HOLY DISORDERS: Fen, at his best, was incredibly, sometimes childishly rude. When irritated by July Savernake (HD), he addressed the cleric as a sheepshead, a fopling and a numskull. Nigel Blake, one-time undergraduate and friend of Fens, put the dons rudeness down to the "natural consequence of his monstrous and excessive vitality." (Gilded Fly) His rudeness was frequently calculated, never more than in his closing political address in Buried For Pleasure. But even then, after the initial shock had worn off, he found it gained him more votes than he lost. The explanation from the writer, Judd, was that even when Fen was being offensive, there was a radiant and seductive charm about him. Fen, naturally, was disgusted at hearing this. Ironically, Fen had a high opinion of his own tactfulness, or so states
Mr Crispin in Buried For Pleasure. |