u/ffoggy1959

How do you set the scene? The opening paragraph of this fascinating history book, copyright by Penguin (with given spelling) is copied below.

Would this pull you in to read further?

Can you think of one as good, or better?

All comments will be welcomed.

Chapter 1

A Funeral

SO GORGEOUS WAS THE SPECTACLE on the May morning of 1910 when nine kings rode in the funeral of Edward VII of England that the crowd waiting in hushed and black-clad awe, could not keep back gasps of admiration. In scarlet and blue and green and purple, three by three the sovereigns rode through the palace gates, with plumed helmets, gold braid, crimson sashes, and jeweled orders flashing in the sun. After them came five heirs apparent, forty more imperial or royal highnesses, seven queens—four dowager and three regnant—and a scattering of special ambassadors from uncrowned countries. Together they represented seventy nations in the greatest assemblage of royalty and rank ever gathered in one place and of its kind the last. The muffled tongue of Big Ben tolled nine by the clock as the cortege left the palace, but on history’s clock it was sunset, and the sun of the old world was setting in a dying blaze of splendor never to be seen again.

Any Booker Prize fans? Have you read any of these? Can you give spoiler free recommendations?

Any thoughts on the winner?

Happy weekend.

Really interesting list. https://www.reddit.com/r/classicliterature/comments/1tcz81s/der_spiegel_100_best_books_in_world_literature/

Any thoughts?

Interested in your opinions of a good English translation of this poem?

I have a couple but am interested to hear your favourites and why it is your favourite.

How are you all doing on your goals for the year? I said 36, currently I’ve completed 8 with two on the go, aborted 2 and deferred 1. I’m also very guilty of going off plan. I’m 4 behind target.

Here’s the original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BookTriviaPodcast/s/N194PcuWYD

Sources of two of the Bronte Sisters pseudonyms explained?

Horatio Nelson was given the title of Duke of Bronte in October 1799 at Palermo by King Ferdinand III of Sicily, in gratitude for saving the kingdom of Sicily from conquest by Napoleon.

The Bronte's father changed his surname from Brunty to Bronte, possibly inspired by this.

Two of Nelson's prominent crew members in the action were Ellis Cornelia Knight and Sir John Acton.

Does this explain Emily and Anne's pseudonyms?

Definitive 'proof' of Currer for Charlotte is difficult to find.

Brought to you from the wiki rabbit hole.

So, I have a recurring theme of books mentioning other books. I've posted previously about Sergei Eisenstein and the film Ivan the Terrible (https://www.reddit.com/r/BookTriviaPodcast/comments/1napbtu/sergei\_eisenstein/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button

In One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn two inmates discuss the film: “You’re wrong, old man,” Tsezar was saying, good-naturedly. “Objectively, you will have to admit that Eisenstein is a genius. Surely you can’t deny that Ivan the Terrible is a work of genius? The dance of the masked oprichniki!* The scene in the cathedral!”

Later on there is a brief mention of another film, Battleship Potemkin (a classic): Tsezar was working on the captain. “The pince-nez dangling from the rigging, for instance—remember?”* *Further comment on Eisenstein’s Potemkin.

Ok, one is a film, but another for my collection 😊

Questions:

1. How many times have you read the book?

2. How long since you read/last read the book?

3. Did you enjoy the book?

4. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the book? (10 = excellent)

5. How many other works by F Scott Fitzgerald have you read?

6. Which is your favourite of his books?

I will compile some statistics to share with you based on responses received by 23:00 BST on Saturday 25 April 2026.