Winning the cricket final

[catwithcreamy.livejournal.com]

Pardon my ignorance, but who was Mr Tallboy? Oh, and another question, when Nick says 'Adsum' while trying on Ann's boater, what's the ref to Young Churchill?
Thanks!

Comments

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

Dunno about Young Churchill but Mr Talboy is from Murder Must Advertise, which has the second-best cricket match in literature.

[catwithcreamy.livejournal.com]

Ah! that's the one Sayers I just couldn't ever get into...will try a re-read.

[rosealare.livejournal.com]

And now I'm mulling over which match the best one could be!

[penguineggs.livejournal.com]

The one in England, Their England?

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I always liked the one in James Herriot. (Although the E,TE dinner party has a fond place in my heart.)

[colne-dsr.livejournal.com]

Definitely England, Their England IMO. Anyone who can make a description of a catch last 4 pages, while keeping the reader gripped, has to be a genius.

A couple of Wodehouse's matches in Mike are pretty good as well. Better, even, than Miss Forest's, if truth be told.

[penguineggs.livejournal.com]

"Adsum" is also used as an answer to roll-call in Thackeray's The Newcomes so I imagine it was the way in which a Harrow boy (and possibly other public schoolboys) answered "Present!"to a prefect ticking off a register.

[highfantastical.livejournal.com]

I think I've come across it in various boys' school stories, so yes - not restricted to Harrow.

[catwithcreamy.livejournal.com]

Makes sense... and Nick did of course admire Churchill. Thanks all!

[thecatsamuel.livejournal.com]

Yes - adsum was widely used for answering the register in public schools.

And indeed in Latin lessons today...

[colne-dsr.livejournal.com]

In Murder Must Advertise, Peter Wimsey was working undercover for an advertising agency, and was recognised by his "late cut that was exceedingly characteristic", as quoted by Nicola early in The Cricket Term. And Mr Tallboy was one of Wimsey's collegaues, who achieved the run out that won the game.

[catwithcreamy.livejournal.com]

I always wondered what that 'late cut' quote meant - thanks!

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Adsum is the normal response to calling the register
Boaters probably suggested Eton/Harrow until about 1960 when almost everyone had boaters (inc girls to replace panamas)
No idea how Young Churchill comes into it

[catwithcreamy.livejournal.com]

Churchill went to Harrow... all is now clear!

[charverz.livejournal.com]

"Adsum" if you were present; "Abest" if you weren't, but someone would have to respond for you, obviously.