Pierce Egan English writer. Country: Great Britain

Pierce Egan: English Writer

Pierce Egan was an English writer who gained initial fame for his sketches of English sportsmen, particularly boxers, in the collection of sketches titled "Boxiana" (1813-1828). In 1824, he published the monthly journal "Life in London," which humorously and extensively described the customs and habits of London's "gilded youth," popular city entertainments, and more. This collection of Egan's sketches, published separately, is considered a precursor to Charles Dickens' "The Pickwick Papers." The book and its main characters gave rise to the English expression "Tom and Jerry," meaning rowdy behavior that creates problems for both the person to whom the expression is applied and those around them. These names are also the inspiration behind the famous American animated series.

The second volume of Egan's sketches, titled "The End of the Adventures of Tom, Jerry, and Logic" (1828), was less focused on everyday life and more on moral teachings. In this volume, the troublemakers and hooligans from the first volume either meet a bad end or transform into virtuous citizens, making it less successful than its predecessor.

Based on Egan's sketches, a play titled "Tom and Jerry, or Life in London" was produced.