During the last week, I've discovered the following early 20th century authors:
Pelham Groom
Basil Woon
Hogan Bogue
Phyllis Bottome
Marmaduke Pickthall
Sidney Whipple
Arthur Gossip
Gaylord Hauser
Primrose Cumming
Frank Few
Oliphant Smeaton
Cyril Falls
Alexander Smellie
Lilian Vowles
I'm sure you'll agree, they're a lot more exciting than William Boyd, Anne Tyler, Iain Banks (a slight frisson from the extra 'i', I'll admit), Sarah Hall, Richard Ford or Julian Barnes.
Perhaps these names were the norm a hundred years ago and future generations will be doubled-up with laughter when they see Martin Amis (actually, I think that's already happening in some quarters).
I have tried to put faces to the names, but most of my Google searches have drawn a blank. However, I do have this interesting photo of Gaylord Hauser:
Apparently, Hauser was a close friend of Greta Garbo.
They appear to be pouring over the instruction manual for an extremely complicated typewriter.
Names are so important. I've been seriously thinking of changing my first name to Lord or Earl, as I'm sure that this would improve my prospects. Prince would probably be taking it too far.
Basil Woon
Hogan Bogue
Phyllis Bottome
Marmaduke Pickthall
Sidney Whipple
Arthur Gossip
Gaylord Hauser
Primrose Cumming
Frank Few
Oliphant Smeaton
Cyril Falls
Alexander Smellie
Lilian Vowles
I'm sure you'll agree, they're a lot more exciting than William Boyd, Anne Tyler, Iain Banks (a slight frisson from the extra 'i', I'll admit), Sarah Hall, Richard Ford or Julian Barnes.
Perhaps these names were the norm a hundred years ago and future generations will be doubled-up with laughter when they see Martin Amis (actually, I think that's already happening in some quarters).
I have tried to put faces to the names, but most of my Google searches have drawn a blank. However, I do have this interesting photo of Gaylord Hauser:
Apparently, Hauser was a close friend of Greta Garbo.If you're keen to know what a man called Sidney Whipple looks like, he's the taller one on the right:
Names are so important. I've been seriously thinking of changing my first name to Lord or Earl, as I'm sure that this would improve my prospects. Prince would probably be taking it too far.
9 comments:
just imagine the fun that could be had if a few of them paired up..
Gaylord Cumming, Primrose Smellie, Marmaduke Whipple ( sounds like a type of ice cream ) - or even Gaylord Bottome.
They sound like 1930s porn stars.
Surely most of those are pseudonyms ... People don't tend to use them much these days.
Unless they're blogging ;)
Unfortunately, the idea of using titles as first names is already catching on, at least in the states. There are boys in my city named Sir and Mister.
My grandfather claimed to have grown up with a boy named Senator, but he may not have been serious about that.
I am not sure which one I like the best.
The modern gal may want to hyphenate: Phyllis Bottome-Cumming
I wonder if Sydney Whipple is any relative of much-reprinted-by-Persephone Dorothy Whipple?
I love the idea of someone being called Senator. Very Dynasty.
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