Stiff Upper Lip: Life Among the Diplomats

Antrobus stories #2

by Lawrence Durrell, Nicolas Bentley (Illustrator)

In this boisterous story collection, mischief abounds in the quiet corners of the British Empire on which the sun never sets

As the overseer of the kitchen at the British embassy in Vulgaria, De Mandeville has begun to abuse his power. He subjects the King’s guests to a blistering Madras curry, a French onion soup served without spoons, and a table so loaded with vegetation that the party can hardly see the food. But worst of all, he has begun to cook with garlic, that fragrant bulb so beloved by diplomats that it must be banned, lest foul breath cripple the Empire. De Mandeville is due for comeuppance, and no breath mint can save him now.

 

“If Garlic Be the Food of Love” is only the first story in this invaluable peek at life in British diplomatic circles. After the ninth, the reader will wonder not how the British Empire came apart, but how De Mandeville, Polk-Mowbray, and the King’s other dips ever got it started in the first place.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, British Literature, Classics, Short Stories, 20th Century

93 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Lawrence George Durrell was a critically hailed and beloved novelist, poet, humorist, and travel writer best known for The Alexandria Quartet novels, which were ranked by the Modern Library as among the greatest works of English literature in the twentieth century. A passionate and dedicated writer from an early age, Durrell’s prolific career also included the groundbreaking Avignon Quintet, whose first novel, Monsieur (1974), won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and whose third novel, Constance (1982), was nominated for the Booker Prize. He also penned the celebrated travel memoir Bitter Lemons of Cyprus (1957), which won the Duff Cooper Prize. Durrell corresponded with author Henry Miller for forty-five years, and Miller influenced much of his early work, including a provocative and controversial novel, The Black Book (1938). Durrell died in France in 1990.

The time Lawrence spent with his family, mother Louisa, siblings Leslie, Margaret Durrell, and Gerald Durrell, on the island of Corfu were the subject of Gerald's memoirs and have been filmed numerous times for TV.

Reviews

[Natacha Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book quite by accident in the library at Yale University. I started reading very quietly and it didn't take me too long to be kick out of the library. I tried explaining to them that it wasn't my fault. The explosions of laughter were Lawrence's fault. But after about the tenth one, they weren't sympathetic anymore. Hands down funniest series I have ever read. And, obviously very well written.

[Javier Escalante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peak British diplomatic humor, though i think i liked Esprit de Corps a bit more. If u want to enjoy it, don’t read it under today’s standards.

[Rupert Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you fancy a leisurely read for an hour or two, Durrell's Stiff Upper Lip could well do the trick. Durrell departs from his more florid accounts of diplomatic life found in his other books to provide a few anecdotes from a "dip" (diplomatic) perspective. These are ditties with no twists or turns, pretty much standard gag material but the language is where the strength lies, a character described as "overlooked washing-up", of Martinis that "fairly whistles through the rigging", describing a dip rabble as having that "dreadful rinsed-out look which comes from Conferences", asking someone to take that "beastly sensual smile" off their face, and so on. Usually, for me, Lawrence is a much more poised writer. Apart from, The Black Book, and including this one, is Lawrence gallivanting across the page to entertain through quips and turns of phrase.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of his humorous works.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any novel that makes me laugh to tears is a winner.

[s.e · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as cool. Possibly more lowbrow, and that's why I claim it is not as cool? Also, I HATE the illustrations by Nicholas Bentley. They are ugly as fuck.

[Clementine Lussiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal no notes.

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

A while back on rec.arts.books, someone asked for any recommendations of authors like P. G. Wodehouse. In the ensuing responses, this thin little volume by Durrell was mentioned. I recognized Durrell’s name from my research into travel literature, and thought I’d give his humor a try. These are short stories, told to an unseen chronicler (and fellow diplomat) by an older collegue named Antrobus. The service is foreign, in a generic country name Vulgaria (a cute little dig at snobbish English diplomats). While the language is quite pleasant, and some of the situations quite amusing, what Durrell is missing is that sense of plot known as the conclusion (or, as a character says here, “the pay off”). Durrell tries, but never seems to get it right. I enjoyed it as a brief diversion (the book is less than 90 pages), but doubt I’ll be looking for more.

[G-phy]

I do like upper crust British slapstick humor, but these stories, while funny lack joie de vivre. But maybe I just picture Lawrence as a stick in the mud because of the way he was described by Gerald Durrell in "My Family and Other Animals."

Also Matthew Goode plays Lawrence in the movie of MF&OA so that's worth checking out.

[73pctGeek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This elicited a few giggles from me on occasion, but all in all was not really that funny. I assume it’s not a very good reflection of Durrell’s writing style, and I will be trying one of his novels in the future.

I will not be bothering to read any more of the Antrobus books however, just not my type of humour.

[Peter Heinrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I'm missing some context for these stories. Were they treatments for a 1950s Foreign Service sitcom?