My sister over in England has just sent me a clipping from the London

Sunday Times, about a writer named Anthony Buckeridge. This gentleman, now 90 years old, turned out a series of schoolboy adventure stories in the 1940s and 1950s. The principal characters were two lads named Jennings and Darbishire (no relation). I vaguely remember reading and enjoying Buckeridge’s books around age 8 or 9, but had forgotten all the details.

Including this one, which I am quoting from the Times article: “In the

whole of fiction, few characters jump off the page more powerfully for me

than Mr Wilkins, [the school’s] explosive second master, whose

head-clutching cry of ‘Doh!’ has since been unconsciously echoed by Homer

Simpson.” There is nothing new under the sun, Jonah.