User:Mhaille/The Gay Adventures of the Purple Periwinkle

In order to create an authentic 18th Century feel the first draft of the book was written using traditional methods and the flayed flesh of an unbaptised minor.

“I couldn't put it down as a young man”

~ Noel Coward

"The Gay Adventures of the Purple Periwinkle" is a classic play and adventure novel set during the "Reign of Terror" following the start of the French Revolution. Beginning in 1792, the tale follows the adventures of Sir Percy Whoopsi-Holmes, an English Aristocrat who leads a secret double existance saving young foreign boys from harm.

First published in 1902 the books have been recognised as a major influence on literature throughout the 20th Century and has been made into feature film no fewer than sixteen times, most recently by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe in the titular role who spent ten whole months perfecting the lisping regional accent of the distinguished English gentlemen.

Popular Quotes from the Novel

The Purple Periwinkle demonstrating his tromboning skills to a group of young French garçons.

“ Despite their apparent good manners and upbringing even the daughters of the social elite within France had underarm hair so thick that a fully grown bagder could get lost amongst their outrageous curls... ”

“ Think of this. A sword is like a fine cock. If you clutch it too tightly, you choke it...too lightly and it flies away.... ”

Interesting Factoids

• Each chapter of the book has a French title, which includes "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche", "Je t'aime... moi non plus" and "Je vais et je viens, entre tes reins".

Sequels

“ Percy, old chap... ”

The author wrote numerous sequels, none of which became as famous as The Gay Adventures of the Purple Periwinkle no doubt due to one of the earliest attempts to plagiarise existing classics passing them off as new work. Purple Periwinkle's Travels, for example, saw the titular character visit a series of fabulous locations which were both a Menippean satire on human nature and a parody of the "travellers' tales" literary sub-genre. Waiting for the Purple Periwinkle is an enigmatic tale that many interpret as symbolising the futility of existence.

Other novels within the series included:

• The Picture of Sir Percy Whoopsi-Holmes
• A Portrait of the Purple Periwinkle as a Young Man and
• The Fountainhead

Critical Response

Much of the critical response in the early part of the 1900s was positive, but along with the latent homosexuality and open racism that was overlooked within the works of Enid Blyton, modern audiences appear to be unable to ignore the many shortcomings with The Gay Adventures.