The Great Panjandrum Himself facts for kids
The Great Panjandrum Himself is a famous picture book. It was one of 16 books made by the artist Randolph Caldecott. The book came out in 1885, published by Frederick Warne & Co.. This was the very last book Caldecott illustrated, as he passed away the next year.
Contents
What is The Great Panjandrum Himself About?
The words for this book were written way back in 1775 by Samuel Foote. This story was well-known during Caldecott's time.
How Did the Story Start?
The text is based on a funny, nonsensical line Foote wrote: "And there were present the Picninnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyulies and the Grand Panjandrum himself, with the little round button at the top."
Foote wrote this strange line to test the memory of an actor named Charles Macklin. Macklin had said he could remember and repeat any text perfectly after hearing it just once. Foote's silly line was a challenge to see if Macklin could really do it!
What Does "Panjandrum" Mean Today?
The word "panjandrum" has become a real word in English. Today, it is used to describe a very powerful person. It can also mean an official who thinks they are very important.
Where Else Is the Word Used?
The word "Panjandrum" appears in the 1909 song "I've Got Rings On My Fingers". The song says, "...they named him Chief Pan Jan Drum, Nabob of them all..."
During World War II, the British military even named an experimental rocket-powered weapon "the Panjandrum". This shows how the word became linked to something powerful or important.
A character called the "Great Panjandrum" also shows up in the "Thursday Next series" of books. In these stories, the Panjandrum is a special character who creates a fictional 'BookWorld'.
