Pub Talk and the King’s English

Background Information

I. About the Author

Henry Fairlie (1924-1990) British journalist for The Spectator, which he joined in 1955. Before that he had been a feature writer for The Observer 1948-50, and a political editorial writer for The Times 1950-54. He was also a regular contributor to The New Republic from the mid-1970s until his death in 1990. He relocated to the United States in 1965 to avoid a British libel suit, for having called his onetime lover a whore on television. He was Best known for coining the term The Establishment in his column in The Spectator on 23 September, 1955. Fairlie wrote: By the "Establishment", I do not only mean the centres of official power—though they are certainly part of it—but rather the whole matrix of official and social relations within which power is exercised. The exercise of power in Britain (more specifically, in England) cannot be understood unless it is recognized that it is exercised socially. He wrote five books, most notably The Kennedy Promise, an early revisionist critique of the US presidency of John F. Kennedy. In 2009, Yale University Press published Bite the Hand Feeds You: Essays and Provocations, an anthology of his work edited by Newspaper correspondent Jeremy McCarter.

II. The History of English

1. The native people in Britain－Celt (language)

2. Roman Conquest 43 AD, ruled for 400 years－Latin (language)

3. In 449 Angles, Saxon, and Jutes from Northwest of Germany, conquered the most part of England－old English (language)

4. 9th century Scandinavian conquest－Danish (language)

5. 11th century Norman Conquest for 400 years－French (language)

6. British people conquered the conquest again.－English won its recognition.

III. Five Events that Shaped the History of English

1. The Anglo-Saxon Settlement

2. The Scandinavian Settlements

3. The Norman Conquest

4. Standardization：the Great Vowel Shift

5. Colonization and Globalization

IV. A Timeline of the History of the English Language

V. History of English Pub

A pub (public house) is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain. In many places, especially in villages, a pub can be the focal point of the community. The writings of Samuel Pepys describe the pub as the heart of England. During the Middle Ages, the pub sign came into existence—the earliest versions being green bushes set upon poles to indicate the sale of beer, stemming from the earlier Roman tradition of vines being displayed to advertise wine. By 14th century, more abstract names were common. Alcohol has been drunk and served throughout the British Isles in one form or another since the Bronze Age. The origins of the pub began to appear during the Roman colonization of Britain. Places where travelers could obtain rest and refreshment sprang up along the new road networks. These Roman taverns remained even after the withdrawal of the Romans from Britain. During the 16th and 17th centuries these establishments primarily sold beer and ale until the first half of the 18th century when the so-called“Gin Graze”took hold, esp. among the poorer classes as the production of gin had increased to six times that of beer. The 1751 Gin Act forced gin makers to sell gin only to licensed premises and put drinking establishments under the control of local magistrates. In the 19th century, the Wine and Beerhouse was introduced to restrict the hours Public Houses could sell alcohol. The Licensing Act 2003 repealed the previous licensing laws for England and Wales, taking responsibility away from magistrates and placing it in hands of local councils.

VI. Alexandre Dumas and The Three Musketeers

Alexandre Dumas (1802－1870) best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. His works include The Count of Monte Cristo; The Three Musketeers; Twenty Years After. The Three Musketeers is set in the 17th century. The novel recounts the adventures of a young man called d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, and then he joins the Musketeers of the Guard. His friends are: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. They are inseparable friends who live by the motto: "tous pour un, un pour tous“=All for one, one for all”.

VII. Thomas Carlyle

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Famous English essayist and historian. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, he rejected the ministry, for which he had been intended, and determined to he a writer. In 1826 he married Jane Welsh, a well-informed and ambitious woman who did much to further his career. They moved to Jane' s farm at Craigenputtoeh where they lived for 6 years. During this time he produced Sartor Resartus (1833-1834), a book in which he first developed his characteristic style and thought. This book is a veiled sardonic attack upon the shams and pretences of society, upon hollow rank, hollow officialism, hollow custom, out of which life and usefulness have departed.