My Science School

With its endless grasslands and a slow pace of life, it may appear like nothing much happens in the prairies, the golden wheat-covered land in the middle of the U.S. But reading author Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House on the Prairie” reveals that there is more to this heartland than what catches the eye.

Her semi-autobiographical books set in the period between 1870 and 1894, capture the life of the pioneers, the first people to settle in the frontiers of North America.

Who were the pioneers?

Many of the pioneers were farmers, who embarked on a long and arduous journey (of about 3,200 km) to take advantage of the U.S. government’s offer to homestead land in the Midwest. Homesteading was a scheme launched to develop millions of acres of tribal land.

People left behind their family and friends as they made their way to the Midwest. Days and even years were spent on the road, travelling the length and breadth of the country in tiny wagon carts. Often the pioneers were attacked by Native Americans, who were upset about losing their land.

Wilder belonged to one such pioneer family. And though life was hard, Wilder and her family found happiness in little things such as making homemade toys and treats for Christmas, going on their first trip to town, and bringing in the harvest.

Fear of eviction, a bad harvest and ruined crops often forced the family to change towns. They moved from Wisconsin to Kansas and then to Minnesota and lowa, before finally settling down in De Smet in South Dakota.

Despite all the hardship, Wilder and her sisters felt safe and warm in their little house. And years later, Wilder drew upon these happy childhood memories to paint a beautiful portrayal of the American frontier.

A feminist

At a time when there were not many job opportunities for women, she broke the glass ceiling by taking up multiple jobs, including in traditionally male-dominated fields. To help her family make ends meet, Wilder worked as a teacher, dressmaker, and even in a financial institution that lent money to the farmers.

Her writing career started when she took on the position of a columnist and editor for a local publication, the Missouri Ruralist. Her column, “As a Farm Woman Thinks” made her a favourite among the local farmers. She wrote on diverse topics from home and family to current affairs and travel.

"Little House on the Prairie" books

In the 1930s as America descended into the Great Depression, Wilder wrote "Little Big Woods", the first of her "Little House on the Prairie" books. But did you know that her first manuscript was rejected by every publisher she approached? In fact she was even told that writing for children was a waste of time. But she did not give up and boldly continued writing. The "Little House on the Prairie" series consists of eight books based on Wilder's childhood experiences. Some of the best books in the series are "Little Big Woods", "Little House on the Prairie", and "On the Banks of Plum Creek”.

"Little Big Woods" is about four-year-old Laura who lives in a log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Adventures of Laura and her family continue in the third book "Little House on the Prairie" as they travel to Kansas in their covered wagon until they find the best spot to build their little house on the prairie. In "On the Banks of Plum Creek", the family is forced to leave their prairie house and settle in a little house made of sod on the banks of beautiful Plum Creek.

Popular adaptations

The “Little House on the Prairie” series appealed to different generations of readers around the world.

• TV show: In 1974, the series was adapted into a television series by NBC. It ran for nine seasons until 1983. It bagged 17 Emmy and three Golden Globe nominations along with two People’s Choice Awards. It even won two Western Heritage Awards.


• Mini-series: The series was adapted into a mini-series by Disney in 2005. Directed by David Cunningham, the television series is a faithful adaptation of Wilder’s semi-autobiographical novels.

OH REALLY?

• Wilder is related to the former U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and astronaut Alan Shephard.


• Wilder’s daughter Rose convinced her to write the “Little House on the Prairie” books and even helped edit them.


• Wilder was 65 when the first book in the “Little House on the Prairie” series was published.


• The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honours children’s authors and illustrators. Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss are among its recipients.

 

Picture Credit : Google

The author who brought toys to life

Toys, whether it is a doll, a car, or a stuffed animal, are our childhood companions. Do you remember hugging and cuddling them and hosting imaginary tea parties for them or perhaps even confiding your deepest secrets into their inanimate ears? As we grow up, however, newer toys and gizmos replace them. And so, a quintessential children’s classic, “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams Bianco chronicles a stuffed rabbit’s quest to become ‘real’ and relevant to its owner.

Writing: A legacy from her father

Born on July 22, 1881 in London, Margery became a professional writer at the age of 19. Her father Robert, who was a distinguished scholar and barrister, inculcated a love for reading in her and honed her imagination. He would often regale her with stories, making it a point to vividly describe the characters and the world they inhabited. Life struck a cruel blow when Margery at the age of seven lost her beloved father. His demise had a profound impact on Margery and her writing. Most of her work revolved around the themes of death and loss. And even though she faced criticism for the sad undertones in her children’s books, Margery maintained that these sentiments were an undeniable part of the growing up process.

Getting published

Margery published her first novel, “The Late Returning” in 1902. It was aimed at an adult audience, but it did not do well. Her subsequent novels too failed to make a mark. In 1904, Margery married Francesco Bianco and changed her name to Margery Williams Bianco. After marriage, she moved to Turin, Italy. It was only at the age of 44 that she wrote “The Velveteen Rabbit”, which gained her fame and recognition.

“The Velveteen Rabbit”

Inspired by the innocence and playful imagination of her children, Margery wrote “The Velveteen Rabbit” after the end of World War I. The book was first publishes in 1922 and has been republished many times since.

In the story, a little boy receives a stuffed rabbit as a Christmas gift. The toy lives in the cupboard of the boy’s nursery, where it is looked down upon by the fancier toys who claim to be ‘real’. “What is real?” the rabbit asks another toy, the skin horse. The horse, who always speaks the truth, tells him that toys become ‘real’ through the love of their owner. “Does it hurt?” asks the Velveteen Rabbit. “Sometimes. When you are Real, you don’t mind being hurt,” says the horse.

Gradually, the bond between the Velveteen Rabbit and the boy grows stronger, and so does the Rabbit’s desire to become real so that he could be with his owner forever.

Although it’s a children’s story, the tale has undercurrents of poignancy and sentimentality, which are some of the trademarks of the author. It also ponders on deeper questions about existence and the meaning of life. Margery was influenced by mysticism while writing the story.

Margery also wrote many other novels and short stories in which she continued the theme of toys coming to life, conferring upon them the ability to express human emotions and feelings.

“Winterbound”

In her final years, Margery wrote books for young adults as well. Her most significant book for young adults, “Winterbound” tells the story of two teenage girls who are suddenly thrust with responsibilities of raising their younger siblings. The book was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1937, and won the Newbery Honor, a prestigious literary citation, in 1971.

With England joining World War II, Margery began writing books on patriotism as well. Her last book “Forward Commandos!” is an inspirational wartime story, acknowledging the contribution of African-Americans to the war effort. However, Margery died before the war came to an end. As the book went on sale, she breathed her last on September 4, 1944 in New York.

OH REALLY?

• Margery’s book for young adults “Winterbound” was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1937, and won the Newbery Honor, a prestigious literary citation, in 1971.


• Her daughter Pamela illustrated many of her works including “The Skin Horse” and “The Little Wooden Doll”.


• In 1914, Margery wrote a horror novel “The Thing in the Woods”. The book, about a werewolf in Pennsylvania in the U.S., is believed to have inspired future works on werewolves, including the renowned “The Dunwich Horror” by pulp fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft.


• Margery was inspired by Walter de la Mare, a poet, she regarded as her spiritual mentor.


•  

Picture Credit : Google

Russian author Anton Chekhov regaled generations with his short stories, which subtly blended humour and pain. His life was even more dramatic than his stories. Read on to find out..

Chekhov was born in 1860, in Taganrog, a provincial town on the shore of the Sea of Azov in Russia. The city often serves as a backdrop in his stories.

One day. Chekhov's father, Pavel, who was running a grocery store, fled the country to escape bankruptcy, leaving behind his of six children in extreme poverty.

Chekhov, who had inherited his mother, Yevgeniya's love for storytelling, started writing during this time to earn a living for his family and to pay for kiss nude studies. Making time between doses medical at the University of Moscow, he penned dramas with humorous and skits for theatres, along with short stories that he sold to magazines. In 1880, he published his first piece and treated his family to a cake bought with his earnings. By 1884, he had published 300 stories, sketches, jokes, and articles while also completing medical school.

A man of science

After graduating, he began to practise medicine in rural areas Dedicated towards working for poor families (as he had experienced poverty first hand), he did not take money from his needy patients. He even volunteered in public hospitals during epidemics. His love for the medical profession is evident from the fact that the central characters in many of his stories and plays are doctors. He often joked that "Medicine is my lawful wife and literature is my mistress.

SIBERIAN ADVENTURE

On one of his notable scientific excursions, he traversed 5,000 miles of the vast Siberian wasteland to conduct a census of the exiled prisoners on the remote island of Sakhalin. He used a buggy, a horse and even a boat to reach the island. His observations throwing light on the deplorable conditions of the inmates as regarded as important works of science even today.

Changing the literary landscape

While the large volume of his work made Chekhov a popular name, he was unhappy with the quality of his early works. "Oh with what trash I began he is known to have remarked. Thus began a second stage in his writing, in which he wrote with increased seriousness.

He privately printed his first book of short stories. "Tales of Melpomene in 1884, but it went unnoticed because it was mistakenly shelved in the children's section. His next work, "Montley Stories" secured his reputation as a major Russian writer, and his short story collection "In The Twilight" won him the prestigious Pushkin Prize in 1888.

Chekhov's Gun

Chekhov's genius was not limited to his plays and stories. He was a prolific letter writer. Through his letters, he offered pieces of advice to other writers. Today. his advice has come to be widely regarded as important principles of writing. One of the most famous principles is what is known as Chekhov's Gun. He defined it in a letter to his co-writer Lazarev-Gruzinsky in November 1889: "One should not put a loaded rifle onto the stage if no one is thinking of firing it. If in the first act you have long a pistol on the wall, then in the following one, it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.

OH REALLY?

• Compared to other writers of his time, Chekhov had an extremely short career. He wrote only four major plays - "The Seagull", "Uncle Vanya", "Three Sisters" and The Cherry Orchard", but 800-odd short stories.


• Chekhov once crossed 5,000 miles of Siberian wasteland on a buggy and horse to conduct a census of the exiled prisoners on the remote Sakhalin island.


• He renounced the theatre following negative reviews to his play, "The Seagull" in 1896.


• "The Lady with the Dog" is regarded as the greatest short story ever written.


• Like the character Vanya in "A Classical Student". Chekhov too failed an ancient Greek exam in school and had to repeat the year.


• Failing health

In 1886, Chekhov experienced lung trouble, an early symptom of tuberculosis that would eventually kill him. He continued to practise medicine until 1898 although he could now support his family and himself on his writing. As his health deteriorated, Chekhov spent much of his time recuperating in health resorts in Germany. In 1904, he died at the age of 44 in Badenweiler. Chekhov left a lasting impact on Russian literature.

 

Picture Credit : Google

The intrepid boy reporter from Belgium took the world by storm when he made his debut on January 10, 1929. "The Adventures of Tintin", a comic strip created by Georges Prosper Remi, better known as Herge, appeared in a serialised format in Le Petit Vingtième. The strip ran until May 8, 1930.

But not even Tintin himself could have predicted its runaway success.

The Belgian comic strip was translated to as many as 70 languages and adapted to television, radio and film. It has sold 20 million copies across the world.

While Tintin turned 92, his friend Captain Archibald Haddock turned 80. From the Soviet Union to China, Tintin has travelled the world in search of mysteries and adventures. Read on to know more about this iconic character and its creator...

Early life

Remi loved to draw and was constantly sketching out scenes from daily life along the edges of his school books. Some of these illustrations were of German soldiers, because his four years of primary schooling at the Ixelles Municipal School No. 3 coincided with World War I, during which Brussels was occupied by the German army.

From Totor to Tintin

Herge created his first comic strip "Les Aventures de Adventures of Totor') for the newsletter. The strip revolved around the adventures of a Boy Scout patrol leader. Herge who initially wrote captions underneath the panels, gradually conveyed his ideas through speech bubbles.

After finishing school, Herge enrolled in an art school Ecole Saint-Luc, hoping that it would help him pursue a career in comics. But he found the first lesson so boring that he quit the next day and started looking for a job. But no one wanted to hire him as a comic artist. So he ended up getting a job in the subscription department of a newspaper. But this job couldn't hold his attention for long. He quit and enlisted for military service. Through his numerous postings, Herge continued sketching and producing episodes of Totor.

The birth of Tintin

Finally at the end of his military service, Herge got a chance to work as a cartoonist and photographic reporter for Le Vingtieme Siecle.

Eager to come up with his own comic strip, Herge developed a character named Tintin as a Belgian boy reporter who could travel the world with his fox terrier, Snowy. The character was largely based on his earlier character of Totor. Herge wanted the character to be based in the U.S., but Wallez persuaded him to set his adventure in the Soviet Union. The result, "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets”, began serialisation in Le Petit Vingtième, a children's supplement of the paper on January 10,1929, and ran until May 8, 1930. Owing to its popularity in Belgium, the strip came to be published in book form. And with the publication of "Tintin in Congo" and "Tintin in America”, the comic strip soon became an international bestseller.

Captain Haddock turns 80

Tintin's friend, Captain Haddock completed 80 years in January. The grumpy sailor with a big heart met Tintin in 1941. Haddock made his debut when the strip was published in black and white in the Belgian newspaper Le Soir. On January 9, 1941, in the middle of the World War II, the sailor joined Tintin in a cartoon for the first time.

OH, REALLY?

• A rejected Tintin cover of "Le Lotus Bleu" ('The Blue Lotus”) illustrated by Herge set a new world record on January 14 as the most expensive comic book artwork. It sold at an auction for £2.8m. The artwork was rejected as too expensive to reproduce in 1936 and given to editors son, who kept it in a drawer for decades.


• Tintin landed on the moon at least 15 years before Neil Armstrong. In 1954, "Tintin On The Moon" was published. It showed Tintin exploring the moon.


• Remi started signing his illustrations as Herge, the phonetic transcription of his initials, RG, in 1924. Tintin's face has been drawn without much detail. It's mostly expressionless.


• In memory of the cartoonist, the Herge Museum was established in Louvain-la-Neuve in 2009.


• Herge never actually visited any of the countries which he let Tintin famously explore

 

Picture Credit : Google