40 - LOVE : ADVANTAGE LITERATURE

If you like tennis, you may be familiar with the quite peculiar terms used in tennis scoring system: “15”, “30”, “40”, and particularly “love” (0) and “deuce”.

What is the origin of these terms? What is the origin of tennis? Click here to learn more about this. Would you like to become a Wimbledon ball boy/ball girl? What do you know about the great classic champions? Here you will find all the information and much more. Next time Nadal wins at Wimbledon, the most famous lawn tennis temple will have no secrets for you!!




Now that you master tennis English, enjoy reading this poem by Roger McGough (Litherland (U.K.) 1937)

And for a memorable tennis-literature doubles final, watch the tennis balls scene of HENRY V, by William Shakespeare. The French ambassadors, representing the Dauphin (the son of the French king) sends tennis balls to Henry, laughing thus at the English king’s claim to his lands in France. The young English king will carry on his promise: “And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his /Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones” ( Henry V, Act I, Scene II ) and declares war to France…..

Julian, Dick, Anne.....

The first contact many children in my generation (and older and younger ones) had with England and the English people came mainly through Enid Blyton’s books. In the beginning, it was Famous Five and their adventures, then it was the Secret Seven’s turn, and as we grew older the girls at Malory Towers and Saint Clare's fascinated us with that strange school world of common rooms, uniforms, lacrosse and dining halls long before Hagwarts was conceived…. But if anything at all stirred our imagination, that was, no doubt, the name of a (non-alcoholic) drink: GINGER BEER !!!Times are a-changing, and so are the Famous Five, as you can read here. If you still feel curious about ginger beer, try your own one with this recipe!.

If you want to go on reading about Enid Blyton and her books, browse the Enid Blyton society website by clicking here. What Enid Blyton character are you? Try this quiz and let us know and if you feel like singing, here's your chance with the Famous Five opening theme....