Talk:Edward Frederic Benson

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[edit] Spelling

Which is correct, Frederic or Frederick? Flapdragon 00:54, 16 August 2005 (UTC) It's spelt without the 'k'.

[edit] Mother

An anon added, a few edits ago, the following about Benson's mother: "who was discribed by Gladstone as the 'cleverest woman in Europe' and later left her family to settle in Lesbos in the company of Lucy Tait, daughter of the previous Archbishop of Canterbury." I can find no documentation of any of these statements; does anyone know whether they were true? If we can't document them I suggest that they should be dropped until verified. seglea 18:10, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

OK, partial evidence from the net suggests that this is probably reliable. See, for example, reviews of Graham Robb's Strangers: Homosexual Love in the Nineteenth Century - which also might contain information about E. F. Benson's own sexuality (he is referred to in various places as homosexual). If anyone has access to this book or other reliable sources it might be useful to add something on this theme. seglea 18:23, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

Although it's certainly true that Benson's mother did set up house with Lucy Tait, I'm afraid there is no conclusive evidence to prove that their relationship was a lesbien one - the above quote is one of hearsay; it might be true, but there is no proof. This is a topic that has been discussed greatly amongst Benson scholars, including the various books about the family (most notably biographies about AC and EF), and the overwhelming view is that it's just as likely that the relationship was completely platonic. The most accurate statement would be that Tait and Benson lived together, but the exact nature of this relationship is unknown.

Similarly, the sexuality of the Benson children has been widely debated with no definite conculsion. I do have several biographies about the Benson family, so I may add to this article, but to be honest it's a bit of a mess e.g. it's hardly surprising that his brother Robert married as he was a monsignor in the Catholic Church! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.241.174.15 (talk) 20:29, August 30, 2007 (UTC)

RADIO ADAPTIONS hasn't there been a further short series on Radio 4, possibly as part of Woman'sHour, post Ned Sherrin (and not as good) ? Daiyounger (talk) 22:37, 2 May 2008 (UTC)