Random Factoids

Part Three

Novels

The first novel known to have been written is considered to be “The Tale of Genji”, written by an anonymous Japanese woman, using the pseudonym Murasaki Shikibu. She appears to be part of the royal court, and the novel came out around 1010 CE. It follows a prince through his loves, politics and death.

Although an argument can be made that epic poems were the first transcribed “novels”, “The Tale of Genji” appears to have been created specifically as a written piece. The English translation runs to slightly over 1,400 pages. I’ll be honest, it took a while for me to get through it.

The first English novel is disputed. Although “La Morte d’Arthur” (1470CE) is often cited, it is actually an English translation of a French text and is a retelling of an earlier work, and it can also be considered a collection of short stories.

The problem here is the definition of a novel. Length, originality, unity of structure, etc., have muddied the water somewhat. Currently, Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” is generally considered the first English novel.

Forks

Archaeological evidence for the earliest use of forks was found in China, with the forks dating back to around 2000BCE, perhaps earlier. That’s correct, the land known for chopsticks invented forks (and spoons). Forks were primarily used for meal preparation (it’s easier to cut a hunka hunka burning meat up if it’s held down with a fork), and that seems to have been their primary purpose until about the tenth century, when forks were seen being used to eat off plates by Byzantine elites.

Forks were introduced to Western Europe in 1004 when the sister of the Byzantine Emperor married the son of the Doge of Venice and brought a fork with her. She died in her 20’s and at least one theologian blamed her early death on the use of a fork rather than the fingers God had gifted her with. Clergy in the Middle Ages also associated the fork with the Devil’s Pitchfork, so that didn’t help fork acceptance very much.

Despite the spiritual risk, fork use spread through Italy over the next 300 years, Italians discovering it was much easier to eat pasta with a fork than with fingers. Catherine de Medici introduced fork use to France, so naturally the English found it pretentious and forks didn’t gain traction on the island until much later. In the category of irony, eventually, the English decided that how a person held their fork was a sign of their upbringing, or lack thereof.

Rabbit Hole

Here’s a link to a post I wrote about Catherine de’ Medici (and Gelato. Note: Gelato should always be spelt with a capital G. Why? Because it is one of the world’s most amazing things.).

End Rabbit Hole

Pompeii

Vesuvius may not have erupted on August 24, 79CE. This date was taken from two letters Pliny the Younger wrote 20 years after the eruption, but there is interesting evidence that the eruption took place in the fall, including coins minted in September 79CE, found in Pompeii, people wearing winter clothes, and crops normally harvested in the fall that were already in storage in the city.

Languages

The largest Spanish-speaking city in the world is Mexico City. In fact, none of the five largest Spanish-speaking cities are in Spain. Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Lima, Santiago. That list speaks a lot to the “success” of Spain’s colonization and missionary period.

The largest English-speaking city is New York, followed by Los Angeles, and then London.

The largest French-speaking city is Kinshasa, barely edging out Paris, but after Paris the next time a French city appears is Lyon at number 9.

The eight largest Portuguese-speaking cities are all in Brazil, led by São Paulo. Lisbon, shows up at spot 9.

Football (Soccer)

Finally, with the World Cup underway, the first official game of football (soccer) took place in 1863 between Barnes FC and Richmond FC, ending in a 0-0- draw. The first international FIFA game was in 1872, between Scotland and England. It ended in a 0-0 draw.

Maybe the nets aren’t large enough?

The first women’s soccer game was played in 1895 and it ended 7-1. So apparently size doesn’t matter.

Incidentally, if you think the Red Card Scandal of the 2026 World Cup is something new, oh my sweet innocent child, FIFA is far from innocent of muddying the “beautiful game” over the years.

We have a new puppy, so I suspect next week’s post will have to do with sleep deprivation and housebreaking.

Cheers.