Trivial Trivia - taking trivia to new levels

[Rogerm]

There ought to be a Lincoln biography or two published in Haitian Creole. In 1804, Haiti became the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere, comprised mostly of former slaves, to win its independence.

[Gene C]

It's not a Chinese biography, but in 1931 Tarbell corresponded with Yaichi Akiyama about his Japanese biography of Lincoln, so if it's possible, I'd like to exchange my prize for that.

Best
Rob

Wow, I wish I had known. I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and I could have picked you up a copy. They're probably all sold out now

[Rob Wick]

Figures, Gene. I could have used a chimichanga too.

Best
Rob

[Eva Elisabeth]

It's not a Chinese biography, but in 1931 Tarbell corresponded with Yaichi Akiyama about his Japanese biography of Lincoln, so if it's possible, I'd like to exchange my prize for that.

Best
Rob

No problem, Rob, as you like it! It's Xmas! Or you join Gene for a chimichanga at the Chimichanga in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. (Frost would probably say: "And I have miles to go before I eat...")

[Eva Elisabeth]

Consider "taking trivia to the top" as an understatement regarding the following question, I hope you'll forgive me...But feel free to cheat.

Today, Jan. 9, would have been the 160th birthday of this Lady:
   
She grew up in Brooklyn, and watched Lincoln's funeral procession passing her house.
Who is she?

[L Verge]

Jenny Jerome, Winston Churchill's mother? And yes, I cheated.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Well cheated, Laurie!

The Jeromes lived at 8 Amity Street (since renumbered as 197), Cobble Hill.
She was a talented amateur pianist, and was tutored by a friend of Chopin, Stephen Heller. At the age of 20, she married Lord Randolph Churchill, the third son of John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, at the British Embassy in Paris. They became engaged within three days of their initial meeting!

Laurie, you win the last volume of Winston Churchill's "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples". A full one-third of this volume ("The Great Democracies") was devoted to the American Civil War.

[L Verge]

Does that book discuss the cotton deals? I want to know more about the cotton deals.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Jenny Jerome Churchill gave birth to Winston in a public bathroom while attending a public function??? My apologies to the Churchills if I imagined that...

[RJNorton]

Laurie, Snopes researched this here. Looks like it was more of a cloakroom rather than bathroom.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Laurie, I'm afraid the book doesn't deal with the cotton deals, you will instead learn about:
Slavery and Secession; Union in Danger; Campaign Against Richmond; Lee and McClellan; Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; Victory of the Union.

But it has pretty good reviews on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/History-English-Sp...ewpoints=1

[L Verge]

Surratt House has a program on February 8 entitled "Fighting Old Nep." Who can tell me what that phrase from our earlier days referred to?

[Rogerm]

Does it have to do with fighting nepotism?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Since I live at the sea, this sounds to me as if Nep stands for Neptune. Does it have to do with seafaring? Or some kind of sea monster (like Moby Dick)? [I've never known this word also has a vulgar meaning!]

[L Verge]

So far, everyone's first guess at Surratt House has been a reference to nepotism, but it has nothing to do with politics. Eva's guess that it might refer to Neptune is correct, but it has nothing to do with the sea.

[Anita]

Does it refer to Douglass describing fighting his mother's dog old Nep, for his share of crumbs that fell from the table?