Comedians, punks and sportspeople now among 'notables' in the online reference work, once the preserve of the great and goodThe Dictionary of National Biography has charted the lives of the British establishment for 130 years. But while entry into its prestigious pages after death used to depend on financial standing and pedigree, the latest online version is responding to a growing taste for mavericks and risk-takers.Fashion designer Alexander McQueen, irreverent novelist Beryl Bainbridge, comedian and clown Norman Wisdom, turkey farmer Bernard Matthews and hard-living snooker player Alex "Hurricane" Higgins are all to be announced this week as new entrants, selected by experts for inclusion in the 2014 edition.None of these people would have counted themselves among the great and good of the land. "We are looking for 'notability', and what that word means has changed," said the dictionary's editor, Dr Lawrence Goldman, explaining that an impact on national culture is now an important factor. "There are people in there who were rebels, and certainly there is something about death that adds a silver lustre to many well-known figures. We include someone like Malcolm McLaren now. He was a punk and a maverick, but also an influential businessman – almost an exemplar of his age."In the past the dictionary was almost exclusively male and white and gave little space to entertainers, sports stars or even businessmen. "It was very much a Victorian dictionary, interested in the... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
After criticism of the ‘casual racism’ of a story about a Chinese boy, the publisher has taken it out of the next print run of the bestselling anthology David Walliams’ story about a Chinese boy called Brian Wong, which was criticised by campaigners for its “casual racism”, is set to be removed... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-10-04 12:03:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Like any serious entrepreneurial endeavor in the media business, Business of Home was born in 2009 out of the recognition of an underserved audience. Its founder and president, Julia Noran Johnston, who at the time had been working at Hearst Magazines, on the business side of Veranda, for five... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2020-03-19 18:28:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The authors of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (Particular Books) have said they are considering removing Aung San Suu Kyi from future editions of the book following criticism of her inclusion from parents. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The authors of the bestselling, crowd-funded children's book “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls” are facing calls to remove Aung San Suu Kyi from future editions. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and Myanmar’s head of government has come under fire for her silence and inaction regarding the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Comedians, punks and sportspeople now among 'notables' in the online reference work, once the preserve of the great and goodThe Dictionary of National Biography has charted the lives of the British establishment for 130 years. But while entry into its prestigious pages after death used to depend... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this