Pierce Egan

Pierce Egan

Pierce Egan (1772-1849), early journalist, sportswriter, and writer on popular culture. He wrote first about boxing in his serial publication, "Boxiana, or Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism" (1813-1828), in which he originated the description of boxing as "the sweet science".

In 1820, he began publication of a monthly journal, "Life in London". His articles for that paper were collected in his best-known work, "Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom" the following year. These tales of the rough street life of the rich young Regency bucks were among the first instances of journalism covering common life and not simply royal courts and politics. This book is also the source of the expression Tom and Jerry, meaning fighting, drinking, and causing trouble.

Pierce Egan was one of the narrators of George MacDonald Fraser's book "Black Ajax", about Tom Molineaux and his quest for the heavyweight championship of England. One chapter of the book also featured schoolboy versions of Egan's characters from "Life in London".

Publications

Journals:
* Boxiana
* "Life in London"Books:
* "Life in London" (1821)
* "Sporting Anecdotes" (1823)
* "Pierce Egan's Book of Sports And Mirror of Life: Embracing the turf, the chase, the ring, and the stage" (1836)Adaptations:
* "Life in London" was adapted for the stage as Tom and Jerry, or Life in London (1821) and for radio [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/lifeinlondon/ BBC] (2006).

Pierce Egan the Younger

His son, also Pierce Egan (1814-80) and usually referred to as 'the younger', began his professional career as an illustrator of his father's books and himself wrote around fifty romances. He was also the sports editor of "Bell's" newspapers for some years.

The current descendants of Pierce Egan are the Cousins family, Essex.

References

*John Sutherland (1989) "The Longman Companion to Victorian Literature", Longman/Stanford University Press (US) as "The Stanford Companion to Victorian Literature"


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  • Egan — is a popular family name that comes from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Aodhagáin. It is derived from the root aedh meaning little fire and the diminutive an hence the little bright eyed one . Variations include: Egan, Eagan, Keegan, MacEgan, Kegan… …   Wikipedia

  • Egan — Egan, Pierce, engl. Novellist, geb. 1814 in London, gest. daselbst 6. Juli 1880, Sohn des durch seine »Boxiana, or sketches of ancient and modern pugilism« (1824, 4 Bde.) bekannten ältern Pierce E. (1772–1849), besuchte seit 1834 die… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Egan — (spr. ihgĕn), Pierce, engl. Novellist, geb. 1814 in London, gest. 6. Juli 1880 das., in seinen ersten Romanen (»Robin Hood«, 1840; »Wat Tyler«, 1841; »Paul Jones«, 1842) der Richtung Walter Scotts folgend, später (»Imogen«, »The poor girl«, »Fair …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Egan, Pierce, The Elder — ▪ British writer born 1772, London, Eng. died Aug. 3, 1849, London  sporting writer whose works were considered indispensable reading for English men about town in the early 19th century.       Egan made his reputation as a boxing reporter. His… …   Universalium

  • Maurice Francis Egan — Egan in 1923 Born 1852 Died January 15, 1924(1924 01 15) (aged 72) Education …   Wikipedia

  • Egan, Pierce — (1772 1849)    Humorist, b. in London, he satirised the Prince Regent in The Lives of Florizel and Perdita (1814), but is best remembered by Life in London: or the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn and his elegant friend, Corinthian Tom, a… …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Иган — (Pierce Egan, 1772 1849) в свое время самый популярный бытописатель из жизни английских спортсменов. Известность его главным образом основана на его очерках Life in London , вышедших в 20 х годах XIX века с иллюстрациями Крюкшанка и послуживших… …   Энциклопедический словарь Ф.А. Брокгауза и И.А. Ефрона

  • Иган Пьер — (Pierce Egan, 1772 1849) в свое время самый популярный бытописатель из жизни английских спортсменов. Известность его главным образом основана на его очерках Life in London , вышедших в 20 х годах XIX века с иллюстрациями Крюкшанка и послуживших… …   Энциклопедический словарь Ф.А. Брокгауза и И.А. Ефрона

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