Perhaps, in order to find Molesworth utterly hilarious, it is necessary to have read it as a child. Wendy Cope claims to 'hav been reading this stuff and roaring with larffter since i was 11 yrs old' (which, if nothing else, endorses Philip Hensher's assertion in the introduction to this edition that those who attempt to imitate Molesworth's style always 'come a cropper'). Hensher, too, at 'inexplicable moments', has had to 'lay down Down with Skool! and cry with laughter', and he first read it when he was 'probably no more than ten or eleven'. So I suppose I ought to say at this point that I didn't read it when I was at school, and reading it now I don't find it hilarious, though it is sometimes funny. People who did read it at school probably think I'm missing the point, and of course I am - in fact, I can't fail to, because I didn't read it at school - but I'd say that those who, like Hensher, think Molesworth is 'sublime' are missing a different point: and they're bound to, because they did read it at school.

LRB 17 February 2000 | PDF Download