LITERARY LONDON

Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to our

lesson Literary London. If you remember, last year the
senior students of our school showed you the lesson
Russian London, where we spoke about some places,
such as Moscow road, Orme Square, which are maybe
not so famous among the tourists, but closely connected
with the history of our country.
As far as I remember, you liked that lesson, so weve
decided to continue this tradition and have prepared the
above-mentioned lesson Literary London. I am not
quite sure that all of you understand the word literary.
Who can help me to explain the meaning of this word?
Yes, literary means connected with literature. So
well tell you about some famous English writers who
lived and worked in London. Of course, you should
understand that to speak about all writers in London is
almost impossible.
. . ,
.
Well, maybe you dont remember the name of our first
writer, but you can easily recognise his famous character.
Look at the screen.

.. .
. speaks about Barrie and Peter Pan.
J. M. Barrie

Sir James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish novelist and dramatist.

He wrote many plays and novels but is best remembered for
creating Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up. Barrie lived
not far from our school near Kensington Gardens where he liked
to walk with his dog Porthos. During one of such strolls the
writer met three boys with their nanny. They were George, John
and Peter Llewelyn Davis. Barrie and the boys became friends
and often spent their time together in Kensington Gardens. The
children liked how Uncle Jim wiggled his ears and eyebrows but
most of all they liked his stories.
When James Barrie decided to write a story about Peter Pan in
1902, he remembered his young friends and created one of the
finest books for children and adults. If you dont remember, I
can tell you that Peter Pan is a boy who spends his never-ending
childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the
leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies and
pirates, and from time to time meeting ordinary children from
the world outside.
Probably, you have seen this monument to Peter Pan in
Kensington Gardens. But, do you know that this sculpture was
erected in great secrecy, under cover of darkness, on the night of
30 of April 1912. It was Barries idea that early May morning
people would think that the boy who never grew up arrived by
magic. And I think that a hundred years later, when we look at
this monument, the magic is still with us and James Barrie is

still playing with his little friends somewhere in Kensington

Gardens.

.
Do you know the name of the most famous bear in the
world?
You are absolutely right! Winnie-the-Pooh. And do you
know who wrote the stories about this cuddly teddy
bear?
Right! A.A. Milne. By the way, some weeks ago we
studied the information about this writer. What do you
remember about him?
.
. speaks about A.A. Milne.
A. A. Milne
Chelsea is one of Londons boroughs. You probably know it
because of the famous football club Chelsea. But Id like to
take you back to the beginning of the 20th century, when in
Mallord Street at No. 11 in Chelsea lived Alan Alexander Milne.
The story of Winnie-the-Pooh began in this very house where
the writers son Christopher Robin was born in August 1920.
For his first birthday the boy got a present from his father a
nice and funny teddy bear from Harrods. Christopher Robin
loved his toy so much that Milne got the idea to write some
stories about his son and the teddy bear. Winnie-the-Pooh first

appeared in books Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at

Pooh Corner (1928).
You know that Christopher Milne named his teddy Winnie after
Winnipeg, a bear that he and his father often saw at London
Zoo. But may I ask you why Pooh?
In the first chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne offers this
explanation of why Winnie-the-Pooh is often called simply
"Pooh": "his arms were so stiff ... they stayed up straight in
the air for more than a week, and whenever a fly came and
settled on his nose he had to blow it off. And I think - but I am
not sure - that that is why he is always called Pooh."
Unfortunately, we cannot see the original Winnie-the-Pooh in
London. If you remember, all the Christopher Robins toys were
sent to the USA and sold there. Now we can look at them only
in the Main Branch of the New York Public Library in New
York.

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Among the writers who lived and worked in London we

couldnt ignore this Scottish doctor. It may sound
strange, but, fortunately, he wasnt a popular medic. Are
you intrigued?
Well, we dont want to keep you in ignorance. But before
you hear the whole story, look at the screen. Do you
recognise this character?
Sherlock Holmes.
.. .
. speaks about Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Baker Street is probably one of the most popular streets in

London among the tourists. Everybody knows that the famous
detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend and biographer John
H. Watson lived at 221B Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes was
well known for his methods of deduction which were brightly
showed in many stories. As he wrote in an essay described in A
Study in Scarlet "From a drop of water a logician could infer the
possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or
heard of one or the other."
Well, we know that he is a fictional character but some people
still believe in him and from time to time send letters to this
noble Englishman asking him to solve their riddles. Anyway,
despite the fact that Sherlock Holmes didnt exist, you can still
go to Baker Street to see his first museum. According to the
guide for tourists, The famous study overlooking Baker Street
that has been portrayed in so many films over the years is
located on the 1st floor... Visitors can sit in Mr Holmess
armchair by the fireside to pose for photos, and enter his
bedroom adjoining the study His possessions are in their
usual places: his deerstalker, magnifying glass, pipe, violin,
chemistry equipment, notebook, Persian slipper and disguises.
By the way, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of all these
stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, had his medical
practice not far from Baker Street in Upper Wimpole Street.
The writer had studied medicine at Edinburgh University and
came to London in 1891. However, he was unknown as a doctor
and completely didnt have any patients. As he wrote in his
autobiography not a single patient crossed his door. It allowed
him to spend the days writing short stories. The success of the
early Sherlock Holmes tales let him give up the career of a
doctor altogether.

Puzzles.
6

Our lesson almost came to an end. But it wouldnt be

complete without this name. This writer was born and
died in Stratford-upon-Avon but he spent his literary
years here, in London.
.. . .
C .
29
When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon my self and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least,
Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
75
So are you to my thoughts as food to life,
Or as sweet-seasoned showers are to the ground;
And for the peace of you I hold such strife
As 'twixt a miser and his wealth is found.
Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon

Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure,

Now counting best to be with you alone,
Then bettered that the world may see my pleasure,
Sometime all full with feasting on your sight,
And by and by clean starved for a look,
Possessing or pursuing no delight
Save what is had, or must from you be took.
Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,
Or gluttoning on all, or all away.

The end