Classics Calendar for December 6

Bishop and Mrs. Proudie (Clive Swift and Geraldine McEwan)
in a 1982 BBC adaptation of Trollope's Barchester Chronicles

Here are today's milestones:



Born on this day:

Baldassare Castiglione (1478; died February 2, 1529) Italian courtier and author; Il Cortegiano (The Courtier)



Died on this day:

Prince Toneri (735; born January 28, 676) Japanese author (with O no Yasumaro) of Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan), starting with the creation myths and blending into history up to the 8th century



Anthony Trollope (1882; born April 24, 1815) English novelist; the six novels of the Chronicles of Barsetshire; many more



Bonus Classic:

Beowulf (8th century) Old English saga in which a Swedish hero comes to the aid of the Danes in slaying the monster Grendel and his mother; later, as an aged king, he slays a dragon, which in dying slays him in turn; probably the oldest long poem in English





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