Tony Hendra was a National Lampoon writer. He did several Grimm-type fairy tale parodies as well as lots of other cynical and sarcastic essays. He published a bunch of them in “The Book of Bad Virtues”, which was itself titled as a parody of William Bennett’s ‘Book of Virtues’.
I think my favorite story, though a bit apocryphal, was of the life and times of the Singing Nun, a one hit wonder in the 1960s, with her song ‘Dominique’, who after she arrived in the US went bonkers and stayed that way. She eventually insulted the Pope to his face, dated Hell’s Angels founder Sonny Barger, became a “leather nun” in San Francisco, and generally went completely nuts.
Sadly, we have met quite a few nuns who were nuts. A few of them were even relatives. It led my mom to develop this theory that a lifetime of celibacy has very detrimental effects upon the female brain.
Didn’t know that about the Sister. Just looked her up on Wikipedia and the story there isn’t quite so sordid but I’ll take your word for it. Those Belgians can be a little unstable. I remember seeing her sing on the Ed Sullivan Show and if anyone could be cute and adorable in a full habit she was.
*** became a “leather nun” in San Francisco, and generally went completely nuts.***
NO! NO! Not Debbie Reynolds!