sábado, 27 de septiembre de 2014

The Savoy

In The Secret Adversary Agatha Christie pointed at some of the most luxurious hotels in London. The story of the development of this hotel is as interesting as the novel itself.

The Savoy Hotel is a luxury hotel located on the Strand in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, it opened on 6 August 1889. The Savoy was the first luxury hotel in Britain, introducing electric lights throughout the building, electric lifts, bathrooms in most of the lavishly furnished rooms, constant hot and cold running water, and many other innovations. Carte hired manager César Ritz and French chef Auguste Escoffier, who established an unprecedented standard of quality in hotel service, entertainment and elegant dining, attracting royalty and other wealthy guests and diners. Winston Churchill frequently took his cabinet to lunch at the hotel.
The hotel became Carte's most successful venture. Its bands, Savoy Orpheans and the Savoy Havana Band, became famous, and other entertainers included George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne and Noël Coward. Famous guests have included Edward VII, Enrico Caruso, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Truman, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Babe Ruth, Laurence Olivier, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, The Beatles and numerous others.

miércoles, 24 de septiembre de 2014

Recipes from Secret Adversary

Agatha Christie mentioned Hors d'oeuvre, Lobster a l'americane, Chicken Newberg, and Peche Melba in her book, The Secret Adversary. With this information I began to like Agatha even better. Yes, I have to admit. I like eating and tasting good recipes from time to time, and when I heard about these dishes I stopped to listen.
Some of these meals are, more or less, known or, at least, we can infer what they mean (Lobster a l´americane may have to do with lobsters prepared in some nice way, or Chicken Newberg which may refer to some sort of chicken preparation). Hors d´oeuvre is something different since it has a French origin and it doesn´t give any clue to the Spanish speaking learner. Now what about Peche Melba? Does it have to do with an ice cream like Copa Melba in Spanish?
Let us see. We went to the internet and consulted different pages. These are the results.
Hors d´oeuvre are food items served before the main courses of a meal, typically smaller than main dishes, and often meant to be eaten by hand.
If there is an extended period between when guests arrive and when the meal is eaten (for example during a cocktail hour), these might also serve the purpose of sustaining guests during the wait, in the same way that apéritifs are served as a drink before meals. Hors d´oeuvre are sometimes served with no meal afterward. This is the case with many reception and cocktail party events.

domingo, 21 de septiembre de 2014

The Proposal

It wanted some five minutes to eleven when Tuppence reached the block of buildings in which the offices of the Esthonia Glassware Co. were situated. To arrive before the time would look over-eager. So Tuppence decided to walk to the end of the street and back again. She did so. On the stroke of eleven she plunged into the recesses of the building. The Esthonia Glassware Co. was on the top floor. There was a lift, but Tuppence chose to walk up.
Slightly out of breath, she came to a halt outside the ground glass door with the legend painted across it "Esthonia Glassware Co."
Tuppence knocked. In response to a voice from within, she turned the handle and walked into a small rather dirty outer office.
A middle-aged clerk got down from a high stool at a desk near the window and came towards her inquiringly.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Whittington," said Tuppence.
"Will you come this way, please." He crossed to a partition door with "Private" on it, knocked, then opened the door and stood aside to let her pass in.
Mr. Whittington was seated behind a large desk covered with papers. Tuppence felt her previous judgment confirmed. There was something wrong about Mr. Whittington. The combination of his lustrous prosperity and his suspicious eye was not attractive.

miércoles, 17 de septiembre de 2014

Meeting Mr Whittington

TUPPENCE turned sharply, but the words suspended on the tip of her tongue remained unspoken, for the man's appearance and manner did not bear out her first and most natural assumption. She hesitated. As if he read her thoughts, the man said quickly:
"I can assure you I mean no disrespect."
Tuppence believed him. Although she disliked and distrusted him instinctively, she was inclined to acquit him of the particular motive which she had at first attributed to him. She looked him up and down. He was a big man, clean shaven, with a heavy jaw. His eyes were small and astute, and shifted their glance under her direct gaze.
"Well, what is it?" she asked.
The man smiled.
"I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young gentleman in Lyons'."
"Well—what of it?"
"Nothing—except that I think I may be of some use to you."

lunes, 15 de septiembre de 2014

Joint Venture

… "That's the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people might hire us to commit crimes for them."
… Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a business partnership?"
… a joint venture! It struck me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middle of antiquated old figures. It's got an Elizabethan flavour about it—makes one think of galleons and doubloons. A joint venture!"
"Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that your idea, Tuppence?"
"It's all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something in it."
"How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be employers?"
"Advertisement," replied Tuppence promptly. "Have you got a bit of paper and a pencil? Men usually seem to have. Just like we have hairpins and powder-puffs."
Tommy handed over a rather old green notebook, and Tuppence began writing busily.
"Shall we begin: 'Young officer, twice wounded in the war—'"

sábado, 13 de septiembre de 2014

Tuppence and Tommy

They report their experience during the war…
I next entered a Government office. We had several very enjoyable tea parties. I had intended to become a land girl, a postwoman, and a bus conductress by way of rounding off my career—but the Armistice intervened! I clung to the office for many long months, but, alas, I was combed out at last. Since then I've been looking for a job. Now then—your turn."
"There's not so much promotion in mine," said Tommy regretfully, "and a great deal less variety. I went out to France again, as you know. Then they sent me to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded for the second time, and went into hospital out there. Then I got stuck in Egypt till the Armistice happened, kicked my heels there some time longer, and, as I told you, finally got demobbed. And, for ten long, exhausted months I've been job hunting! There aren't any jobs! And, if there were, they wouldn't give 'em to me. What good am I? What do I know about business? Nothing."
Tuppence nodded gloomily.
"What about the colonies?" she suggested.
Tommy shook his head.
"I shouldn't like the colonies—and I'm perfectly certain they wouldn't like me!"
"Rich relations?"
Again Tommy shook his head.

jueves, 11 de septiembre de 2014

THE SECRET ADVERSARY

IT was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their turn.
One girl stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave, persistent eyes looked straight ahead.
"I beg your pardon."
A man's voice beside her made her start and turn. She had noticed the speaker more than once amongst the first-class passengers.
She noticed now that he was greatly agitated.
"Yes?" Her grave eyes met his inquiringly.
"I'm carrying papers—vitally important papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in the war. You understand? These papers have GOT to be saved! They've more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?"
The girl held out her hand.