British humour

19 years ago

I just returned from a trip to England where my mother gave me the complete set of James Herriot books. I've finished the first one already and I'm reading a different author between each one to make them last.

What wonderfully entertaining books they are! The chapter about Herriot having to wear a rubber suit to observe a procedure made tears roll down my cheeks!

Subtle British humor at its best!

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Comments (16)

ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
Yes, Herriot was a wonderful storyteller. I have also enjoyed Fred Secombe's Chronicles of a Curate, Chronicles of a Vicar, and More Chronicles of a Vicar. The same sort of "slice of life" humor-the silliness of normal occurances.
karalk
Original Author
19 years ago
I have the Chronicles of a Curate on my wishlist at paperbackswap.com. If you think of any other similar books let me know!
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ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
Well, not British but laugh out loud is You're Stepping on my Cloak and Dagger about the founding of the OSS before and during WW II. And, mentioned elsewhere, are the Lucia novels by E.F. Benson.
karalk
Original Author
19 years ago
I have Lucia on my TBR shelf and I will order You're stepping on my Cloak. You're always a good source, cc!
cindydavid4
19 years ago
I was raised early on with brit humor - my dad subscribed to Punch magazine and while I couldn't get the essays that well, the cartoons cracked me up. Easy to go from there to writers like David Lodge, Neil Gaiman and others of their ilk. Watching Monty Python during my impressionalbe years probably didn't help...
karalk
Original Author
19 years ago
Monty Python has a lot to answer for, Cindy!
ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
Sheep in the Wainscoting is, in my opinion, the most perfect comedy routine ever done-unless it's Dead Parrot. ;-)

Ruth Dudley Edwards has a mystery series that, while containing well-constructed mysteries, also has much slapstick.
bookmom41
19 years ago
Mrs Premise, Mrs Conclusion and the four hours spent burying the cat is one of my favorites. I read all the James Herriott vet books in my younger days, though I'd call that a different kind of humor than MP.
karalk
Original Author
19 years ago
I agree, two different things. I love the Herriot subtlety, as CC said, the silliness of normal occurrences. Dead pan humor.
I was never a big fan of Monty Python although I love John Cleese. Fawlty Towers was his best, IMHO.
cindydavid4
19 years ago
>Monty Python has a lot to answer for, Cindy!

Hee, really. The group had some great bits, as well as a couple of classic movies (I can recite whole sections of Holy Grail and Life of Brian, a dubious claim to fame if there ever was) I didn't care for some of their bits (and some of it might have been because the references were for a British audience) but their humor was so on target much of the time. I'd love to see Spamalot in NYC - tickets sold out unfortunately. Next time

I also love Faulty Towers. In fact most of the sitcoms I watch are from England: Are you being served?, Keeping Apperances; Butterflies (ages ago); As time goes by.....much much funnier than the schlock thats out there from the states.
carolyn_ky
19 years ago
Cindy, we watch Last of the Summer's Wine and As Time Goes By over and over and over. As long as Summer's Wine was on, you'd think we would get more of the series, but no . . .
karalk
Original Author
19 years ago
Netflix has a huge variety of British TV shows and series, including Last Of The Summer Wine.
ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
Our PBS station shows Are You Being Served followed by Last of the Summer Wine. It is bizarre seeing Captain Peacock turn into Truly of the Yard. Think I like Truly better.
karalk
Original Author
19 years ago
I believe I heard that John Inman died earlier this week. He was so perfect in his role in Are You Being Served.
martin_z
19 years ago
He actually died back in March. But yes, a very entertaining man.
ccrdmrbks
19 years ago
I'm sad. I may have to watch the videos tonight.

British humour

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British humour

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