Sunday, September 23, 2007

P D James: Adjusting to Retirement-Admiral Crowe

In her autobiographical fragment, Time to be in Earnest, P D James recalls a story told by the retiring American Ambassador to Great Britain at one of his goodbye bashes in Regent’s Park.

“Admiral Crowe said this was his second retirement. The morning after he left the Navy he dashed out of his house and settled himself comfortably with his newspaper in the back of the car. A few minutes later his wife came out to point out gently that, if he wanted the car to go anywhere, he would have to sit in the front and drive!”

P D James, Time to be in Earnest: A Fragment of Autobiography (London: Faber & Faber, 1999), 63.

Image: Retired Admiral, William Crowe.