In Name Only

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've become fixated with names. Names of people, products, places, and companies. Anything that gets a name. This post is a collection of riffs mostly about names of people I like from the books I've read so far this year. 

From the second book in Sir Osbert Sitwell's memoir, Great Morning

• Miss Primrose
• Miss Figglestone
• Sir Titus Tittlebyte
• Lady Viola Tree and her daughters, Iris and Felicity and husband Sir Herbert. They could be depended upon to supply an entertainment of the most delicious personal fantasy based on the flimsiest and most delicate foundation of sense. Lady Tree when offered two kinds of fish at dinner, 'Ye cannot serve both Cod and Salmon.'

Another icthyophoagous bon-mot when offered Haddock responded, 'Cry Haddock and let slip my dogs of war!'

On her death bed, she referred to her lawyer coming to her bedside to teach her death duties. 

More names from another book, Kearny's March

• Aquilla Glover, helped rescue the Donner Party
• Androsh Riedlemeyer
• Karl Klopenhoof

From Memoir: A History, Ben Yagoda

The extremely minor writer Augustus Hare produced a staggering six volumes of memoir between 1896 and 1900, consisting in the words of critic A.O.J. Cockshutt, 'immense prolixity and innumerable boring anecdotes

Were the Trails Run Out by Blashford Snell. Snell founded the Scientific Exploration Society. and Amongst his expeditions were the first descent of the Blue Nile, during which he invented white-water rafting 'by accident' (in 1968); crossing of the Darién Gap (1971 to 1972) and overseeing the first north–south vehicular journey from Alaska to Cape Horn; and a complete navigation of the Congo River (in 1974 to 1975).

Bonus Riffs

Part 14 in My Never-ending Series of Fictional Band Names

• Incineration, Heavy Metal Band 
• Rat Abatement, post-punk band debuting in the Seattle club scene with their song Memory Yoda
• Awl da Tymme, retro English folk trio with hit song, Amorous Lather

Company Names

At the end of April, I was in Columbus Ohio for a book festival. Walking thorugh downtown noticing company names on the buildings such as Hexia and Encoving. I have not a clue what they do. It could be some very important work. Thinking back to early 1900s when a company name told you what it did, National Cash Register, Ford Motor Company, American Crayon Company. 

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