Lord Jeremy Pimpole
Encyclopedia
Lord Jeremy Pimpole is a fictional character
created by author Tom Sharpe
, a British
novelist. The character of Lord Pimpole is first mentioned in Porterhouse Blue
(1974), set in the fictitious Porterhouse College in Cambridge
, where his name, with that of a former student, Launcelot Gutterby, is often chanted to himself by Skullion
, the Head Porter
, as the mantra "Gutterby and Pimpole", when it seems that standards at the College are slipping. This helps to remind Skullion of the days when students had been proper gentlemen.
In the sequel, Grantchester Grind
(1995), the character of Pimpole plays a more central role. In this novel he has changed from the 'delightfully vague and charming young man' of his student days to an unwashed and abusive alcoholic with a sexual predilection for sheep and dogs. Because of his spending, mostly on alcohol, he has lost Pimpole Hall, the ancestral home, and is reduced to living in a gamekeeper's lodge on what had been his family's estate. His favourite drink is Dog's Nose, usually made up of seven ounces of gin to thirteen ounces of beer. Pimpole's version of the drink is made up of 60% gin.
At the end of Grantchester Grind
Skullion, who became Master of Porterhouse College on the death of Sir Godber Evans
, nominates Lord Pimpole as the next Master of the College.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by author Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe is an English satirical author, best known for his Wilt series of novels.Sharpe was born in London and moved to South Africa in 1951, where he worked as a social worker and a teacher, before being deported for sedition in 1961...
, a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
novelist. The character of Lord Pimpole is first mentioned in Porterhouse Blue
Porterhouse Blue
Porterhouse Blue is a novel written by Tom Sharpe, first published in 1974. There was a Channel 4 TV series in 1987 based on the novel, adapted by Malcolm Bradbury...
(1974), set in the fictitious Porterhouse College in Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where his name, with that of a former student, Launcelot Gutterby, is often chanted to himself by Skullion
Skullion
Skullion is a central character in Porterhouse Blue and Grantchester Grind , two novels about life in the fictitious Porterhouse College at Cambridge by British novelist Tom Sharpe. For centuries, Porterhouse College has been renowned for its cuisine, the prowess of its rowers and the low level of...
, the Head Porter
Porter (college)
The majority of colleges at the universities of Cambridge, Durham and Oxford, as well as newer collegiate universities such as York and older universities like University of Bristol and St David's College, have members of staff called porters. There is normally a head porter and a team of other...
, as the mantra "Gutterby and Pimpole", when it seems that standards at the College are slipping. This helps to remind Skullion of the days when students had been proper gentlemen.
In the sequel, Grantchester Grind
Grantchester Grind
Grantchester Grind is a novel written by Tom Sharpe, a British novelist born in 1928 who was educated at Lancing College and then at Pembroke College, Cambridge.-Premise:...
(1995), the character of Pimpole plays a more central role. In this novel he has changed from the 'delightfully vague and charming young man' of his student days to an unwashed and abusive alcoholic with a sexual predilection for sheep and dogs. Because of his spending, mostly on alcohol, he has lost Pimpole Hall, the ancestral home, and is reduced to living in a gamekeeper's lodge on what had been his family's estate. His favourite drink is Dog's Nose, usually made up of seven ounces of gin to thirteen ounces of beer. Pimpole's version of the drink is made up of 60% gin.
At the end of Grantchester Grind
Grantchester Grind
Grantchester Grind is a novel written by Tom Sharpe, a British novelist born in 1928 who was educated at Lancing College and then at Pembroke College, Cambridge.-Premise:...
Skullion, who became Master of Porterhouse College on the death of Sir Godber Evans
Sir Godber Evans
Sir Godber Evans is a central character in Porterhouse Blue and, posthumously, Grantchester Grind , two novels about life in the fictitious Porterhouse College at Cambridge by British novelist Tom Sharpe...
, nominates Lord Pimpole as the next Master of the College.
See also
- Tom SharpeTom SharpeTom Sharpe is an English satirical author, best known for his Wilt series of novels.Sharpe was born in London and moved to South Africa in 1951, where he worked as a social worker and a teacher, before being deported for sedition in 1961...
- Porterhouse BluePorterhouse BluePorterhouse Blue is a novel written by Tom Sharpe, first published in 1974. There was a Channel 4 TV series in 1987 based on the novel, adapted by Malcolm Bradbury...
- Grantchester GrindGrantchester GrindGrantchester Grind is a novel written by Tom Sharpe, a British novelist born in 1928 who was educated at Lancing College and then at Pembroke College, Cambridge.-Premise:...
- Porterhouse College, Cambridge
- Sir Godber EvansSir Godber EvansSir Godber Evans is a central character in Porterhouse Blue and, posthumously, Grantchester Grind , two novels about life in the fictitious Porterhouse College at Cambridge by British novelist Tom Sharpe...
- SkullionSkullionSkullion is a central character in Porterhouse Blue and Grantchester Grind , two novels about life in the fictitious Porterhouse College at Cambridge by British novelist Tom Sharpe. For centuries, Porterhouse College has been renowned for its cuisine, the prowess of its rowers and the low level of...