I’d Like To Know
Q When I was watching a television cookery show, the presenter mentioned a finger lime – can you tell me what this is?
Mrs Z.E., Sudbury.
A This is a citrus fruit native to Australia, the name a nod to the elongated shape which is packed full of pearl-like bubbles bursting with sharp-tasting citrus juice. As the beads resemble caviar, this also explains the fruit’s other name, caviar limes, though they also come in a variety of colours, including crimson!
Finger limes are used in both savoury and sweet dishes.
Q Is it true that Mary Shelley was inspired to write “Frankenstein” following the telling of ghost stories among friends?
Mrs L.M., Nuneaton.
A Yes. Abnormalities in the weather made for a dismal summer in 1816 for Mary and her group of friends, who were holidaying in Switzerland.
In fact, it became known as “the year without a summer”. It was caused by a volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora, in Indonesia, which impacted global temperatures, causing them to drop.
So, to while away their time stuck indoors, the group – among them Percy Bysshe Shelley (Mary’s future husband), Dr John Polidori and Lord Byron – decided to have a writing competition, and “Frankenstein” was born.
Who knows, perhaps the weather helped set the scene for Mary’s chilly gothic story, which is often credited as being the first work of science fiction.
Dr John Polidori also wrote “The Vampyre”, which helped inspire Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”.
The literary greats made the most of their dismal summer!
Q I read recently that Scarborough Fair is to be re-established. When did the first Scarborough Fair, as sung about, begin?
Mr D.H., Ipswich.
A While one of the earliest versions of the folk song can be traced back to the 17th century, the origins of Scarborough Fair go back to the 13th century, when it was granted a Royal Charter by King Henry III in 1253.
The fair ran for 45 days and became known far and wide, with visitors from as far afield as the Ottoman Empire. As for the song, Simon and Garfunkel revived it with their 1966 cover version.