nineveh_uk: Illustration that looks like Harriet Vane (Harriet)
nineveh_uk ([personal profile] nineveh_uk) wrote2012-02-01 07:11 pm

Wimsey ficlet: Gaudy Night: the unwritten sequel

Inspired by a postcard spotted (by bookwormsarah)in the People's History Museum in Manchester, an irresistible crossover.

***


"You see, Lady Peter," said Dr Baring, "after we had recovered from that appalling business, and had time to reflect on it in a scholarly spirit, we wondered if perhaps we were partly to blame. Not for upholding above all the importance of the honour and integrity of scholarship, but for allowing that importance to be felt only here, within these college walls, and only some of those. Why should we be surprised that a woman like Annie Wilson has no sympathy with our ideals, when we have never invited her to share them?" The Warden tapped her cigarette impatiently and continued.

"In brief, Lady Peter, Miss Barton invited the Principal to High Table one evening, and we proposed a collaboration. We have offered places to their most talented students, and a new degree is to be taught between us - though I'm afraid that it's the University of London external examination. The results you see before you. I may say that we are feeling rather proud of ourselves."

Harriet looked around the hall, the usual students in their gowns augmented by a handful of older faces, and even a couple of - presumably non-resident, one could not imagine Shrewsbury had changed so much in two years - men, and hanging at the far end of the room above the great double doors, the proud gold-bordered banner.

"But Warden," she said weakly, "Trade Union Studies?"

tree_and_leaf: Watercolour of barn owl perched on post. (Default)

[personal profile] tree_and_leaf 2012-02-01 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's brilliant!

I can't imagine Annie would have had much time for trade unions, but you make a very valid point nonetheless.
tree_and_leaf: Watercolour of barn owl perched on post. (Default)

[personal profile] tree_and_leaf 2012-02-02 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Quite so.
mrkinch: albatross soaring (Default)

[personal profile] mrkinch 2012-02-01 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Marvelous!

[identity profile] executrix.livejournal.com 2012-02-01 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
\o/!!!!!

[identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 09:23 am (UTC)(link)
I hear the sounds of Sayers revolving in her grave at the very thought.
ext_27872: (Default)

[identity profile] el-staplador.livejournal.com 2012-02-01 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Magnificent!

[identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 09:27 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[identity profile] madamedarque.livejournal.com 2012-02-01 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ha! My face is frozen in a giant grin right now, someone help me.

[identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 11:39 am (UTC)(link)
*lends spanner* And thanks!
aunty_marion: There's no need to call me Sir, Professor (Call me Sir)

[personal profile] aunty_marion 2012-02-01 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
*giggle*

(Though I thought it was properly 'Trades Union'?)

[identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
It's either. The TUC is the Trades Union Congress, but OED lists both forms as equivalent, and the quotations for both go pretty much back to the start.

[identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 09:41 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[identity profile] azdak.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
Is the banner from the postcard? I love the idea of the Shrewsbury SCR agitating. And that Annie should have contributed to raising their class consciousness. Dr Baring's point is entirely sound.

[identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 09:43 am (UTC)(link)
That is indeed the banner in question (but not the postcard, it's an image I lifted from the website).

THe SRC were anxious at first, but when they realised that this was rather a continuum of than break from their own revolutionary routes, soon got to enjoy their agitation.

[identity profile] bookwormsarah.livejournal.com 2012-02-02 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Beautifully done!