As legendary Washington Post columnist George F. Will marks 50 years of opinion for the paper, I try on the columnist's identity and explore its nature
I really enjoyed this. Its been a while since I read any, but I used to greatly enjoy Will’s columns. Masterclasses of concision. Somehow both partisan and fair. Drily witty. IIRC he had the habit of summarising his opponent’s position, and then following it with the one-word sentence. “Well.” It’s always in my head to steal that every time I write.
So glad you mentioned Robert Hutton in your list of writers you admire, there were others in your list such as Alex Massie that I really enjoy as well but the Hutton mention stood out as I believe he’s really underrated and not as well known or broadly read as he deserves to be
Could not agree more, so often there is one sentence that you want to cut out and share with people only for the next sentence to be even better, todays one about the new Reform benefactor a prime example
But you’re also right that behind the humour is something real, he gets his point across as well as making you laugh
No offence to the Critic but I feel he deserves a bigger platform, I think he’s better than sketchwriters at other more prestigious or widely read publications
I really enjoyed this. Its been a while since I read any, but I used to greatly enjoy Will’s columns. Masterclasses of concision. Somehow both partisan and fair. Drily witty. IIRC he had the habit of summarising his opponent’s position, and then following it with the one-word sentence. “Well.” It’s always in my head to steal that every time I write.
So glad you mentioned Robert Hutton in your list of writers you admire, there were others in your list such as Alex Massie that I really enjoy as well but the Hutton mention stood out as I believe he’s really underrated and not as well known or broadly read as he deserves to be
He’s very sharp and extremely funny. His regular column in the Critic is the among the best sketch-writing: comic but with purpose.
Could not agree more, so often there is one sentence that you want to cut out and share with people only for the next sentence to be even better, todays one about the new Reform benefactor a prime example
But you’re also right that behind the humour is something real, he gets his point across as well as making you laugh
No offence to the Critic but I feel he deserves a bigger platform, I think he’s better than sketchwriters at other more prestigious or widely read publications
And his book Would They Lie To You? is excellent.
https://roberthutton.co.uk/would-they-lie-to-you/
Thanks heaps, I’ll add that to the list
We’ll see who gets to the others book recommendation first! 😀