Information
In the early years of his writing career with only a few unsuccessful novels behind him, Shaw contributed music, drama and art reviews to a number of regular publications. From 1888 he was the music critic for ‘The Star ‘, a new London evening newspaper. Under the name ‘Corno di Bassetto’, he wrote articles which expressed his forthright opinions on a number of subjects, not just musical ones, including a visit he made to Margate in December 1888, while staying at Broadstairs in an attempt to escape the intrusive inanities (as he saw it) of the festive season.
Shaw made another visit to Margate in July 1907 to see a new actor in a performance of one of his plays, ‘John Bull’s Other Island’, at the Theatre Royal. There is no record to suggest that time had altered his unfavourable view of the place.
Quotations
Then, impelled to restless activity by the abominable ozone, I rushed off to the left ; sped along the cliffs ; passed a lighthouse, which looked as if it had been turned into a pillar of salt by the sea air ; fell presently among stony ground ; passed on into muddy ground ; and finally reached Margate, a most dismal hole, where the iodine and ozone were flavoured with lodgings.
I made at once for the railway station and demanded the next train. ‘Where to ?’ said the official. ‘Anywhere, ‘ I replied, ‘provided it be far inland .‘ ‘Train to Ramsgit at two-fifteen,’ he said : ‘nothing else till six’. I could not conceive Ramsgit as being so depressing, even on Christmas Day, as Margit ; so I got into that train …
Place | Extract |
| Broadstairs | Somebody suggested Broadstairs …’ He found what he was looking for... |
| Margate |
Shaw made another visit to Margate in July 1907 to see a new actor in a performance of one of his plays, ‘John Bull’s Other Island’, at the Theatre Royal...
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