It’s an interesting contrast that where the American outpost of literary ambition in the mystery/suspense field is the private eye story for the English it’s the spy story. Probably empire something something.
Have you watched, or better read, ‘Rogue Heroes’ - the story of how the SAS was formed?
In terms of what you’re describing here, it’s the mother load: The SAS are an inspiring example of incompetent competents, and their formation was a necessary step towards winning WW2. Because prior to that, the British Army was almost entirely competent incompetents. The former ended up showing the latter what was needed to actually win.
The Park vs Slough House themes are clear, to the point where you wonder if this wasn’t part of the inspiration for Slow Horses.
Thank you, Simon, that's very kind of you to say. Embarrassingly, I've never read Macintyre's WWII books, though I love his Cold War ones - which I think all have the incompetent competent theme running through them in one way or another.
The Siege did this really well I think: the juxtaposition between the amateurishness of the whole SAS operation (the camping out in the school of needlework, Prince Andrew turning up etc) and then the whipsaw into intensity and lethality when it actually matters.
I haven't got the book in front of me but I'm confident in saying they definitely must be an inspiration - there's a bit in Clown Town where River is clearing out the OB's library, and Macintyre gets a specific call-out, along with Deighton and a few others, I think.
Yes! In my head twee is sort of a cosy sub-genre. Cosiness almost always has some sort of purpose, I think - so it's in opposition to something else e.g. in the OG catastrophes, it's hiding away in some nice stone cottage, or heading to a commune on the Isle of Wight, vs being exposed to the end of the world, or being eaten by Triffids. There's always an antagonist. Twee is cosiness without the escape: cosiness for cosiness' sake. The paintings of Beryl Cook are twee; Stanley Spencer is cosy because he's reacting against something.
It’s an interesting contrast that where the American outpost of literary ambition in the mystery/suspense field is the private eye story for the English it’s the spy story. Probably empire something something.
Great article thank you.
Have you watched, or better read, ‘Rogue Heroes’ - the story of how the SAS was formed?
In terms of what you’re describing here, it’s the mother load: The SAS are an inspiring example of incompetent competents, and their formation was a necessary step towards winning WW2. Because prior to that, the British Army was almost entirely competent incompetents. The former ended up showing the latter what was needed to actually win.
The Park vs Slough House themes are clear, to the point where you wonder if this wasn’t part of the inspiration for Slow Horses.
Thank you, Simon, that's very kind of you to say. Embarrassingly, I've never read Macintyre's WWII books, though I love his Cold War ones - which I think all have the incompetent competent theme running through them in one way or another.
The Siege did this really well I think: the juxtaposition between the amateurishness of the whole SAS operation (the camping out in the school of needlework, Prince Andrew turning up etc) and then the whipsaw into intensity and lethality when it actually matters.
I haven't got the book in front of me but I'm confident in saying they definitely must be an inspiration - there's a bit in Clown Town where River is clearing out the OB's library, and Macintyre gets a specific call-out, along with Deighton and a few others, I think.
I agree! In what ways do you think ‘cosy’ can substitute for ‘twee’?
Yes! In my head twee is sort of a cosy sub-genre. Cosiness almost always has some sort of purpose, I think - so it's in opposition to something else e.g. in the OG catastrophes, it's hiding away in some nice stone cottage, or heading to a commune on the Isle of Wight, vs being exposed to the end of the world, or being eaten by Triffids. There's always an antagonist. Twee is cosiness without the escape: cosiness for cosiness' sake. The paintings of Beryl Cook are twee; Stanley Spencer is cosy because he's reacting against something.
v helpful - thank you!
Second time in the last half hour that I have encountered the term “midwit” on Substack.
Guess I don't have to read the book now.