"Once on a dark winter's day, when the yellow fog hung so thick and heavy in the streets of London that the lamps were lighted and the shop windows blazed with gas as they do at night, an odd-looking little girl sat in a cab with her father and was driven rather slowly through the big thoroughfares."
(Published 1905)
I love the classics and plan to share some "opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read for inspiration.
Writing styles were different then, but were they really?
Sharon M. Himsl
Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011.
Published with Evernight Teen:
~~The Shells of Mersing
Such wonderful lines,
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
With fog and snow up on the hill this morning where I live, this opening line rang true!
DeleteOh these sound like such magical lines. Enchanting
ReplyDeleteI think enchanting is a good word. Hodgson sets up for a world we have never visited, and the "odd-looking girl" tugs at our hearts, pulling us in.
DeleteI grew up watching the anime of this on tv. It's kind of sweet reading the actual beginning :-)
ReplyDeleteLike you, I've only seen the film versions. The lovely beginning makes me want to read more.
DeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteAs writers, I think we can learn a lot from the opening lines of past authors, who were also successful. Thanks for commenting, Sandra.
DeleteOoh, great opening. I remember getting this book as a kid, but only read parts of it back then, I think. Will have to dig it up sometime to read properly!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather. I was never given this book. Sadly, my reading list as a girl was limited. I didn't start reading the classics until I was about twelve, when my mother ordered a wonderful collection.
DeleteHi human, Sharon,
ReplyDeleteInteresting opening line if you like opening lines that end up being a run-on sentence that makes you feel like you're short on breath or in my case and without using commas I start panting trying to read a run-on sentence! :)
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses,
Penny xx
Ha-ha. Now Penny, don't get too fussy. I sort of recall there was an animal or two in this story :) Bark a hello to Gary for me!
DeleteAh! One of my favorite books! And such a great first line. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenni. Glad you stopped by to visit
DeleteLovely Sharon thank you ... evocative irrespective of time and place ...
ReplyDeleteHi Susan. Time and place matter little, it seems, if the story is universal, which this story is in my opinion.
DeleteI loved and love that book. One of the great stories of all time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you love this story :) Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI've never read the book, but I have seen about 3 different film versions. I especially enjoyed the Shirley Temple version.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Wrote By Rote
Nice to hear from you. I've only seen the Shirley Temple version. I love it so much, I can't imagine a better version! (I own most everything Shirley Temple did :)
Delete