table where a cat devoured it, leaving not even his heart to be placed with Emma. A pig's heart was used instead. (Truth or fiction, it isn't known.) His works influenced both D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Wolfe.
The month ahead will see discussion of married life as well as the role of women in Victorian society through the pens of these three great writers.

On To November

Last night's discussion was great! I hope everyone gets a chance to finish reading Udolpho.
We chose the selections for our November meeting as well as December's.
November: 2 plays: Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband" and Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House", as well as Tomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
December: Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
We also have talked about getting together on another night to watch a film version of "An Ideal Husband." Be watching for that announcement, too!

Tonight, Tonight....

Just a reminder that we are meeting tonight. Bring your favorite title choices to put on the book list for future selections!

Secret Meeting

Okay, so it isn't so secret and it is quite predictable...
Don't forget to put it on your calendar, but our next meeting is in less than a week! October 20th at 7:00 pm. We'll be meeting at Stefanie's house. (If you need the address or directions, leave a comment and I'll email you the info.)

Bring any friends you may have: old or young! We'll be discussing The Mysteries of Udolpho as well as choosing literature for the next three months, so even if they haven't read, it will benefit them to cast their votes.

Also, think about this so you can put your picks in the pot...
What are three of your "favorite" great works you have previously read?
What are three great works you have on your list to read in the future?
I'm hoping that this compilation of likes and interests will help us build the picking pool.

Relief on the Rise

I know this book has been a big one to tackle. I apologize for the amount required this month. Don't panic about where you are. There are still two weeks before we meet.
I also wanted to alleviate any stress about the next selection. I have another novel to recommend, but I have two plays to read as an alternative to the novel. The plays (yes, two, but they are short) will enable those who aren't able to finish Udolpho to continue reading in October-November and not feel like they are being left behind.
I had it in my head that a month's reading should be maxed out at about 400 pages, give or take a few. So, the next time we tackle such a huge book, we'll split it in half and meet twice on it (we'll HAVE to do that for Tolstoy or Dostoevsky).
So, relax and enjoy what you are reading. I think the pace is pushing things a bit, but don't stress. See if you can guess what "natural" occurrences are causing the mysterious/supernatural perceptions. It'll make the reading more interesting.