You know how he writes:
It was the City of Westminster travelling library, a large removal-like van parked next to the bins outside one of the kitchen doors. This wasn’t a part of the palace she saw much of, and she had certainly never seen the library there before, nor presumably had the dogs, hence the [...]
Saturday, we were at the Sheriff Hutton Village Hall to see Amanda Crawley, soprano; Nicholas Nightingale, baritone; and pianist Kate Pearson performing songs by Flanders and Swan. Flanders & Swann were a couple of British musicians and performers who wrote and sang humorous songs during the 1950s and 60s. Gentle, witty and often satirical humour was their stock in trade.
She was young! She was pure! She was new! She was nice!
She was fair! She was sweet seventeen!
He was old! He was vile and no stranger to vice!
He was base! He was bad! He was mean!
He had slyly inveigled her up to his flat
To view his collection of stamps,
And he said as he hastened to put out the cat,
The wine, his cigar and the lamps:‘Have some Madeira, m’dear!
You really have nothing to fear . . .
A great evening, the hall packed to capacity. Everything was deliciously and unashamedly retro.
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In Fowler’s Modern English Usage, we are given the following, which is quite wonderful and which I have often rediscovered during my time. Has this ever been improved upon?
.
Motive or Aim
Province
Method or Means
Audience
Humour
Discovery
Human Nature
Observation
The Sympathetic
Wit
Throwing Light
Words & Ideas
Surprise
The Intelligent
Satire
Amendment
Morals & Manners
Accentuation
The Self-satisfied
Sarcasm
Inflicting Pain
Faults & Foibles
Inversion
Victim & Bystander
Invective
Discredit
Misconduct
Direct Statement
The Public
Irony
Exclusiveness
Statement of Facts
Mystification
An Inner Circle
Cynicism
Self-justification
Morals
Exposure of Nakedness
The [...]
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