A photo of Will's bench from the Amber Spyglass.

...and what is carved on it.

And also, The University of Oxford Botanic Garden in literature.

What? Nobody likes those pictures? You tar-hearted bastards.

ION, after a busy morning I had a respite in the afternoon and was reading up on the history of the British school novel.

Now, I had heard reference to St. Trinian's before because its one of those things that became a compass point in British pop culture. But I didn't realize that Ronald Searle did them, nor that they were somewhat analogous to Addams Family cartoons(though more anarchic and less gothy).

I also didn't realize how horrific Searle's experiences had been as a Japanese prisoner of war. (Nor that he drew the St. Trinian cartoons during his imprisonment, hiding them under disease ridden mattresses which the guards were loathe to investigate. Nor that much of his suffering came from his participation in the prison circulated magazine The Survivor, for which the British authorities at the prison punished him.)

Fascinating.

But I didn't realize that Ronald Searle (who I associate primarily with Hunter S. Thompson illustrations) did them, nor that they were somewhat analogous to Addams Family cartoons(though more anarchic and less gothy).

I luuuurves the St. Trinian's cartoons. Yes, our particularly dim girlcat is named Trinian in honor of them. (We didn't know she was brainless when we named her.)

Oh! Since there's a new St. Trinian's movie out, I bet I could find a school crest patch now. Hmmm.

who I associate primarily with Hunter S. Thompson illustrations)

Oops, I confused him with Ralph Steadman. Who was apparently influenced by Searle.

Jilli, have you seen the movie The Belles of St. Trinians?

I always have to read a series in order. It bugs me on so many deep, completely neurotic levels if I don't.

Oh, yes! I cannot, cannot do it. To the point where I would even nudge students away from starting series in the middle, even if it were a series that would take not harm from it. I"d be all "Oh, you really can't...Let me order the first one for you."

My sister!

It drives me batshit when you go into a bookstore and they have a book prominently on display that's in a series but they don't have the first book in stock. Feh.

or, what's equally annoying, is when they have the first and third, but not the second. That disturbs the completist in me.

In other news, Mrs. Giggles reviews a "book" which uses "seratonin" in an "erotic" setting.

Jilli, have you seen the movie The Belles of St. Trinians?

I haven't. I need to get my mitts on a copy.