Kenneth Williams, of ‘Carry On…’ fame for many, was a
troubled character. Clever but socially handicapped, he lived a mostly solitary
life. It comes as no surprise, then, that his collection of witty quips and quotes
is entirely made up of the sort of put-downs that leave the victim feeling bad.
Of course, the title gives a clue to the nature of the assortment; his
selection is pungent with acerbic witticisms.
As an optimist and, bearing a philanthropic nature, I found
only a few of these short forays into wit amusing. Many are cruel. At best,
most are caustic. I laugh easily; it’s in my nature. But I didn’t laugh at many
of these. Though I can admire the intelligence that created them. And Williams’
short accompanying accounts of how the quips came to be are quite amusing and
informative.
Of course, this is a book intended to be dipped into rather
than read, as I did, at one sitting. Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the nastiness
of much of the material.
I have no doubt that those of a misanthropic or sour
disposition will find plenty to enjoy here. But, for me, there was a little too
much acid to make the book enjoyable. This is a volume that illustrates that
beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder. For me, it was distinctly ugly,
but clever. So a mixed review. If you like your wit with a cutting edge and
little mercy, this will suit you.
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