British Culture - User contributions [en]

Noel Coward

2012-01-23T22:39:00Z

Manu1988:

16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973. Director, performer, playwright, singer and composer, most famously known for the Englishness of his works.

He was born in Teddington, a middle-class suburb of London into a musically active family. During his childhood and youth he already starred in various plays and began to write poems, short stories and songs. He later moved on to write plays himself in which he could appear as well.

But his career would not come into full swing until he met Gilbert Miller, an American producer, who suggested the idea for the light comedy ''I'll leave it to you'', which opened in London in 1920. He wrote and starred in it as well.
Four years after he would experience his first critical and financial success with ''The Vortex'' (1924). His plays are characterized by their wittiness and the unsentimental representation of emotional affairs.
Most of his works deal with intricate love triangles and ever-changing love affairs, often reflecting the bohemian lifestyle of artists, writers and actors and of course the lifestyle of the Bright Young Things. Coward cultivated a public image of himself associated with cocktails and style. His homosexuality does not figure explicitly in the plays (but is alluded to and discernible for those "in the know"). Although, of course, his work is "essentially independent of his personal life" (Levin 4).

Influenced by the American Broadway, he introduced its speed "into staid British drama and music to create high-octane rush for the jazz-mad, dance-crazy 1920s" (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002021/bio). But after World War II his new plays did not prove to be as successful as his earlier works, because he was a signature model for writers of well-made plays with class attitudes, which was regarded old-fashioned at that time. This caused Coward to become embittered and to condemn the writer generation of the 1950s and 1960s.

At the end of the 1960s he began to suffer from arteriosclerosis and memory losses and therefore drew back from professional and public life. He died in 1973 of heart failure. At his memorial service a poem was read out (and also written) by John Betjeman in honour of Coward and his works.

Sources:

Cunningham, Valerie: ''British Writers of the Thirties.'' Oxford, New York: Oxford UP, 1988.

Levin, Milton: ''Noel Coward. Updated Edition.'' Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1989.

--[[User:Manu1988|Manu1988]] 22:39, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

--[[User:Manu1988|Manu1988]] 22:36, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Noel Coward

2012-01-23T22:36:10Z

Manu1988:

16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973. Director, performer, playwright, singer and composer, most famously known for the Englishness of his works.

He was born in Teddington, a middle-class suburb of London into a musically active family. During his childhood and youth he already starred in various plays and began to write poems, short stories and songs. He later moved on to write plays himself in which he could appear as well.

But his career would not come into full swing until he met Gilbert Miller, an American producer, who suggested the idea for the light comedy ''I'll leave it to you'', which opened in London in 1920. He wrote and starred in it as well.
Four years after he would experience his first critical and financial success with ''The Vortex'' (1924). His plays are characterized by their wittiness and the unsentimental representation of emotional affairs.
Most of his works deal with ntricate love triangles and ever-changing love affairs, often reflecting the bohemian lifestyle of artists, writers and actors and of course the lifestyle of the Bright Young Things. Coward cultivated a public image of himself associated with cocktails and style. His homosexuality does not figure explicitly in the plays (but is alluded to and discernible for those "in the know"). Although, of course, his work is "essentially independent of his personal life" (Levin 4).

Influenced by the American Broadway, he introduced its speed "into staid British drama and music to create high-octane rush for the jazz-mad, dance-crazy 1920s" (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002021/bio). But after World War II his new plays did not prove to be as successful as his earlier works, because he was a signature model for writers of well-made plays with class attitudes, which was regarded old-fashioned at that time. This caused Coward to become embittered and to condemn the writer generation of the 1950s and 1960s.

At the end of the 1960s he began to suffer from arteriosclerosis and memory losses and therefore drew back from professional and public life. He died in 1973 of heart failure. At his memorial service a poem was read out (and also written) by John Betjeman in honour of Coward and his works.

Sources:

Cunningham, Valerie: ''British Writers of the Thirties.'' Oxford, New York: Oxford UP, 1988.

Levin, Milton: ''Noel Coward. Updated Edition.'' Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1989.

--[[User:Manu1988|Manu1988]] 22:36, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Noel Coward

2012-01-14T14:28:44Z

Manu1988:

16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973.

Noel Coward was a British director, playwright, singer and composer, most famously known for the Englishness of his works.
He was born in Teddington, a middle-class suburb of London into a musical active family. During his childhood and youth he already starred in various plays and began to write poems, short stories and songs. He later moved on to write plays himself in which he could appear as well.

But his career would not come into full swing until he met Gilbert Miller, an American producer, who suggested the idea for the light comedy ''I'll leave it to you'', which opened in London in 1920. He wrote and starred in it as well.
Four years after he would experience his first critical and financial success with ''The Vortex'' in 1924. His plays are characterized by their wittiness and the unsemtementalized representation of emotional affairs.

While he started out by writing critical plays his attitude later changed and he wrote mostly melodramatic works about love triangles and ever-changing love affairs.
He showed a side of the bohemian lifestyle by using a public scandal for his own fame and by associating himself with cocktails and witty performances. Although he was homosexual this is never explicitly mentioned in his plays or by himself, as his work is "essentially independent of his personal life."[[Levin 4]]

Influenced by the American Broadway, he introduced its speed "into staid British drama and music to create high-octane rush for the jazz-mad, dance-crazy 1920s." [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002021/bio] But after World War II his new plays did not prove to be as successful as his earlier works, because he was a signature model for writers of well-made plays with class attitudes, which was regarded old-fashioned at that time. This caused Coward to become embittered and to condemn the writer generation of the 1950s and 1960s.
At the end of the 1960s he began to suffer from arteriosclerosis and memory losses and therefore drew back from professional and public life. He died in 1973 of heart failure. At his memorial service a poem was presented in honour of Coward and his works.

Cunningham, Valerie: ''British Writers of the Thirties.'' Oxford, New York: Oxford UP, 1988.

Levin, Milton: ''Noel Coward. Updated Edition.'' Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1989.

--[[User:Manu1988|Manu1988]] 14:28, 14 January 2012 (UTC)

Noel Coward

2012-01-09T20:59:19Z

Manu1988: Created page with '16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973 Sir Noël Coward was an English director, playwright, singer and composer, most famously known for the Englishness of his works. He not only wr…'

16 December 1899 – 26 March 1973
Sir Noël Coward was an English director, playwright, singer and composer, most famously known for the Englishness of his works. He not only wrote plays, but starred in them as well. Influenced by the American Broadway, he introduced its speed "into staid British drama and music to create high-octane rush for the jazz-mad, dance-crazy 1920s."[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002021/bio]

--[[User:Manu1988|Manu1988]] 20:59, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

Manu1988

Great War

2011-12-02T11:47:19Z

Manu1988:

'''The Great War'''

The Great War as it was known among contemporaries, lasted from 1914 to 1918. Today it is called the First World War, as nearly every country in the world was involved in it.
The main war-waging parties were the Central Powers with Germany and Austria-Hungary on the one hand and the Triple Entente with Great Britain, France and Russia on the other hand.

There were long and short term reasons for its outbreak, like the naval race between Britain and Germnay, the Morrocan Crisis and a strong belief in Social Darwinism among all nations.
But the trigger for the final outbreak should be the shooting of the Austrian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. This assassination caused Austria to declare war on Serbia. Germany as Austria's ally had to join the war, too as well as Russia on Serbia's side and with her France and Britain.

While there was first enthusiasm on both sides, as all nations expected a short war, it soon turned out to be that they were fighting a war of attrition. The first „modern“ war as it was also called, brought about weapons of mass destruction, trench warfare, the use of poison gas and excessive, useless long battles, like the ones at Verdun or at the Somme.

All in all over six million soldiers died; more than ever before.
The outcome of the war was decided, when the USA entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente in 1917. Germany finally asked for an armistice in November 1918 and was forced to accept the Treaty of Versailles.
After the end of the Great War the face of Europe should change forever, with the establishment of smaller nation states in Eastern Europe, the abolition of monarchy in Russia, Austria and Germany and more political power for women. Europe would never be the same as before 1914.

'''Sources:'''

Marwick, Arthur. ''War and Social Change in the Twentieth Century.'' London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press LTD, 1974.

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands.'' Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam jun., 2007.

[Manu1988]

Great War

2011-12-02T11:46:44Z

Manu1988:

'''The Great War'''

The Great War as it was known among contemporaries, lasted from 1914 to 1918. Today it is called the First World War, as nearly every country in the world was involved in it.
The main war-waging parties were the Central Powers with Germany and Austria-Hungary on the one hand and the Triple Entente with Great Britain, France and Russia on the other hand.
There were long and short term reasons for its outbreak, like the naval race between Britain and Germnay, the Morrocan Crisis and a strong belief in Social Darwinism among all nations.
But the trigger for the final outbreak should be the shooting of the Austrian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. This assassination caused Austria to declare war on Serbia. Germany as Austria's ally had to join the war, too as well as Russia on Serbia's side and with her France and Britain.
While there was first enthusiasm on both sides, as all nations expected a short war, it soon turned out to be that they were fighting a war of attrition. The first „modern“ war as it was also called, brought about weapons of mass destruction, trench warfare, the use of poison gas and excessive, useless long battles, like the ones at Verdun or at the Somme.
All in all over six million soldiers died; more than ever before.
The outcome of the war was decided, when the USA entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente in 1917. Germany finally asked for an armistice in November 1918 and was forced to accept the Treaty of Versailles.
After the end of the Great War the face of Europe should change forever, with the establishment of smaller nation states in Eastern Europe, the abolition of monarchy in Russia, Austria and Germany and more political power for women. Europe would never be the same as before 1914.

'''Sources:'''

Marwick, Arthur. ''War and Social Change in the Twentieth Century.'' London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press LTD, 1974.

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte Englands.'' Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam jun., 2007.

[Manu1988]

Great War

2011-12-02T11:46:21Z

Manu1988:

'''The Great War'''

The Great War as it was known among contemporaries, lasted from 1914 to 1918. Today it is called the First World War, as nearly every country in the world was involved in it.
The main war-waging parties were the Central Powers with Germany and Austria-Hungary on the one hand and the Triple Entente with Great Britain, France and Russia on the other hand.
There were long and short term reasons for its outbreak, like the naval race between Britain and Germnay, the Morrocan Crisis and a strong belief in Social Darwinism among all nations.
But the trigger for the final outbreak should be the shooting of the Austrian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. This assassination caused Austria to declare war on Serbia. Germany as Austria's ally had to join the war, too as well as Russia on Serbia's side and with her France and Britain.
While there was first enthusiasm on both sides, as all nations expected a short war, it soon turned out to be that they were fighting a war of attrition. The first „modern“ war as it was also called, brought about weapons of mass destruction, trench warfare, the use of poison gas and excessive, useless long battles, like the ones at Verdun or at the Somme.
All in all over six million soldiers died; more than ever before.
The outcome of the war was decided, when the USA entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente in 1917. Germany finally asked for an armistice in November 1918 and was forced to accept the Treaty of Versailles.
After the end of the Great War the face of Europe should change forever, with the establishment of smaller nation states in Eastern Europe, the abolition of monarchy in Russia, Austria and Germany and more political power for women. Europe would never be the same as before 1914.

'''Sources:'''
Marwick, Arthur. ''War and Social Change in the Twentieth Century.'' London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press LTD, 1974.

Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte England.'' Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam jun., 2007.

[Manu1988]

Great War

2011-12-02T11:45:42Z

Manu1988:

'''The Great War'''

The Great War as it was known among contemporaries, lasted from 1914 to 1918. Today it is called the First World War, as nearly every country in the world was involved in it.
The main war-waging parties were the Central Powers with Germany and Austria-Hungary on the one hand and the Triple Entente with Great Britain, France and Russia on the other hand.
There were long and short term reasons for its outbreak, like the naval race between Britain and Germnay, the Morrocan Crisis and a strong belief in Social Darwinism among all nations.
But the trigger for the final outbreak should be the shooting of the Austrian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914. This assassination caused Austria to declare war on Serbia. Germany as Austria's ally had to join the war, too as well as Russia on Serbia's side and with her France and Britain.
While there was first enthusiasm on both sides, as all nations expected a short war, it soon turned out to be that they were fighting a war of attrition. The first „modern“ war as it was also called, brought about weapons of mass destruction, trench warfare, the use of poison gas and excessive, useless long battles, like the ones at Verdun or at the Somme.
All in all over six million soldiers died; more than ever before.
The outcome of the war was decided, when the USA entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente in 1917. Germany finally asked for an armistice in November 1918 and was forced to accept the Treaty of Versailles.
After the end of the Great War the face of Europe should change forever, with the establishment of smaller nation states in Eastern Europe, the abolition of monarchy in Russia, Austria and Germany and more political power for women. Europe would never be the same as before 1914.

'''Sources:'''
Marwick, Arthur. ''War and Social Change in the Twentieth Century.'' London and Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press LTD, 1974.
Maurer, Michael. ''Kleine Geschichte England.'' Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam jun., 2007.

[Manu1988]

Great War

2011-11-14T19:41:19Z

Manu1988:

1914-1918. Later also known as First World War. It is also called the original catastrophe of the 20th century, by leading to a restructuring of the Old Europe and finally to the Second World War. It is also called a 'modern' war because of the new weapons of mass destruction and the use of trench warfare.