Talk:Ivy Compton-Burnett

first name? cast your mind upon this, Heault Rheaux

"This reflects the world of Ivy's youth" -- should this be the first name? It can be argued that it should be because we're referring to her as a youth. On the other hand, we're writing about her as an adult. Ambiguous. Hayford Peirce 18:05, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Yes, she is Ivy in her youth; when she gets a degree in the next paragraph she becomes Compton-Burnett, which is a bit cumbersome to repeat too often. Then she starts writing novels and becomes "I." - in which, incidentally, 'Mr' and 'Mrs' are generally confined to the conversation of servants, etc.: family members are always referred to by their first names, surnames are for the lower orders! Ro Thorpe 18:46, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Of course, my good man! Hayford Peirce 19:30, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

Will that be all, sir? Ro Thorpe 20:22, 8 January 2011 (UTC)

A glass of the '21 Cockburn, Beech, and then I'm off to join her Ladyship after saying goodnight to the Empress -- you may finish polishing the silver. Hayford Peirce 20:30, 8 January 2011 (UTC)