Introduction
François Guizot (1787-1874) was the 17th Prime Minister of France, and a historian with a particular affection for England. ‘If he was treated with harshness by his political enemies,’ wrote Samuel Smiles, ‘his consolation was in the tender affection which filled his home with sunshine.’
THE circumstances connected with M Guizot's courtship and marriage are curious and interesting.*
While a young man living by his pen in Paris, writing books, reviews, and translations, he formed a casual acquaintance with Mademoiselle Pauline de Meulan, a lady of great ability, then editor of the Publiciste.
A severe domestic calamity having befallen her, she fell ill, and was unable for a time to carry on the heavy literary work connected with her journal. At this juncture a letter without any signature reached her one day, offering a supply of articles, which the writer hoped would be worthy of the reputation of the Publiciste. The articles duly arrived, were accepted, and published. They dealt with a great variety of subjects — art, literature, theatricals, and general criticism.
When the editor at length recovered from her illness, the writer of the articles disclosed himself: it was M Guizot. An intimacy sprang up between them, which ripened into mutual affection, and before long Mademoiselle de Meulan became his wife.*
M Guizot’s literary standing in Victorian England was very high. In the comic opera ‘Patience’, W. S Gilbert included his ‘narrative powers’ in a recipe for a Dragoon in the British Army, along with Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, Daniel Defoe and Anthony Trollope. Find in our Music Library.
Society found the alliance intriguing. The two differed greatly in character: Pauline was as lively, outgoing and unsure of her beliefs as François was retiring, bookish, and crusading. Pauline was his elder by 14 years.
Précis
After Pauline de Meulan fell ill, she feared the Parisian magazine she edited, ‘Publiciste’, might fold. However, an anonymous contributor began submitting articles on a wide range of subjects, enough to keep the magazine afloat until Pauline recovered. Her benefactor now revealed himself as François Guizot, a casual acquaintance; but the relationship blossomed, and before long they were married. (59 / 60 words)
After Pauline de Meulan fell ill, she feared the Parisian magazine she edited, ‘Publiciste’, might fold. However, an anonymous contributor began submitting articles on a wide range of subjects, enough to keep the magazine afloat until Pauline recovered. Her benefactor now revealed himself as François Guizot, a casual acquaintance; but the relationship blossomed, and before long they were married.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, despite, if, just, must, ought, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Book. Reach. Supply.
2 Editor. Live. Ripen.
3 Fell. Heavy. Worthy.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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