Bensoniana & Cornishiana

Editions

Review

A C Benson was the brother of E F Benson (of Mapp and Lucia fame); also a novelist (and essayist), he taught at Eton before becoming Master of Magdalene, Cambridge.  The bulk of this elegant little book (produced in an edition of 650 copies) is taken from two notebooks still at the College. One example that appeals to me: Nervous chemist lecturing before King Edward: 'The oxygen and the hydrogen will now have the honour of combining before your Majesty.'

Mrs Cornish, a generation older, was an Eton wife.  Her much sharper wit was appreciated by ACB.  If ever tempted by depression, she would repeat three things to herself:

'I am an Englishwoman. / I was born in wedlock. / I am on dry land.'

Scoop this up before it goes out of print! - review by John Wyse Jackson (Seán)