WHERE WAS I?
“What’s the word for this place?” I muse. “Handsome? Thoughtful? Evocative?”
“How about ‘boring’?” my friend asks.
I ignore him. Three times over, this city has inspired me — which is fitting given the soaring architecture of its cathedral. It was the birthplace of a writer (mother: Sarah) who did as much as anyone to shape our language in the 18th century. It was home to a natural philosopher (father: Robert) whose work influenced his far more famous grandson. And its evolution since those heady days has been unusually gentle — so that many of its Georgian buildings survive. They include the natural philosopher’s house and herb garden, now a museum, 100 yards from the ornate west front of the cathedral.
At this point Friend is the very definition of obstinate, and sulks outside while I inspect the house and garden. His only interest is in a school, founded 530 years ago. It was the writer’s alma mater; but Friend is on the trail of a more recent pupil.
Her name sounds familiar. Then I twig. “She was in that American sitcom!” I yelp.
“What was her character’s name again?”
“Well, it certainly wasn’t Rachel,” Friend notes, dryly.
We laugh. “So are we friends again?” Friend asks.
“If by that you mean two people ‘without hostile intentions’, then yes,” I tell him. But from the look in his eyes it’s clear that his definition is closer to ‘joined in mutual benevolence’. Both meanings were correct, according to the writer.
“Buy me a coffee and I’ll consider it,” I add.
Sean Newsom
THE QUESTIONS
1 What is the name of the city?
2 What was the surname of the natural philosopher?