English Eccentrics and Eccentricities

"English Eccentrics and Eccentricities" by John Timbs is a compilation of stories that looks closely at the odd lives of different unusual people from English history. Published in the late 19th century, the book explores their strange behavior and the interesting stories about them. It shows that these people, who acted differently from what society expected, were often smart, kind, and funny. The book starts by looking at the Beckfords, father and son, who were famous for being very rich and living in a fancy way. The stories give interesting details about their strange actions, like how the older Beckford quickly handled a disaster, and how the younger Beckford wanted to be a writer, showing how their unusual behavior was part of who they were to other people and themselves. The author suggests that being eccentric can be funny and human, even though some people might see it as a bad thing.