The Spanking Writers

If you’re not (a) British and (b) in your late 30s or older, stop reading NOW. The book I’m about to recommend will hold no interest for you whatsoever. If you fit the bill, however, do I have the book for you…

It’s called “Lost Worlds” by Michael Bywater – an alphabetical anthology look back at things and phrases that used to be commonplace, but which have long-since vanished. It’s erudite, witty, calculated to inspire regular “I remember that” moments of nostalgia. Hugely recommended (buy now as an early stocking filler for loved ones!).

Of course, looking back on things we’ve lost from a British, veering-towards-middle-aged-or-even-older perspective, there are one or two entries of interest for the likes of us. Take this, for example:

“Dungeons & Dragons was once the epitome of the lost life, reality subsumed in fantasy, pale people on sentimentalized Arthurian quests at the roll of the dice. You could even play it in real dungeons: I went to one, in Cheshire, and my chest was caved in by Orcs. No wonder it had to stop.

Perhaps the devotees simply grew up, paired off, and started going to other dungeons, on other quests, where the dress code was no longer a latex head but a latex bustier, and nipple-clamps cast an entirely different spell.”

Quite, quite wonderful.

PS I know I said it would have ‘no’ interest for you younger foreigners. On second thoughts…