Billiards in Literature

Fascinating to know Charles Darwin played billiards - it helped to "drive the horrid species out of my head.":grin:
 
demonrho said:
Fascinating to know Charles Darwin played billiards - it helped to "drive the horrid species out of my head.":grin:
Click to expand...

I was rolling over when I saw that quote as well.

Im waiting for someone here on the boards to make it their new signature slogan lol.

Argonath
 
I recently read "The Branch and The Vine", a book on the War Between the States (otherwise known as the War of Northern Aggression and commonly mislabled as the American Civil War, which it of course was not) by Richard Ledbetter which I highly recommend. From page 58, the year is 1862, the speaker has enlisted from rural Arkansas and been stationed for training at Corinth, Mississippi, which was known as "the crossroads of the South" at the time because of the vital railroads intersecting there.

"Corinth was the first place I ever saw billiards, they having a regular pool hall there with eight tables. I saw far too many Arkansas toothpicks (Bowie knives) flash from their scabbards within the walls of that little establishment. It became pretty evident that if'n we didn't jine with the enemy pretty soon, we'd whittle each other down right considerable afore the Yanks had a chance to do it for us. We were like scorpions in a bottle, slowly devouring our own".
Click to expand...
Later, on an extended recruiting trip in Memphis.
"As the sun set in the west, out beyond the channel and Arkansas, the mood began to alter along the earthen bluffs sitting so snugly between the two sweeping bends of Old Man River. Thoughts were then less of work and duty and more a mind of sport and rest from toil. I further developed my hand at billiards during this period, squandering much of my remaining youth by spending many an hour at the tables of Barney's Billiard Room down on Fifth Street."
Click to expand...
 
Bob Jewett said:
For billiards in literature, you may want to get a copy of Byrne's "Great Pool Stories" which includes short stories from Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Alphonse Daudet, Saki, A. A. Milne, John O'Hara, Walter Tevis, and a science fiction story about a one-pocket hustle, among others.
Click to expand...

Thats a good call, and Ive read excerpts of his book.

The one thing I dont want to do when writing commentary is 'steal' other peoples work.

I came across in some research the small portion from Shakespeare, and came up with the idea of looking for other portions in classical literature that reference billiards.

While someone else at one time may have written the same points I did, I went straight to the sources (books) for the references, and did not look for other peoples work.

But its fascinating the more and more we see historical figures and their love or ties to billiards.

Today though, it reminds me so much of golf. Golf used to be an aristocratic game, where professionals were almost frowned upon. (harry Vardon wasnt even allowed to join a golf club)

Now, its all about the professionals in billiards, and the gentry dont seem to have the love of the game as in the past.

Argonath
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top