The other reason to read the Slow Horses book is Jackson Lamb. The TV version can only give a flavour of the sheer brilliant horror of the insults that come out of his mouth in the book. He is the very definition of politically incorrect, and the scriptwriting has to compromise with fart jokes. But the books are gaspingly funny
I haven't read the latest ones, but I do tend to agree with you. It would be nice to see Roddy developing a little (prior to being killed, I assume)...
I stopped watching slow horses because the baddies were evil right wingers who were going to behead a random Muslim. You could have had so much more subtlety and complexity if you’d had kept antagonists as motivated by hatred of Muslims but maybe have an underlying cause like having a sister or daughter that was abused in Rotherham style scenario.....
That’s taken directly from the book, where it’s even more explicitly structured as a feint — and that was written just five years after 7/7, so it made sense. Back then, the US authorities (and to some extent the UK ones) took Islamic terrorism far more seriously than the far right variety.
Ok - I mean I otherwise enjoyed the set up, the acting, the atmosphere- but I’ve been left very very jaded by the “far right” are the real bad guys, without recognising the path into far right radicalisation surely runs through reaction....
Totally unfair to quote the final verse only of a brilliant poem about a heroic gallop perfectly designed for energetic recitation! (Also, only just to point out that Roland is a horse.) 'Twixt, like 'twas would be lame in a modern poem but was standard verse diction at the time. I stand by Browning!
there are some bits of Browning I love (My Last Duchess, that line “no bar/ stayed me” in Pictor Ignotus) but I think How They Brought The Good News From Ghent to Aix is a rare Browning L, as is Childe Rolande.
1) I knew you were the kind of person to get excited by a double decker train i .e. the best kind of person
2) completely agree about Slow Horses. One of the few examples (Strike by Robert Galbraith being the other one that comes to mind) where the casting is so spot on that it adds to the books, rather than detracting.
The point about notes is excellent- I’d never seen it written down in that way but yes, that’s exactly how it should work.
Re Slow Horses - I think we (men) all like to think we’re River Cartwright (or maybe the omniscient Jackson Lamb), when in fact we’re Roddy Ho. And yes he gets slightly overwritten in the much later books but in a way that’s Herron laughing at us, isn’t it.
Thanks John Rentoul for recommending this blog: one to make time for. Have we all read Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough - factual companion volume to the fictional Slough House stories above. But will Britain ever tire of finding its own seemingly terminal decline amusing? (I guess the answer to that is no, because it makes the recovery feel less like hard work. Further explanations welcome.)
The other reason to read the Slow Horses book is Jackson Lamb. The TV version can only give a flavour of the sheer brilliant horror of the insults that come out of his mouth in the book. He is the very definition of politically incorrect, and the scriptwriting has to compromise with fart jokes. But the books are gaspingly funny
Roddy Ho - though brilliantly cast and played by Christopher Chung - reaches even greater heights of toe-curling ghastliness in the books, as well.
CONTROVERSIALLY I think Herron takes Roddy Ho’s unselfawareness too far in the later books and he becomes a little bit caricatured
I haven't read the latest ones, but I do tend to agree with you. It would be nice to see Roddy developing a little (prior to being killed, I assume)...
I stopped watching slow horses because the baddies were evil right wingers who were going to behead a random Muslim. You could have had so much more subtlety and complexity if you’d had kept antagonists as motivated by hatred of Muslims but maybe have an underlying cause like having a sister or daughter that was abused in Rotherham style scenario.....
That’s taken directly from the book, where it’s even more explicitly structured as a feint — and that was written just five years after 7/7, so it made sense. Back then, the US authorities (and to some extent the UK ones) took Islamic terrorism far more seriously than the far right variety.
Ok - I mean I otherwise enjoyed the set up, the acting, the atmosphere- but I’ve been left very very jaded by the “far right” are the real bad guys, without recognising the path into far right radicalisation surely runs through reaction....
I’m pretty sure I’m wasting my time here, telling you about something you have already seen about 15 times but....
If you’re a fan of pretty Belgian city’s allow me to recommend you watch In Bruges
An absolutely delightful movie with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson
Dan Fox, author of Pretentiousness, also has a very fine Substack: https://foxdan.substack.com/
For anyone interested in the Ghent altarpiece, it’s well worth hearing from Bart van Loo such as this https://overcast.fm/+lXhYLXCpQ
In fairness to Browning that “twixt” line can be repurposed as an accurate description of a stonking hangover.
Totally unfair to quote the final verse only of a brilliant poem about a heroic gallop perfectly designed for energetic recitation! (Also, only just to point out that Roland is a horse.) 'Twixt, like 'twas would be lame in a modern poem but was standard verse diction at the time. I stand by Browning!
there are some bits of Browning I love (My Last Duchess, that line “no bar/ stayed me” in Pictor Ignotus) but I think How They Brought The Good News From Ghent to Aix is a rare Browning L, as is Childe Rolande.
Thanks for replying! Fair enough. I enjoyed seeing it quoted anyway, even disparagingly.
I’m sorry! I take your point it’s written to be read out, I’m sure it’s more fun that way.
Best of all on an actual horse, apparently. (Haven't tried it myself, but reliably informed.)
It's meant to be Tom Gilroy, not Tony Gilroy, isn't it?
1) I knew you were the kind of person to get excited by a double decker train i .e. the best kind of person
2) completely agree about Slow Horses. One of the few examples (Strike by Robert Galbraith being the other one that comes to mind) where the casting is so spot on that it adds to the books, rather than detracting.
I prefer the slightly more sober (and meteorologically apt) Dutch word for Iconoclastic Fury: Beeldenstorm, literally Statue Storm.
The point about notes is excellent- I’d never seen it written down in that way but yes, that’s exactly how it should work.
Re Slow Horses - I think we (men) all like to think we’re River Cartwright (or maybe the omniscient Jackson Lamb), when in fact we’re Roddy Ho. And yes he gets slightly overwritten in the much later books but in a way that’s Herron laughing at us, isn’t it.
Had Browning been reading too much McGonagall?
Looking forward to the next 300!
Thanks John Rentoul for recommending this blog: one to make time for. Have we all read Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough - factual companion volume to the fictional Slough House stories above. But will Britain ever tire of finding its own seemingly terminal decline amusing? (I guess the answer to that is no, because it makes the recovery feel less like hard work. Further explanations welcome.)