In literature, an episode is an incidental narrative, or digression in a poem, which the poet has connected with the main plot, but which is not essential to it. Research Episode
MASH (properly M*A*S*H) was an American anti-war situation comedytelevision show about a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. MASH was created by Larry Gelbart, and Gene Reynolds and projected Alan Alda in the starring role of 'Hawkeye' to international fame. MASH was produced by CBS and TCF and ran from 1972 to 1983, becoming more and more shocking and anti-war until its highly disturbing final episode.
Apuleius, or Appuleius was a Greek writer. He was born at Madaura, in Numidia, in the early part of the second century AD, the time of his death unknown. He studied at Carthage, then at Athens, where he became warmly attached, in particular, to the Platonic philosophy, and finally at Rome. Returning to Carthage he married a rich widow, whose relatives accused him of gaining her consent by magic, and the speech by which he successfully defended himself is still extant. Besides his Golden Ass, with its fine episode of Cupid and Psyche, he was also the author of many works on philosophy and rhetoric, some of which are still extant. Research Apuleius
Francesca da Rimini was an Italian lady, the daughter of Guido da Polenta, lord of Ravenna, who lived in the latter part of the 13th century. She was married to Lanciotto, the deformed son of the lord of Rimini, who, discovering an intimacy between her and his brother Paolo, put them both to death. The story forms an episode in Dante's Inferno, and is alluded to by Petrarch; it is the subject of a poem by Leigh Hunt and a tragedy by Silvio Pellico. Research Francesca da Rimini
Frederic Sewards Trueman (Freddy Trueman) was an English cricketer. He was born in 1931 at Stainton, Yorkshire and died in 2006. After serving an apprenticeship as a bricklayer, he became a professional cricketer, playing for Yorkshire from 1949 until 1968, and for England in 67 test matches between 1952 and 1965 and was the first bowler to take 300 test wickets. On three occasions he took ten wickets in a match, and during his first-class career he took 2304 wickets and made three centuries. After retiring from playing cricket he worked as a cricketwriter and broadcaster where his down-to-earth approach and sharp tongue earned him notoriety. Freddy Trueman also made a cameo appearance in an episode of the BBC comedy 'Dad's Army' as a cricketer brought in by the wardens in a friendly match against the Home Guard. Research Freddy Trueman
Gerry Anderson is a highly innovative creator of children's science fiction adventure television programmes. His creations of Thunderbirds, Joe-90, and Stingray are legendary. More recently he created 'Space Precinct' probably one of the most expensive television serials yet produced costing over one million pounds each episode to produce. Research Gerry Anderson
Hector Berlioz was a French composer. He was born in 1803 and died in 1869. He gave up medicine to study music at the Paris Conservatoire, where he gained the first prize in 1830 with his cantata Sardanapale. For about two years he studied in Italy, and when on his return he began to produce his larger works, he found himself compelled to take up the pen both in defence of his principles and for his own better maintenance.
As critic of the Journal des Debats and feuilletonist he displayed scarcely less originality than in his music, his chief literary works being the Traite d'Instrumentation, 1844; Voyage Musical, 1845; Les Soirees d'Orchestre, 1853; and A traversChant, 1862. His musical works belong to the Romantic school, and are specially noteworthy for the resource they display in orchestral colouring. The more important are Harolden Italie; Episode de la Vie d'un Artiste, and Le Retour a la Vie; Romeo and Juliette, 1834; Damnation de Faust, 1846; the operas Benvenuto Cellini, Beatrice and Benedict, and Les Troy-ens; L'Enfance du Christ, and the Requiem. He married an English actress, Miss Smithson, but latterly lived apart from her. After his death appeared Memoires written by himself. Research Hector Berlioz
Henry St John Bolingbroke (ViscountBolingbroke) was an English statesman and political writer. He was born in 1678 at Battersea, London and died in 1751. Educated at Eton and at Oxford, where he had a reputation both for ability and libertinism. In 1700 he married a considerable heiress, the daughter of Sir Henry Winchcomb, but they speedily separated. In 1701 he obtained a seat in the House of Commons, attaching himself to Harley and the Tories. He at once gained influence and became secretary of war in 1706, though he retired with the ministry in 1708. He continued, however, to maintain a constant intercourse with the queen, who preferred him to her other counsellors, and on the overthrow of the Whig ministry in 1710, after the Sacheverell episode, he became one of the secretaries of state. In 1712 he was called to the House of Lords by the title of ViscountBolingbroke, and in 1713, against much popular opposition, concluded the Peace of Utrecht. At this period the Tory leaders were intriguing to counteract the inevitable accession of power which the Whigs would receive under the House of Hanover; but shortly after the conclusion of the peace a contention fatal to the party broke out between the lord high-treasurer (Harley, Earl of Oxford) and Bolingbroke.
Queen Anne, provoked by Oxford, dismissed him, and made Bolingbroke prime-minister, but died herself four days later. The Whig dukes at once assumed the power and proclaimed the elector king. Bolingbroke, dismissed by King George while yet in Germany, fled to France in March, 1715, to escape the inevitable impeachment by which, in the autumn of that year, he was deprived of his peerage and banished.
James III., the Pretender, invited him to Lorraine and made him his secretary of state, but dismissed him in 1716 on a suspicion of treachery. He remained for some years longer in France, where (his first wife having died) he married the Marquise de Villette, niece of Madame de Maintenon, occupying himself with various studies. In 1723 he was permitted to return to England, living at first retired in the country in correspondence with Jonathan Swift and Pope. He then joined the opposition to the Walpole ministry, which he attacked during eight years in the Craftsman and in pamphlets with such vigour and skill that in 1735 a return to France became prudent, if not necessary.
In 1742, on the fall of Walpole, he came back in the expectation that his allies would admit him to some share of power; but, being disappointed in this respect, he withdrew entirely from politics and spent the last nine years of his life quietly at Battersea, dying in 1751. He wrote an excellent and forcible style, his chief works being A Dissertation upon Parties; Letters on the Spirit of Patriotism, on the Idea of a Patriot King, and on the State of Parties at the Accession of George I; Letters on the Study of History (containing attacks on Christianity), and other works. Pope was indebted to him for suggestions for his Essay on Man. He was clever and versatile, but reportedly unscrupulous and insincere. Research Henry Bolingbroke
John Denver (real name Henry John Deutschendorf Jr) was an American folk singer, actor and environmentalist. He was born in 1943 at Roswell, New Mexico and died in 1997 in a plane crash. As a child he was bought an acousticguitar by his grandfather, and after learning to play it appeared at Leadbetter's night club in West Los Angeles before getting a break replacing the departing ChadMitchell in the ChadMitchell Trio, staying with the group until going solo in 1969. From 1969 until 1975 he was a major-selling artist in the country and pop charts. In 1970 he started acting, appearing in an episode of the televisiondrama 'McCloud' before starring in the 1977 film 'Oh God' after which he devoted more attention to politics, specialising in environmental issues. Research John Denver
Sir William Gerald Golding was an English novelist, actor and theatre director. He was born in 1911 at St Columb Manor, Cornwall and died in 1993. Educated at Marlborough Grammar School and at Brasenose College, Oxford in science and English literature he worked as an actor and theatre director before serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and afterwards working as a teacher. His 1954 book, 'Lord of The Flies' - inspired by his war service and time as a teacher - gained him international fame. In 1983 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Later in his life he was an ardentfan of the Australian soap-opera 'Neighbours', never missing an episode and ringing his wife to ask her to video it if he was away from home. Research William Golding
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Episode
