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Qwertyuiop by Vivien Alcock

Vivien Alcock was a British children's book author born in 1924. She studied at the Oxford School of Arts and was married to fellow author Leon Garfield. Her first published book was The Haunting of Cassie Palmer. The document then provides a summary of Alcock's short story "QWERTYUIOP". It introduces the main character, Lucy Beck, a 17-year-old who gets a job as a secretary at Ross and Bannister's. On her first day, Lucy encounters the ghost of Miss Broome, who previously occupied her new desk. Lucy eventually finds a way to communicate with and rid herself of the spirit.

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133 views11 pages

Qwertyuiop by Vivien Alcock

Vivien Alcock was a British children's book author born in 1924. She studied at the Oxford School of Arts and was married to fellow author Leon Garfield. Her first published book was The Haunting of Cassie Palmer. The document then provides a summary of Alcock's short story "QWERTYUIOP". It introduces the main character, Lucy Beck, a 17-year-old who gets a job as a secretary at Ross and Bannister's. On her first day, Lucy encounters the ghost of Miss Broome, who previously occupied her new desk. Lucy eventually finds a way to communicate with and rid herself of the spirit.

Uploaded by

vicodeedee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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QWERTYUIOP

by
Vivien Alcock

The Writer

Vivien Alcock (1924 2003) was an


author of children's books. Born in
Worthing, West Sussex, in England, her
family moved to Devizes in Wiltshire
when she was aged 10. She then studied
at the Oxford School of Arts.

She was married to author Leon Garfield,


with whom she adopted a daughter,
named Jane after Jane Austen. They met
during World War II, when Vivien was an
ambulance driver. Her first book was The

Haunting of Cassie Palmer which was


followed by The Monster Garden and
others. (From Wikipedia.org)

QWERTYUIOP

A young graduate, Lucy Beck had just finished her


O levels at Belmont Secretarial
College.

Determined to find a job but did not have the


qualities of a capable worker. Even her principal had
no confidence in her.

Fortunately, she landed a job as a secretary offered


by Mr. Ross , the manager of Ross and Bannister s .

On her first day to work, she had an encounter with


Miss Broome, the ghost who haunted her typewriter
and her desk.

In the end, she managed to get rid of the spirit and


staked her claim as the new secretary of the
company by communicating through the typewriter.

MAIN CHARACTER
LUCY BECK
A young seventeen year old lady who
got a job as a secretary at Ross and
Bannisters.

Other Characters (in order of appearance)

Mrs. Price

Mr. Ross

Mrs. Beck

Harry Darke

Ghost of Ms.Broome

Uncle Bert

Settings

London, United Kingdom.

20 th century (1950s)

Lucys house

The office of Ross and Bannister s

Food for supper


Supper is used to describe a less
formal, simpler family meal

Ham and salad

Apple pie

A jug of tinned milk

" We are jumble sailors on the


rough sea of life."
London's economy and jobs

During the 1950s women came to outnumber


men in London's offices, for the first time
ever.

A real job can change the economic status of


a person. Just like Lucy, she was desperate to
find a job simply because she was tired of
being poor.

"Jobs don't grow on trees."

A qualification is needed to land a decent job.

Skills and ability are important if they want to


improve their lives.

In order to become a secretary, Lucy had to go to


Belmont Secretarial College and receive proper
training to qualify for the job.

"This place was her home.."


How important is your career to you?

Miss
Broome

Lucy Beck

Harry
Darke

"I'm sorry, Uncle Bert."

The importance of
relationships among family.

When Lucy heard the story


about the life of Miss Broome
where she had no family who
would own her, she suddenly
became aware of her own
relationship with her uncle
and made an attempt to fix
their relationship.

"Who was Miss Broome?"


Is there really a ghost?

Are there any logical


explanations to the
strange phenomenon?
Do you believe in
the existence of ghost?

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