Last night I saw Back to the Future, which isn’t what I’m talking about today but they had a great slushie machine so it’s worth mentioning. No, what I’m talking about is the more impressive structurally and generally more historically significant thing I did which was visit Westminster Abbey. Perhaps the most stunning site we’ve seen from an architectural standpoint, Westminster Abbey is bursting with history including, but not limited to, a large number of buried literary and dramatic artists. To go through all of them would take thousands of words that I simply don’t have. Instead, I’ve selected the three that stood out to me the most personally.
First, the author CS Lewis was the very first author I took note of during our tour. With a small plaque off to the side, almost hidden next to a pillar, Lewis is remembered, and likely placed there, for his writing of the famous children’s books in the Narnia series. He is actually buried on site there with the quote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything.” Next, another Lewis commemorated there is Lewis Carrol, another writer of children’s books this time famous for his novel Alice in Wonderland and his contributions to poetry. While he isn’t buried on site, his plaque reads, “Is all our life, then, but a dream,” very fitting considering his most famous work. Finally, Buried there against his will is Charles Dickens. Known for Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and many others his plaque is one of the biggest. While very deserved one must find something immoral about his placement there considering he explicitly said he didn’t want to be buried there which the queen, at the time, disagreed with so much she went against his wishes.
Overall, Westminster Abbey was very intresting and architecturally breathtaking. I’m very happy I got the chance to see it before leaving.
Theatre in London U of A 