Eng.Lit. X / July 20 2007
A few years ago, I discovered, to my dismay, that it is a popularly held belief that children’s author Enid Blyton was something of a racist. I was quite disappointed to learn this as the Famous five books were a big part of my early childhood.
I was even more taken aback by recent claims against Belgian author and illustrator Hergé. I love the Tintin books and still read them today. Audrey is also a big fan and is especially fond of having L’Etoile Mystérieuse read to her at bedtime. Though she regards Snowy as something of a coward, I secretly think that she has a crush on him.
To make matters even worse, I had the unfortunate experience of watching a documentary on Channel 4 the other evening whose subject was obese, northern comedian Bernard Manning, one of my favourite recently-deceased bigots. Apparently, our Bernard was also something of a raving racist. In the programme, someone said of him: ‘No matter what you think of Bernard or how much of a hate-filled chauvinist you may think he is, he did, nonetheless, have a talent that couldn’t be ignored.’
(I do love a challenge – Comedy Ed.)
And now, would you believe it, I have just been reliably informed by a husky-voiced child-psychologist-cum-local-radio-presenter (with a Dutch accent) that top schoolboy wizard Harry Potter is in fact gay. I tell you this: I am glad I was listening to Derbyshire Farming Today earlier on, or I would have gone on living my life suffering under some very serious delusions indeed.
‘Twas ever thus.
On the Fantastic hi-fi today:
The Impossible Bird – Nick Lowe
Song to a Seagull – Joni Mitchell
Filed under Children's Literature / Harry Potter / Nick Lowe / Racism / Television
Comments
One comment on “Eng.Lit. X”
Graham Boffey / July 25th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Bernard Manning fat? Was he? OK, so he was a little bit near the nuckle when it came to throwing insulting, bigotted an unnecessarily racist barbs around, the fat f**k.
One down-many, many more to go.
Graham
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