The Reverend Charles Watts Whistler MRCS, LSA, (14 November 1856 – 10 June 1913) was an English writer of historical fiction, who set his work between 600 and 1100 CE, usually based on early Saxonchronicles, Norse or Danish sagas and archaeological discoveries.
Charles Watts Whistler was the oldest son of the Rev. Rose Fuller Whistler, Vicar of Ashburnham in Sussex, a Vice President of the Sussex Archaeological Society, and later Rector of Elton, Huntingdonshire, to which cure Charles Watts Whistler would succeed. The family descended from the Sussex branch of the Thames Valley family of Whistler, as did Rex Whistler and his brother the glass engraver Sir Laurence Whistler.[1]
Whistler was educated at Merchant Taylors School, London and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, before studying medicine at St Thomas's Hospital, London, and becoming a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries. After practising as a surgeon (like his maternal grandfather James Watts, MRCS, of Battle, Sussex), he was ordained deacon in 1884 and priest in 1885. He then served successively as curate of Woolton, Liverpool (1884–1885), Chaplain of the Fishermen's Chapel, Hastings (1885–1888), Vicar of All Saints' Church, Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire (1888–1894), Rector of Elton, Huntingdonshire (1894–1895), Vicar of Stockland Bristol, Somerset (1895–1909), and finally Rector of Cheselbourne, Dorset (1909–1913).
Whistler was married on 3 March 1886 to Georgiana Rosalie Shapter Strange, daughter of William James Stevenson Strange, a master wool-dyer by then retired. His brother Alfred James Whistler married Georgiana's sister Mary Maud Strange. The two women's brother, W. R. P. Strange, had been Vicar of Stockland before Whistler.
Whistler's interest in the history of England before the Norman Conquest appears in his prolific work as a historical novelist. His works were popular in their day, but the archaism of language he adopted makes them less accessible to modern readers.
Worksedit
A Thane of Wessex (1896)
Wulfric the Weapon Thane (1897)
King Olaf’s Kinsman (1898), a story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut (set c. 1000 CE)
King Alfred's Viking (1899), a story of the First English Fleet
A Prince of Cornwall (1904), a story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of Wessex (set 690-710 CE)
A King’s Comrade (1905), a story of Old Hereford (set c. 790 CE)
Gerald the Sheriff (1906)
A Sea Queen Sailing (1906, set c. 935 CE)
A Prince Errant (1908)
Early Wars of Wessex (1913)
Dragon Osmund (1914)
A Son of Odin (1914)
Summariesedit
Havelok plays around 580–600 CE in Denmark and England, one or two generations after mythical King Arthur (and his people's struggle with the Saxons) and shows early relations between the Danes and Saxons (now well-established in England with their own kingdoms) and the already Christianized Welsh in England. It also introduces dislike between the Danes/Jutes (cousins of the Saxons) and the Norse. It is based one of the most popular pre-Elizabethan sagas of the British Isles, which shares traits with the classic Nordic sagas.
Prince of Cornwall takes place about a hundred years or four generations later – c. 690–710 CE – and deals much with the relations between Welsh and Saxons, and some resident Danes in the country.
King's Comrade is again three generations later, c. 790 CE. It is mainly focused on inter-Saxon conflict (King Ethelbert, King Offa), and problems with the Welsh, who still would like to get their lost estates back. Introduces Norse campaigns on the Frankish coast, founding the Norse state of Normandy.
Wulfric the Weapon Thane shows how the Danes invade the English realm and found kingdoms, turning from fun-loving plunderers to competitive conquerors.
Thane of Wessex takes place shortly before King Alfred's rule. The hero is robbed of land and title through bitter intrigues, and banned from the realm. But as he tries to leave the kingdom, he is followed by pursuers who are after his life. Soon Whistler has one or two tasty conflicts of interest, and we have a man in a mess – how to do the right thing if you have no rights or honour in the eyes of your former peers?
King Alfred's Viking tells more of the battles between the English (united at last) and the Danes. It tells of the first navy of England, built by Alfred with help from Norse friends.
c. 935 CE: A Sea Queen's Sailing (1906)
c. 1000 CE: King Olaf's Kinsman (1896) – A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut
Referencesedit
^Whistler, Laurence (1987). The Laughter and the Urn: The Life of Rex Whistler. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN0297790218.
Sourcesedit
Alumni Cantabrigenses (Venn) Part II vol 6 p 428 (1954)
External linksedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Charles Whistler
charles, whistler, reverend, charles, watts, whistler, mrcs, november, 1856, june, 1913, english, writer, historical, fiction, work, between, 1100, usually, based, early, saxon, chronicles, norse, danish, sagas, archaeological, discoveries, contents, life, wor. The Reverend Charles Watts Whistler MRCS LSA 14 November 1856 10 June 1913 was an English writer of historical fiction who set his work between 600 and 1100 CE usually based on early Saxon chronicles Norse or Danish sagas and archaeological discoveries Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Summaries 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksLife editCharles Watts Whistler was the oldest son of the Rev Rose Fuller Whistler Vicar of Ashburnham in Sussex a Vice President of the Sussex Archaeological Society and later Rector of Elton Huntingdonshire to which cure Charles Watts Whistler would succeed The family descended from the Sussex branch of the Thames Valley family of Whistler as did Rex Whistler and his brother the glass engraver Sir Laurence Whistler 1 Whistler was educated at Merchant Taylors School London and Emmanuel College Cambridge before studying medicine at St Thomas s Hospital London and becoming a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries After practising as a surgeon like his maternal grandfather James Watts MRCS of Battle Sussex he was ordained deacon in 1884 and priest in 1885 He then served successively as curate of Woolton Liverpool 1884 1885 Chaplain of the Fishermen s Chapel Hastings 1885 1888 Vicar of All Saints Church Theddlethorpe Lincolnshire 1888 1894 Rector of Elton Huntingdonshire 1894 1895 Vicar of Stockland Bristol Somerset 1895 1909 and finally Rector of Cheselbourne Dorset 1909 1913 Whistler was married on 3 March 1886 to Georgiana Rosalie Shapter Strange daughter of William James Stevenson Strange a master wool dyer by then retired His brother Alfred James Whistler married Georgiana s sister Mary Maud Strange The two women s brother W R P Strange had been Vicar of Stockland before Whistler Whistler s interest in the history of England before the Norman Conquest appears in his prolific work as a historical novelist His works were popular in their day but the archaism of language he adopted makes them less accessible to modern readers Works editA Thane of Wessex 1896 Wulfric the Weapon Thane 1897 King Olaf s Kinsman 1898 a story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut set c 1000 CE King Alfred s Viking 1899 a story of the First English Fleet Havelok the Dane 1900 a legend of Old Grimsby and Lincoln set c 580 CE For King or Empress 1903 A Prince of Cornwall 1904 a story of Glastonbury and the West in the Days of Ina of Wessex set 690 710 CE A King s Comrade 1905 a story of Old Hereford set c 790 CE Gerald the Sheriff 1906 A Sea Queen Sailing 1906 set c 935 CE A Prince Errant 1908 Early Wars of Wessex 1913 Dragon Osmund 1914 A Son of Odin 1914 Summaries editHavelok plays around 580 600 CE in Denmark and England one or two generations after mythical King Arthur and his people s struggle with the Saxons and shows early relations between the Danes and Saxons now well established in England with their own kingdoms and the already Christianized Welsh in England It also introduces dislike between the Danes Jutes cousins of the Saxons and the Norse It is based one of the most popular pre Elizabethan sagas of the British Isles which shares traits with the classic Nordic sagas Prince of Cornwall takes place about a hundred years or four generations later c 690 710 CE and deals much with the relations between Welsh and Saxons and some resident Danes in the country King s Comrade is again three generations later c 790 CE It is mainly focused on inter Saxon conflict King Ethelbert King Offa and problems with the Welsh who still would like to get their lost estates back Introduces Norse campaigns on the Frankish coast founding the Norse state of Normandy Wulfric the Weapon Thane shows how the Danes invade the English realm and found kingdoms turning from fun loving plunderers to competitive conquerors Thane of Wessex takes place shortly before King Alfred s rule The hero is robbed of land and title through bitter intrigues and banned from the realm But as he tries to leave the kingdom he is followed by pursuers who are after his life Soon Whistler has one or two tasty conflicts of interest and we have a man in a mess how to do the right thing if you have no rights or honour in the eyes of your former peers King Alfred s Viking tells more of the battles between the English united at last and the Danes It tells of the first navy of England built by Alfred with help from Norse friends c 935 CE A Sea Queen s Sailing 1906 c 1000 CE King Olaf s Kinsman 1896 A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and CnutReferences edit Whistler Laurence 1987 The Laughter and the Urn The Life of Rex Whistler Weidenfeld amp Nicolson ISBN 0297790218 Sources editAlumni Cantabrigenses Venn Part II vol 6 p 428 1954 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Charles Whistler Works by Charles Whistler at Project Gutenberg Works by Charles Whistler at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Works by or about Charles Whistler at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Whistler amp oldid 1176665934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
