<P> Thomas Pynchon refers to the Black Hole of Calcutta in the historical novel Mason & Dixon (1997). The character Charles Mason spends much time on Saint Helena with the astronomer Nevil Maskelyne, the brother - in - law of Lord Robert Clive of India; themes of colonialism and racism are discussed in relation to the event . Later in the story, Jeremiah Dixon visits New York City, and attends a secret "Broad - Way" production of the "musical drama", The Black Hole of Calcutta, or, the Peevish Wazir, "executed with such a fine respect for detail ..." Pynchon satirically refers to it in the long - running musical revue Oh! Calcutta!, which was played on Broadway for more than 7,000 performances . </P> <P> Edgar Allan Poe makes reference to the "stifling" of the prisoners in the introduction to "The Premature Burial" (1844). The Black Hole is mentioned in Looking Backward (1888) by Edward Bellamy as an example of the depravity of the past . In the science - fiction novel Omega: The Last Days of the World (1894), by Camille Flammarion, The Black Hole of Calcutta is mentioned for the suffocating properties of Carbonic - Oxide (Carbon Monoxide) upon the British soldiers imprisoned in that dungeon . Eugene O'Neill, in Long Day's Journey into Night, Act 4, Jamie says, "Can't expect us to live in the Black Hole of Calcutta ." Patrick O'Brian compared Jack Aubrey's house to the black hole of Calcutta "except that whereas the Hole was hot, dry, and airless", Aubrey's cottage "let in draughts from all sides ." The Mauritius Command at 15 . Diana Gabaldon mentions briefly the incident in her novel Lord John and the Private Matter (2003). It is also compared with the evil miasma of Calcutta as a whole in Dan Simmons's novel The Song of Kali . Stephen King makes a reference to the Black Hole of Calcutta in his 2004 novel Song of Susannah . In Chapter V of "King Solomon _́ s Mines" (H.R. Haggard. 1885) the Black Hole of Calcutta is mentioned: "This gave us some slight shelter from the burning rays of the sun, but the atmosphere in that amateur grave can be better imagined than described . The Black Hole of Calcutta must have been a fool to it ..." In John Fante's novel "The Road to Los Angeles" (1985), the main character Arturo Bandini recalls when seeing his place of work: "I thought about the Black Hole of Calcutta ." </P> <P> In the period drama Turn: Washington's Spies, the character of John Graves Simcoe claims in Season 4 that he was born in India and that his father died in the Black Hole of Calcutta after being tortured . (In historical reality, Simcoe was born in England and his father died of pneumonia). </P> <P> In an episode of the Britcom Open All Hours Mr. Arkwright orders his assistant Granville to clean the outside window ledge . He said "There's enough dirt there to fill the Black Hole of Calcutta". </P>

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