Comments on: The 2008 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:39:14 +0000

The night was humid.

By: Pudifoot

Pudifoot — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:06:05 +0000

Otto: You would be correct if the entire quote was "It was a dark and stormy night". Perhaps you will more fully understand when you read the full first sentence:

It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents--except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.
-- Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830)

By: Otto

Otto — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:35:46 +0000

I never really understood why that poor guys gets bashed for "It was a dark and stormy night." I fully understood what he meant. Some nights are darker than others; take a night with a full moon compared to a night with a new moon for example. So combine a storm and a moonless night, and you get a "dark and stormy night". I admit he didn't convey his allusion perfectly but I got it. English majors take themselves far too seriously I guess.

By: mkultra

mkultra — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:29:46 +0000

I love that contest, even the losing entries are usually hilarious. Good stuff!

By: MichaelinLondon

MichaelinLondon — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:55:49 +0000

'The Last Days of Pompeii' turned me into an English major.