The Janet and John books

More views of - or before - Cambridge Film Festival 2012
(Click here to go directly to the Festival web-site)

13 May

Those of a certain age may be familiar with - the existence, at any rate, of - this pair.

If so, their names - in that order - will be as locked as Jack and Jill, but what is the appeal?


* Unlike Jack with Jill, John is courteous, and lets Janet go first

* In both cases, there is the - almost necessary to observe - catch of alliteration

* If John did go first, how would it sound, with the falling notes of 'Janet' finishing the phrase, as against the ruggedness of John, a syllable that one has to go out of one's way to prolong, and which provides a solid close?

* But what about Jason, Janet and Jason?: if we could delve into the minds - or, better still, working papers - of those who designed these books, what prejudices about class or even perceived sexual orientation might have militated against Jason


Paula and Peter, anybody...?


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