Ultra-short Wimseyfic

[nineveh_uk]

Harriet Vane was born in 1900 or 1903, depending on novel. She could well have still been alive in 1994-98 and thus able to appear on Caroline Aherne's Mrs Merton Show. Thus is engendered one of the world's shortest crossover fics.

Interview

"What first, Harriet, attracted you to the millionaire Lord Peter Wimsey?"

***

For the uninitiated, the reference can be seen here.

Comments

[legionseagle]

Unfortunately, I suspect the Mrs Merton question would have been even closer to what we surmise the original to have been (the reason why she quite sensibly would have preferred Wimsey to be in Antarctica or somewhere even further)

"Miss Vane, given your promiscuous past, what do you think notorious thrill-seeking playboy Peter Wimsey first saw in you?"

[nineveh_uk]

"I don't know, but he was sorely disappointed."

[antisoppist]

I still think it depends on what Philip Boyes required of his modern-minded, free-love, pushing the boundaries of convention mistresses.

Is this going to be a series? Does elderly Duchess Harriet get to judge a colouring competition on Blue Peter next?

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Perfect.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The only reason that it isn't perfect for Elizabeth Bennett is that she admits it.

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

I recently read a historical romance with a widowed heroine called Mrs Merton. I struggled a lot not to picture her as Caroline Aherne.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I can see that would be difficult.

[madamedarque.livejournal.com]

Ha! Although I imagine Peter would be long-gone by then--for some reason I can't see him living past 1975.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

And that's if the criminals don't get him first!

[azdak.livejournal.com]

That is one of those lines - like "well, he would, wouldn't he?" - which deserves to go down in the annals of history.

Though I think for the full flavour it should perhaps be "What first attracted you to short, big-nosed millionaire Lord Peter Wimsey?"

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I am pleased to see that Mandy Rice-Davies has made it into my Oxford book of quotations.

short, big-nosed millionaire

I was going to go with those very words, but then I watched it to check and alas Mrs M never actually said the "short, balding" bit.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

She didn't? Oh noes! I suppose this is a case of art improving on life because it's definitely funnier with the "short, balding" bit.

[trialia]

Ha, yes. The Profumo affair happened before I was even born and I still remember that quote fondly. *g*

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Or even "handsome titled millionaire" ... ;-)

Oh, and can you elaborate on the different birth years for Harriet? I was vaguely aware of some discrepancy, though no more than that.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

In Strong Poison, she's described as born in 1900. By Have His Carcase, a couple of years later, she is 28... One of Sayers' letters identifies it as something that needs clearing up, but I'm actually glad that she never did - I think Harriet needs to be a bit older in SP than she would be if born in 1903, whereas in HHC and Gaudy Night, increasing the age gap emphasizes their different circumstances.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Ta

[tree_and_leaf]

"Actually, it was his calves."

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

"There was a particularly pretty one called Buttercup he used to graze in St James' Park."

[catkind.livejournal.com]

Er sorry didn't mean to be anonymous. That was me smiling :)