Withering Insults

[Alain Maréchal]

President de Gaulle was attending a diplomatic reception hosted by his notoriously reserved (and Protestant) Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville. He noticed that the champagne was insufficiently chilled, and suggested that Couve be asked to sit on a case or two.

[amateur51]

President de Gaulle was attending a diplomatic reception hosted by his notoriously reserved (and Protestant) Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville. He noticed that the champagne was insufficiently chilled, and suggested that Couve be asked to sit on a case or two.

an unexpected source, but maybe that's me

[Alain Maréchal]

Not you, am51, the list of de Gaulle witticisms is a slim volume. probably one sheet of A4. There are many quotes - after all he gave many speeches and wrote much, but the french art of "ridicule" ( a faux ami, it does not mean ridicule) features rarely.

[amateur51]

Not you, am51, the list of de Gaulle witticisms is a slim volume. probably one sheet of A4. There are many quotes - after all he gave many speeches and wrote much, but the french art of "ridicule" features rarely.

Thanks for that insight

[Nick Armstrong]

There's one I heard years ago.... but haven't been able to find any reference on t'internet.

Does this ring bells with anyone?

Beecham (I think) had been forced to attend a two-day house-party at the country retreat of some benefactress (Lady Cunard?) and had found the whole thing immensely tedious and seemingly endless... his comment being a lugubrious one along the lines of

"I spent a fortnight at Lady Cunard's last weekend"

Anyone else heard that one, and can render an accurate version?

[amateur51]

There's one I heard years ago.... but haven't been able to find any reference on t'internet.

Does this ring bells with anyone?

Beecham (I think) had been forced to attend a two-day house-party at the country retreat of some benefactress (Lady Cunard?) and had found the whole thing immensely tedious and seemingly endless... his comment being a lugubrious one along the lines of

"I spent a fortnight at Lady Cunard's last weekend"

Anyone else heard that one, and can render an accurate version?

Admittedly inauthentic, it would flow rather nicely with the Groucho Marx one mentioned earlier:

"I spent a fortnight at Lady Cunard's last weekend"

"But did you have a good time?"

"Oh yes I've had a good time ... but sadly this wasn't it"

[mangerton]

I hadn't heard about Lady Cunard but it reminds me of the story of Beecham meeting a woman whose face he remembered, but couldn't put a name to. Desperately trying to work out who she was....

"What is your brother doing these days?"

"Well, he's still king, you know".

[Tapiola]

Yes indeed, Tapiola, it was the late AB! Small world, eh? Can I send you a private message to exchange identities or would you prefer to remain anonymous?

Small world indeed! AB was brilliantly infuriating and infuriatingly brilliant, in my opinion. A legend of a man

Yes, do PM please.