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Edward Bulwer-Lytton

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Author

The Resume

    (May 25, 1803-January 18, 1873)
    Born in Heydon Hall, Norfolk, United Kingdom
    Baronet of Knebworth (1838-73)
    Baron Lytton (1866-73)
    Member of Parliament (1831-41,1852-66)
    Secretary of State for the Colonies (1858-59)
    Wrote the novels 'Pelham' (1828), 'Godolphin' (1833), 'The Last Days of Pompei' (1834), 'Rienzi' (1835), 'Harold: Last of the Saxon Kings' (1848) and 'Vril: The Power of the Coming Race' (1870)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was considered a neurotic and precocious child.
    He bought a commission in the army, but sold it without serving.
    Although popular in his day, he is now remembered mainly for coining the clichéd opening line, 'It was a dark and stormy night.'
    He responded to his estranged wife heckling him on the campaign trail by having her committed.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His father died when he was four.
    He was good friends with Charles Dickens, who named his youngest son after him.
    He coined the phrases 'the great unwashed,' 'the pursuit of the almighty dollar' and 'the pen is mightier than the sword.'
    He inspired San Jose State University to launch the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest for the worst possible opening sentence for a novel.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 30 Votes: 56.67% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 19 Votes: 63.16% Annoying