WISDENS SECRET
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What is wisdensdsecret.com?
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This site is dedicated to uploading images of various items on paper acquired by myself over a number years. It also includes the results of my research into these items.
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The Overview above provides a little more detail on each section and a link. There are individual sections on the following.
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John Wisden and the origins of the 1st Edition of Wisden's Almanack. There are many sections to this and if one knows what one wishes to look at is perhaps best accessed via the contents page
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Jane Austen and the discovery of a) number Puzzles, b) anagram puzzles based on names and lastly the identity of the man who I propose provided the character Mr. Darcy
A book of 40 (possibly a unique collection) aquatints to illustrate the works of Byron
A unique etching by Rembrandt?It is most certainly a very accomplished work.
A brief account of the discovery and sale at Bonhams of a pencil drawing with watercolour wash by John Constable.
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A manuscript account by an RAF officer who became a PoW !!! of the Greek Communists from December 1944 - January 1945. N.B. This is not for the squeamish.
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Jane Austen is recorded as saying that she wrote about what she knew. If so when she describes Northanger Abbey is she describing a real place and if so where was it
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There is an abbey that
a) Jane Austen is known to have stayed nearby whilst writing Northanger Abbey
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b) that 2 of her brothers Francis and Charles simply must have been aware of in their capacity as officers in the Channel Fleet . Francis especially would write frequently and the precise positioning of the oak to the N.E. sounds like infornmation sourced from a man with a compass
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c) that bears a considerable resemblances to Northanger Abbey
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This abbey is Torre Abbey Torquay in the county of Devon. It is situated overlooking the bay known as Torbay. The English Channel Fleet would look for shelter during violent storms in the English Channel and one of the best sheltered spots was Torbay. The owner of Torre Abbey is known to have been especially hospitable to officers of the Navy and would invite them ashore whenever they were at anchorage.
Jane Austen is known to have stayed in nearby Teignmouth and Dawlish 1802 and 1804. Torre Abbey is but a modest walk away from Teignmouth and the owner Colonel George Cary would allow visitors.
Torre Abbey bears many distinct similarities It had
1) Long dark corridors
2) Shutters at the windows
3) Its own private chapel
4) A ruined church nearby
5) A grove of oak trees to the North East
6) Some famous people had stayed there Earl St Vincent and Horatio Nelson.
7) It has what to those who know them what looks like a Rumford Fireplace in its main reception room
8) This fireplace for such a good sized room circa 30 feet by 40 feet has a comparatively modest marble fire surround
9) The Cary family have in their ancestral tree 2 people whos names appear in Northanger Abbey . Thorpe and Tilney. But not just any old Thorpe and Tilney. ISABEL THORPE was the mother of FREDERICK TILNEY
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On the basis of the facts above I think she is describing a real place
What do you think?
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