Edwardian Soap

Posted by George Snyder at 1/9/2012 8:25 AM
Categories: uncategorized


Unidentified staff, circa 1904

Best line of the evening from Downtown Abbey:

"Edith, you're a lady, not Toad of Toad Hall."

Does anyone else see a resemblance between Lady Edith and Agatha Runcible of Eveylyn Waugh's Vile Bodies?  Agatha, you may recall, also got behind the wheel, with tragic consequences.

I'm worried about the new addition to the staff, the redhead named Ethel.  Redheads are always trouble. 
 

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  • 1/9/2012 10:25 AM Michael Anson wrote:
    Random quote I once overheard in a piano bar when the pianist stopped playing: "It's not the quiche, Harry, it's the whole twelve years."
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  • 1/9/2012 10:30 AM Jonny wrote:
    Oh please! Saying "Redheads are always trouble" is about as accurate as "Once you go black there's no going back", though in the case of the coming elections I personally hope that the latter holds true.
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  • 1/9/2012 3:04 PM Justin Caldwell wrote:
    I'm deeply hurt by the 'redheads' remark. I was a vivid readhead before it all faded. While classified ads that specified "no fats, fems or readheads" hurt my feelings, it never stopped them from lining up at my door. I'm shocked at something like this coming from you. The only way you can make this up to me is to have a gorgeous readhead appear on the cover of your next book.
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    1. 1/9/2012 3:20 PM George Snyder wrote:
      My darling,
      while I can see how my observation may have been misconstrued as derogatory, I hasten to assure you that it was intended as the highest sort of compliment, 'trouble' in this instance being synonymous with 'highly desirable,' the way 'cat's meow' or 'hot stuff' signified allure in the vernacular of your youth.  I believe it was Belle Poitrine herself who described you as a 'scarlet woman who would turn a man every way but loose,' but she may have been referencing that incident at the World's Fair in St. Louis in 1904 for which no other eyewitnesses survive.  In any case, your appeal has hardly 'faded' but only grown more complex and mysterious and even, dare I say it? dangerous.  

      And I've already got feelers out to HRH Prince Hot Ginge for the cover of Book Three.  If he's free.  

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  • 1/10/2012 2:15 PM ABM wrote:
    A staff is trouble, period. Regardless of haircolor.

    The Great War has changed everything.

    ABM
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  • 1/10/2012 3:31 PM William Godwin wrote:
    Oh that Ethel!
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