Post by Ian Menkins on Feb 12, 2009 16:03:01 GMT 10
I have long been interested in the scene in Episode 3, where chief editor Blackler (played by Fulton Mackay) talks to John Leigh about "kissing and fighting" and "the little man".
Many people may not realize that Frank Harris was a real man. As Blackler described him, Harris did indeed have a reputation as "a scoundrel and a blaggard". Although small in stature, he was an editorial bully, and was irascible and aggressive in both his personal and professional dealings. His marriage to a wealthy widow helped to advance his social standing, as did many of the friendships he sought out with the rich and famous. It is also true that in 1882 Harris did manage to quickly raise circulation of the Evening News from 7,000 to 70,000.
In his young life, Harris had joined the Marxist Social Democratic Federation. He later confessed that he had contemplated planting a bomb in the House of Commons in order to assassinate William Ewart Gladstone! Instead, he took up journalism, and quickly blazed his way to become editor of the Evening News. As far as I know, Harris never used the words "common man" in the quote referred to by Blackler. The actual wording of the Harris quote is as follows:
Harris said he ran the newspaper
Harris was an intriguing, highly flawed and very contradictory fellow. He once stood for Parliament as a Conservative but quickly ruined his chances by speaking openly on the benefits of mistresses for politicians! He was passionately pro-imperialist as editor of the Evening News, yet later became a liberal pro-Boer in the Saturday Review. He claimed to love England, yet became a pro-German propagandist in the U.S. during World War I. He claimed a hatred of wealthy snobs, the pompous rich and the irresponsibly powerful, but often sought friendships with such people. In monetary terms, he could be incredibly tight, yet would often tip generously. Throughout his life, he always aspired to advance his own social standing, often without fully considering the moral consequences.
His friendship with Oscar Wilde bolstered his social status immensely, though he of course did not share Wilde's personal persuasions. During Wilde's trial, Harris claimed to have a yacht waiting in the Thames, by which his friend could escape to France. The claim was probably false, but at least the story may have given Wilde some hope. When Oscar went to prison, Harris defied a hostile mob and visited the ruined man, there offering him £500. Harris may have expressed genuine courage and concern through this kind act, but two days later he typically withdrew his offer.
It is said that he could write a letter of blackmail while looking through the Bible for an appropriate quotation. "He professed Utopian ideals, but indulged petty swindles."
In later life, his increasing notoriety lead to his inevitable downfall. He became involved in stock frauds, various scandals involving pornography and teenage girls, plagiarism, and libel suits. He lived the remainder of his days penniless, publicly disgraced, and exiled in the south of France.
His life was definitely not that of "the little man", but the sensationalism surrounding his life would have certainly made excellent copy for the reading pleasures of "the little man"! Basically, he would have made the character of Twining look very much the saint!
Sources: Brome, Vincent Harris: the Life and Loves of a Scoundrel, 2nd. Edition, Thomas Yoseloff, New York, 1964.
Time Magazine online, "The King of Cads", Monday, Mar 21, 1960 www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894842-1,00.html
Note: Some information was sent to me recently on a journal called "The Little Man", said to have been published between 1842-1970. The story goes that it was founded by Adam Hawks in 1842, had a long and glorious history of satire and commentary, competed favourably with Punch magazine, and was finally bancrupted in a libel case brought about by Sir Anthony Eden. However, the information had been derived from a blog site and repeated elsewhere on the web. Further investigation revealed it to be entirely fictional.
Many people may not realize that Frank Harris was a real man. As Blackler described him, Harris did indeed have a reputation as "a scoundrel and a blaggard". Although small in stature, he was an editorial bully, and was irascible and aggressive in both his personal and professional dealings. His marriage to a wealthy widow helped to advance his social standing, as did many of the friendships he sought out with the rich and famous. It is also true that in 1882 Harris did manage to quickly raise circulation of the Evening News from 7,000 to 70,000.
In his young life, Harris had joined the Marxist Social Democratic Federation. He later confessed that he had contemplated planting a bomb in the House of Commons in order to assassinate William Ewart Gladstone! Instead, he took up journalism, and quickly blazed his way to become editor of the Evening News. As far as I know, Harris never used the words "common man" in the quote referred to by Blackler. The actual wording of the Harris quote is as follows:
Harris said he ran the newspaper
"as a scholar and man of the world of twenty-eight, but as I went downwards and began to edit as I felt at twenty, then at eighteen, I was more successful; but when I got to my tastes at fourteen years of age, I found instantaneous response. Kissing and fighting were the only things I cared for at thirteen or fourteen, and these are the things the English public desires."
Harris was an intriguing, highly flawed and very contradictory fellow. He once stood for Parliament as a Conservative but quickly ruined his chances by speaking openly on the benefits of mistresses for politicians! He was passionately pro-imperialist as editor of the Evening News, yet later became a liberal pro-Boer in the Saturday Review. He claimed to love England, yet became a pro-German propagandist in the U.S. during World War I. He claimed a hatred of wealthy snobs, the pompous rich and the irresponsibly powerful, but often sought friendships with such people. In monetary terms, he could be incredibly tight, yet would often tip generously. Throughout his life, he always aspired to advance his own social standing, often without fully considering the moral consequences.
His friendship with Oscar Wilde bolstered his social status immensely, though he of course did not share Wilde's personal persuasions. During Wilde's trial, Harris claimed to have a yacht waiting in the Thames, by which his friend could escape to France. The claim was probably false, but at least the story may have given Wilde some hope. When Oscar went to prison, Harris defied a hostile mob and visited the ruined man, there offering him £500. Harris may have expressed genuine courage and concern through this kind act, but two days later he typically withdrew his offer.
It is said that he could write a letter of blackmail while looking through the Bible for an appropriate quotation. "He professed Utopian ideals, but indulged petty swindles."
In later life, his increasing notoriety lead to his inevitable downfall. He became involved in stock frauds, various scandals involving pornography and teenage girls, plagiarism, and libel suits. He lived the remainder of his days penniless, publicly disgraced, and exiled in the south of France.
His life was definitely not that of "the little man", but the sensationalism surrounding his life would have certainly made excellent copy for the reading pleasures of "the little man"! Basically, he would have made the character of Twining look very much the saint!
Sources: Brome, Vincent Harris: the Life and Loves of a Scoundrel, 2nd. Edition, Thomas Yoseloff, New York, 1964.
Time Magazine online, "The King of Cads", Monday, Mar 21, 1960 www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894842-1,00.html
Note: Some information was sent to me recently on a journal called "The Little Man", said to have been published between 1842-1970. The story goes that it was founded by Adam Hawks in 1842, had a long and glorious history of satire and commentary, competed favourably with Punch magazine, and was finally bancrupted in a libel case brought about by Sir Anthony Eden. However, the information had been derived from a blog site and repeated elsewhere on the web. Further investigation revealed it to be entirely fictional.
