The Mystery of Percival Brine
Bookworm | 03.04.2002 14:25
Recently I became aware of just how scarce this book is; privately printed, I know of only 3 other copies, perhaps two more (including my own). It began to feel a bit like Winston Smith in 1984 , holding the last copy of a newspaper that Never Existed. Now, it feels more like the character from Sartres "Nausea", dourly researching the enigmatic M de Rollebon, with not much luck.
I am currently negotiating to get this work into an archive where it should be. However, to find an Englishman (and a priest) actually interested in things revolutionary AND French is so unusual, I want to find out more about Rev Percival Brine. If you you have anything published by him or know anything about him, please let me know !
Bookworm
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Reverend Percival James Brine
19.02.2004 11:07
Percival John Pusey was born at Hill Southhampton 23 Oct 1821, the second son (and 1 of 10 children)of Major James Brine, 7th Royal Fusiliers and Gramina Julia Petrina Clauson from Christiana, Norway (my great-great-great grandparents), babt. at Millbrook and received into the church at Walmer, Kent 17 June 1823. He was a Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge BA 1845, MA 1848. He died (unmarried) 7 May 1884, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery 10th May 1884.
Percival Forbes Brine, (mentioned by phillippa) was my great-grandfather and Percival John Brine's nephew.
Christopher
e-mail: c.bouverie-brine@virgin.net
thanks to all for your help
08.07.2004 13:21
besides being the first person to record the use of the ''red cross'' flag, brine may be the only chronicler of the siege from the perspective of the prestigious hotel meurice, where he stayed as the only guest of the time, the building serving as a hospital. a paper fire during the commune a few months later seems to have destroyed all other documents in this regard.
incidentally, another copy of the book was being offered for sale in the mayfair area for about £300 this year. they are around, but very scarce...
bookworm