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October 31, 2005
An interesting English tradition
As noted earlier here and here, I enjoy the British tradition of witty obituaries, which often provide a hilarious review of the failings, idiosyncracies and peccadilloes of the deceased.
In that regard, this Wall Street Journal ($) article examines the tradition of Cambridge University's King's College in regard to publishing obituaries of its alumni that, as the article puts it, reflect "an anthropological study of the eccentric ways of the British intelligentsia." For example, the Journal describes the obituary of the late novelist Simon Arthur Noel Raven, whose writing was described by some as "smut for its own sake":
At boarding school, "eventually his long-suffering headmaster had enough of his complete disregard for the school moral code and he was expelled in 1945 for what was euphemistically called 'the usual thing.'" Mr. Raven nevertheless secured admission to Cambridge, where, "although his preference was for boys and young men," he dabbled in heterosexuality and sired a child by a fellow student, the alumni report said. "He agreed to marry her to placate her family, on the understanding that he would never have to live with her."They divorced eventually, and he paid for their son's education. "He did not always, however, give [the boy's mother] the help that she needed. Famously, she once wired him when she was desperately short of cash, saying 'Wife and baby starving send money soonest.' He characteristically replied 'Sorry no money suggest eat baby.' "
Enjoy the entire piece.
Posted by Tom at October 31, 2005 5:23 AM |
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