|
The Duchy of Grand Fenwick is a tiny fictional country created by Leonard Wibberley in a series of comedic novels beginning with ''The Mouse That Roared'' (1955), which was later made into a film. In the novels, Wibberley goes beyond the merely comic, placing the tiny nation (15 square miles/39 square kilometres) in absurd situations so as to comment satirically on contemporary politics and events. ==History and topography== The Duchy of Grand Fenwick is no more than five miles (8 km) long and three miles (5 km) wide and lies in a fold in the Northern Alps. It features three valleys, a river, and a mountain with an elevation of . On the northern slopes are of vineyards. The hillsides where the ground is less fertile support flocks of sheep that provide meat, dairy products and wool. Most of the inhabitants live in the City of Fenwick, which is clustered around Fenwick Castle, the seat of government. The city of Fenwick is also home to the only bar/inn/restaurant in the country, the Gray Goose Pub. About 2 miles (3 km) from the City of Fenwick is a Forest Preserve that features a 20-foot (6.1 m) waterfall and attracts many birds that the nation claims as its own native birds.〔Wibberley, Leonard (1955). ''The Mouse That Roared''〕 The Duchy takes its name from its founder, the English knight Sir Roger Fenwick who, while employed by France, settled there with his followers in 1370. Thanks to Sir Roger, the national language is English. Likewise Sir Roger is literally the "father of His Country", being a common ancestor of Duchess Gloriana XII, Prime Minister Count Mountjoy, and High Constable Tully Bascomb.〔(Mouse that Roared )〕 The Duchy, ruled by Duchess Gloriana XII, is described as bordering Switzerland and France in the Alps. That would place it in the general area of Geneva–Montreux–Chamonix. It retains a pre-industrial economy, based almost entirely on making wool and Pinot Grand Fenwick wine. However, in the fourth book of the Mouse series, there are two cars in Grand Fenwick, one belonging to the Duchess Gloriana, and the other belonging to the Count of Mountjoy. There is only one petrol station, which is also the bicycle shop. The Duchy has a postal service, although mail going outside the Duchy has to be sent to Monaco.〔(Mouse that Roared )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Grand Fenwick」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|