: About Me

My interest in literature started early when my parents refused to give in to requests to read another story and I had to learn to read them myself. When I ran out of available stories, I wrote my own.

My immediate family stimulated an interest in books in novel ways. My uncle would read a story from back to front making us howl with laughter. My grandparents bought books regularly for us. I still remember my disappointment when I didn't get another Noddy book as they thought I was too old for them. Luckily they chose wisely and I was soon entranced by E Nesbit stories (The Phoenix and the Carpet and Five Children and It) and fell in love with the riverbank in Wind in the Willows. I found I could travel in space and time through reading and the local library was a favourite haunt.

I gained a 2:1 Honours degree in English literature - this only taught me how much I didn't know and opened up new pathways to follow. So many books to read, so little time.

I love history and I very rarely live in this century. When not working I transcribe sections of the 1861 census for inclusion in the Freecen website to help people trace their ancestry free of charge. I also started up a newsletter about a fictional seaside village where I escape to from time to time.

I'm a reclusive person and don't use my real name when writing, Elsie comes from what used to be my initials and Parker? That's a pen name. Strangely, the picture is a good likeness.

My passion is ...

My family, nothing else really matters.

I know too much about ...

Life's little setbacks.

My parents always told me ...

Never buy stripey wallpaper, it's difficult to hang.

My childhood ambition ...

Too many dreams, changed weekly.

My favorite memory ...

The birth of all of my children - tiny, perfect new people.

Why I write ...

There's nobody to stop me!

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, Listening to Neil Diamond as always

My first job ...

Too boring to remember.

My best moment ...

That hour one summer when everyone was happy and there were no problems at all.

My inspiration ...

Inspired by perfection - something to aim for, probably never achieved, but keeps me going on.

Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama The history of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

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"Totus mundus agit histrionem" or "The whole world is a playhouse" was the motto of the Globe Theatre built at Southwark in 1599. This was a reflection of Elizabethan society where everyone of importance was conscious of playing a part in a great drama and especially the one being played out at court. Players and playwrights were assuming a new, professional role in society and needed suitable venues. They were no longer the amateurs or strolling players denigrated as vagabonds and carriers of plague who needed the patronage of a Lord for protection. The Queen herself was a lover of drama ...

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Writing:

Rating:

• Marketplace Approved Writer
• Creative Writing Bronze
• Helium Charter Member