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Welcome to this week’s blog hop. Today’s topic is:
What historical/public figure would you most like to learn more about? Would you ever write about them?
The person I’d really like to learn more about is the very private Joan Armatrading, who never gives interviews. She says “It’s all about the music, and nobody needs to know anything about me“. However, she’s wrong, and I’m sure there are many others out there apart from me who also love her music and would like to know more about her. So… if you ever read this, Joan, I’ll be happy to write a book about you but you need to grant me an interview first!
While I’m waiting for Joan to get in touch, next on my list would be learn more about Oscar Wilde, the tragic Irish poet and playwright. I have visited his childhood home in Merrion Square, Dublin, and have read a few of his poems and plays. I also made a point of seeking out his wax likeness at Madame Tussauds when we went there a few years ago; he was quite tall at 6ft 3 in. I know his basic life story; he was born into a wealthy family and had the good fortune to attend the best schools. He married and had 2 sons, but also had a secret life as a gay man when homosexuality was illegal. Due to ‘gross indecency’ he eventually went to prison for 2 years hard labour, which almost broke him and spawned the poem ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol.” Would I ever write about him? Possibly, if I were to learn something new about him that had never been written about before.
I have always admired his quick wit. Some of his quotes have stayed with me for years, and here are a few of them:
“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow.”
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”
“When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is.”
“The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.”
“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.”
“There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
“I can resist anything except temptation.”
“The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
“The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself.”
“There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”
And my favourite: – “We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Oscar Wilde’s last words were reportedly “This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. Either it goes or I do.” The wallpaper stayed and Oscar died penniless on 30th November 1900 aged only 46 from meningitis (brought on by an ear infection), three years after his release from prison.
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alexcraigie said:
I saw Joan in Leicester years ago and she was superb. That voice is unmistakable and my favourites are the ones you mention. Thanks for reminding me.
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Stevie Turner said:
She still sounds the same. Apparently there’s a new album coming out, so I’ll get that for sure.
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Steve Smith said:
I know very little about Oscar Wilde. Mainly about the homosexuality and his imprisonment. I love those quotes!
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dgkaye said:
Wilde would be a great specimen to interview. I never heard of Joan 🙂 x
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Stevie Turner said:
Wow, she’s been going for years! Have a listen to ‘The Weakness in Me’, ‘Willow’, ‘Love and Affection’, and ‘Me, Myself, I’. I’m sure you’ll like these 4 songs as we’re sistahs, lol. x
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dgkaye said:
Thanks! I’ll check them out on Youtube 🙂 x
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dgkaye said:
Okay. I’m sold! Can’t believe I never heard of her, but then again as I’ve learned from Sally’s music show, there are quite a few British artists I’d never heard of from that era. 🙂 x
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Stevie Turner said:
She’s been going since the 1970s.
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dgkaye said:
So I read 🙂
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aurorawatcherak said:
Reblogged this on aurorawatcherak.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Lela for the re-blog.
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aurorawatcherak said:
I always liked Oscar Wilde’s writing, especially when pointing out the hypocrisy of the human condition.
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Stevie Turner said:
Indeed. I like his wit.
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OIKOS™-Editorial said:
Love your favorite quote of Oscar Wilde too, Stevie! Great introduction and remembrance. Thank you for sharing, and have a beautiful week! Michael
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for your comment, Michael.
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OIKOS™-Editorial said:
Thank you for the very interesting article, Stevie! Have a nice day, and a much more enjoyable week. Michael 🙂
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Liz Gauffreau said:
Those are great Oscar Wilde quotes!
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Stevie Turner said:
They are, lol.
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P.J. MacLayne said:
I’m not familiar with Joan’s work. But a quick listen to a couple of her songs has me convinced to spend some quality time with her music.
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Stevie Turner said:
Hi P.J. Check out my answer to D.G Kaye and the 4 songs there that are my favourites. I’m sure you’ll like them.
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richarddeescifi said:
The tragedy with Wilde (as it is with so many), is that their genius is so often overshadowed by things that should never be significant in judging their worth. Who cares about their private lives, why is it even worthy of comment?
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Stevie Turner said:
It was then I suppose, because homosexuality was illegal. Poor old Oscar.
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robertawrites235681907 said:
Oscar Wilde had a sad life, Stevie. It’s very hard to have to live a perpetual lie. I love the quotes you included.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks, they’re great aren’t they.
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Clive said:
With you on Joan Armourplating, and I’d add the late, great Warren Zevon as someone I wish I could talk to.
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beetleypete said:
Your favourite quote of Oscar’s is also mine.
I would like to know more about Dennis Potter. His TV plays and serials were so visionary, yet also partly autobiographical. I read a lot of interviews he gave at the time, but it would have been nice to have been able to talk to him on a personal level.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Stevie Turner said:
I think some of Joan’s songs are autobiographical too.
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Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. said:
Love it Stevie and both Joan Armatrading and Oscar Wilde have left their mark on our lives, even if Joan has chosen to remain private. I think Oscar would be amused that his quotes pop up in quiz shows and that 121 years later he is remembered with respect he was not awarded in life.xx
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Stevie Turner said:
Indeed. He was born too soon. x
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Darlene said:
I love Oscar Wilde as well. His wonderful wit makes me smile. I would love to learn more about Jane Austen. Much has been written about her of course, but there are still some mysteries. Unfortunately, her sister destroyed some of her letters. So we will never know.
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Stevie Turner said:
Oh, I didn’t know that about Jane’s sister. I wonder why she destroyed them?
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aurorawatcherak said:
I think the sisters had a bit of contention between them. Jane perhaps wrote things that her sister objected it. The Bible says “brothers are meant for adverticity”. Sisters are meant for catfights.
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Stevie Turner said:
Lol. I’m glad then that I have neither!
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