Cease and desist
I have nothing to add to the rest of the crew's Watching other than a small linguistic point:
"Mr Bongo-Brains"
"another red herring, in a sea full of scarlet fish"
"out into their squares and plazas huzza-ing for confrontation"
"a chap with a huge hooter"
Yaroo! Fossilized fish-hooks! Coming on the heels of the "trip to Bonkers Island" a few weeks ago, I surely detect the influence of Just William here?
No harm has been done yet from the incursion of storytime into the column, but like truffle oil in pommes mousseline, a little bit of this language goes a long way and too much stinks. Cease forthwith and henceforth desist, please.
"Mr Bongo-Brains"
"another red herring, in a sea full of scarlet fish"
"out into their squares and plazas huzza-ing for confrontation"
"a chap with a huge hooter"
Yaroo! Fossilized fish-hooks! Coming on the heels of the "trip to Bonkers Island" a few weeks ago, I surely detect the influence of Just William here?
No harm has been done yet from the incursion of storytime into the column, but like truffle oil in pommes mousseline, a little bit of this language goes a long way and too much stinks. Cease forthwith and henceforth desist, please.
posted by The Rioja Kid at 2/07/2006 10:24:00 PM
2 Comments:
"Fossilised fish-hooks" was the catchphrase of Jennings, written by top socialist Anthony Buckeridge.
My favourite Jennings quote ever being "don't be such a prehistoric remains".
We probably do need to think a bit harder about the origins of the distinctive Aaronovitch literary style, but I don't think these phrases have anything to do with the influence of William Brown / Richmal Crompton.
Anthony Buckeridge would seem to me to be nearer the mark: I can imagine Jennings saying "Bongo-brains", but not William (or Ginger or Douglas or Henry, for that matter).
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