The Bachelor's Wedding - 1995 Discussion Thread

Jason Lister...surgeon. I wonder if he was related to Joseph Lister "the father of modern antisepsis" (after whom, Listerine was named). Lest The Uncrushable Jersey Dress be accused of frivolity we shall now include some historical perspective:

Joseph Lister came from a prosperous Quaker home in Upton, Essex, a son of Joseph Jackson Lister, the pioneer of the compound microscope.

At Quaker schools he became fluent in French and German, which were also the leading languages of medical research. He attended the University of London, one of only a few institutions which was open to Quakers at that time. He initially studied the Arts, but graduated with honours as Bachelor of Medicine and entered the Royal College of Surgeons at the age of 25. In 1854, Lister became both first assistant to and friend of surgeon James Syme at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In 1867, Lister discovered the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic, such that it became the first widely used antiseptic in surgery. He subsequently left the Quakers, joined the Scottish Episcopal Church and eventually married Syme's daughter Agnes. On their honeymoon, they spent 3 months visiting leading medical institutes (hospitals and universities) in France and Germany.[Betty Keira] I'm a believer in following your man but... By this time Agnes was enamoured of medical research, and was Lister's partner in the laboratory for the rest of her life. - Wikipedia

I love Joseph Lister's idea of a honeymoon. Except for the length, it was very Betty Neels of him. Is it merely a coincidence that Joseph Lister was born in Essex and Jason (our hero) has a home there? Betty, you were deeper than we realized. Please note the Quaker connection. Jason should have been swooning over the nut brown crepe-de-Chine with the wide Quaker collar and cuffs. Nevertheless.

Araminta...this may be THE Araminta, but she's not the only one. La Neels was not averse to reusing names, this particular name was also used in the book Nanny By Chance (not to be confused with Cassandra By Chance).

Dread Pirate Alice...or Alice the Supposedly Anaemic. On the strength of some doctor a couple of years before informing Alice the Gigantic Pill that she needed to lead a quiet life, she made a career of it. No energy for cooking, cleaning or grocery shopping, but plenty for buying trashy clothes and going out with her friends. I love the idea of her marrying a fat American millionaire who showers her with lurex gowns and gaudy jewelery. [Betty Debbie] I can't see her marrying an American Millionaire. Alice is pure trailer trash. She's more the type to get knocked up and live on the dole, spending her days watching the telly and getting fat. Since the doctor's 2 year old recommendation, she hasn't been back. I'm in love with Jason for shooting her down at their first meeting. "I'm sure you must be relieved to know that...whatever it was your doctor diagnosed has apparently cured itself..." Jason must not believe that there's anything to DNA...

Mrs. Pretty. Best use of occasional household help in a Neels novel. "...a lady whose appearance had nothing to do with her name; she was a big bony woman, nudging sixty, with a craggy face and a disconcerting squint. She had a powerful voice, smoked like a chimney, and had an elaborate hair-do which was tinted an unsuitable chestnut with highlights." She was a treasure. I especially like that she calls Araminta "my lovely". No one had ever called her that before. How did they stand the smoke smell in their house?

Some food: parsnip soup, lots of good plain fair (casseroles and treacle tarts and bubble and squeak), orange and tomato soup, syllabub, cassoulet of duckling, fricassee of chicken, queen of puddings(!), peach pavlova, and garlic mushrooms

They travel to and from Tisbury a few time and each time stop to use "the ladies" and get a cup of coffee. First, coffee for teenagers? I disapprove. Second, a two and a half hour drive requires a trip to "the ladies"? Betty was not from the American West where we don't stop for anything less than four hours. [Betty Debbie] Which is, coincidentally, how long it takes me to get to Betty Keira's house.

Also, as long as we're on the obscure religious sect thing, here's Amish Paradise for contrast. ;0)