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themeatbridge t1_j8nrnh5 wrote

Reply to comment by UtahUtopia in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

>It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.

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Extension-Ad-2760 t1_j8oc3xe wrote

It might just be me, but I genuinely like that opener.

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TheRecognized t1_j8p0hec wrote

Cliches don’t usually become cliches because they suck the first time around

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TatteredCarcosa t1_j8pwoov wrote

I mean, it's just all over the place. It has a fucking parenthetical for no reason.

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koiven t1_j8q1trc wrote

Well it has a parenthetical because its an aside and that's what parentheticals are for. Really it just reads like a typical 19th century sentence.

Writing was more ponderous back then

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TatteredCarcosa t1_j8qfuf8 wrote

There's a reason this particular sentence has been remembered for its poor structure. I have read plenty of 19th century and earlier literature, being ponderous and long doesn't mean poorly structured or scattered.

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gg00dwind t1_j8pfzcs wrote

This sounds like a really creative opener for a script. I can see each description being its own shot during the intro.

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rdrckcrous t1_j8nsw2s wrote

That's a very short novel

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NeuHundred t1_j8p168z wrote

"Once upon a time there was a little sausage called Baldrick. And he lived happily ever after."

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