April 27, 2005
"Biffed."
As long as I'm in a literary frame of mind this morning, I may mention that I have plunged once again into Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honor trilogy for reading on the Metro. I am currently back in the heart of Men At Arms, the first of the three books.
I must say that the character of Apthorpe gets funnier every time I renew his acquaintance. Indeed, I break out in helpless laughter revisiting his epic struggle with Ben Ritchie-Hook over the Thunder Box. And his Bechuana Tummy, mysterious aunts in Tunbridge-Wells, porpoise boots and bizarre Halbardier career become more and more sublime with each rereading. Of course, the trilogy is not a comedy, but in Apthorpe, I believe Waugh created a true masterpiece of a comic character.
I've never read any Waugh, but we did rent Bright Young Things, based on Vile Bodies. It moved somewhat slowly but was interesting and funny, not quite as sad as it probably read in the sad parts...
Posted by: tee bee at April 27, 2005 10:02 AMI've not seen BYT's myself and it's been a while since I read Vile Bodies. I probably should do both.
Posted by: Robert the LB at April 27, 2005 11:05 AMdear mr woo. pretty funny for a frigid, almost wooden englishman, wasn't he. course, he was hardly a roundhead.
handful of dust, that's a sad one. one of the dearest little boys in literature, wh is pretty devoid of dear little boys as a rule.
