The Misanthrope’s Corner

WHEN Princess Diana made her televised confession in 1995, the press quoted an unidentified Palace official who said, “In the old days we could have beheaded her.” In the last few months, however, the real possibility arose that she could step on a land mine.

The once and former Merry England would have found it irresistible, reminiscent of those bizarre historical incidents, like Clarence drowning in a butt of malmsey, that provided material for “Beyond the Fringe.” It would have recalled Evelyn Waugh’s novel about African missionaries that contains the line, “Come quickly, the Bulanga have eaten Lady Tippett!” Martyrdom to a noble cause on the one hand, while on the other a denouement in the Peter Sellers-Terry Thomas tradition of high farce.

About the Author

Florence King

Florence King was a contributing editor of National Review.

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WHEN Princess Diana made her televised confession in 1995, the press quoted an unidentified Palace official who said, “In the old days we could have beheaded her.” In the last few months, however, the real possibility arose that she could step on a land mine.

The once and former Merry England would have found it irresistible, reminiscent of those bizarre historical incidents, like Clarence drowning in a butt of malmsey, that provided material for “Beyond the Fringe.” It would have recalled Evelyn Waugh’s novel about African missionaries that contains the line, “Come quickly, the Bulanga have eaten Lady Tippett!” Martyrdom to a noble cause on the one hand, while on the other a denouement in the Peter Sellers-Terry Thomas tradition of high farce.