From today's featured article
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 Evelyn Waugh
The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold is a novel by the British writer Evelyn Waugh (pictured), his next-to-last full-length work of fiction, first published in July 1957. He called it his "mad book"—a largely autobiographical account concerning the early months of 1954 when he was hallucinating as a result of his addictions. In search of a peaceful environment in which he could resume writing, he had embarked on a sea voyage, but was driven to the point of madness by imagined voices. These experiences are mirrored in the novel: Pinfold, as an antidote to his weariness and chronic insomnia, is dosing himself with a mixture of barbiturates and alcohol, and hearing voices that insult, taunt and threaten him. He is advised that the voices are imaginary, but Pinfold ascribes his rapid cure to a private victory over the forces of evil, not to the cessation of his drug habit. General critical reception to the book was muted; some reviewers admired the opening self-portrait of Waugh, but generally not the ending. The book has been dramatised for radio and as a stage play. (Full article...)
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Did you know...
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 Madagascar succulent woodlands
- ... that the Madagascar succulent woodlands (pictured) are home to the world's smallest primate?
- ... that "Danke", one of Germany's best-known sacred songs, was considered a sin against music and religion when first released?
- ... that Monique Luiz, star of the famous 1964 political advertisement Daisy, did not see it for herself until 2000?
- ... that the 308th Infantry Regiment was the first United States National Army regiment in the First World War to be presented with its regimental colors?
- ... that with a modest force of Bedouin horsemen, Shibl al-Dawla Nasr defeated a much larger Byzantine army led by Emperor Romanos III?
- ... that events at Los Angeles' Fiesta Park included a reception for President William McKinley, the Los Angeles Auto Show, and USC Trojans football games?
- ... that the Liberian Welington Zaza is the African junior record holder in the men's 110 metres hurdles?
- ... that the Eider Canal was first proposed as part of Ducal Holstein, built under Danish rule, conquered by Prussia, and decommissioned under the German Empire?
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In the news
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 Leonard Cohen
- A train derailment near Kanpur, India, kills more than 140 people.
- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 strikes near Kaikoura, north of Christchurch, New Zealand, triggering tsunami warnings, causing widespread damage, and killing at least two people.
- Canadian singer, songwriter, and poet Leonard Cohen (pictured) dies at the age of 82.
- A tram derails on the Tramlink in Croydon, London, killing seven people and injuring more than fifty others.
- Donald Trump wins the United States presidential election, while Republicans retain control of the House and the Senate.
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On this day...
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November 23: St George's Day in Georgia; Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan
 Perkin Warbeck
- 1499 – Perkin Warbeck (pictured), a pretender to the English throne during the reign of King Henry VII, was hanged after allegedly attempting to escape from the Tower of London.
- 1733 – African slaves from Akwamu in the Danish West Indies revolted against their owners, one of the earliest and longest slave revolts in the Americas.
- 1980 – An earthquake struck the Irpinia region of Italy, killing 2,914 people, injuring more than 10,000 and leaving 300,000 homeless.
- 1996 – Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 was hijacked, then crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros after running out of fuel, killing 125 of the 175 people on board.
- 2012 – "Il Canto degli Italiani" officially became the national anthem of Italy almost seventy years after it was provisionally chosen following the birth of the Italian Republic.
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