Media Long Descriptions
Media Long Descriptions
Figure 1: The final page of a paperback copy of Frankenstein in which someone has added new concluding lines:
As he drifted away I could just make out his final words.
“It’s OK if you just call me ‘Frankenstein’ instead of ‘Frankenstein’s Monster.’ I really don’t mind.”
The End.
[Return to Figure 1]
Figure 2: William Makepeace Thackeray’s marginal illustrations.
This is an excerpt from the 1875 Thackerayana–a collection of anecdotes accompanied by six hundred sketches by Thackeray, many of which were copied out of the margins of his texts after he died. The main illustrations on this page feature a naughty Cupid shooting a man in the behind and then being spanked by a woman for his mischief. The text above the illustrations reads:
‘Opera Omnia,’ one of Black’s editions of the Classics (1825) offer various whimsical illustrations of certain portions of the poems; we incline to the impression, however, that although some of these parodies may be referred to Thackeray’s college days, to others must be a assigned a considerably later date.
Contemporary reaction to this series of essays—“The Federalist,” as it was called when published collectively under the pen name Publius—was certainly mixed:
One critic wrote that, even if he could acquire the essays for free, “it is not worth it.” Another said the mass of writings would “jade the brains of any poor sinner,” and asked Publius to halt after 26 essays “and let the people draw their breath for a little.” Even the printer of the bound volume griped that he had hundreds of unsold copies and would be lucky to make five pounds profit. … But George Washington believed The Federalist would “merit the Notice of Posterity.”
Good old George. He got it in one. As a contemporary explanation of the intent behind the Constitution’s articles, its worth has only increased with time. It is now the most valuable body of work America has regarding the interpretation of constitutional law. The Papers are frequently taught in today’s high school history and government classes. Moreover,
Since its creation, the Supreme Court has cited or quoted The Federalist about 300 times, more than any other interpretative document.”
