Father Roodscreen was a learned priest who, in his assessment of Pope Spatulus III's upbringing, said the pontiff turned out "no better and no worse than one might expect" (Saint Fidgeta and Other Parodies; 52).
Inspiration[]
The name is based on the rood screen, but by changing screen to screed Bellairs adds humorous twist. “I think the word is often used to insult any piece of writing by suggesting that it is unworthy of whatever its intended name and purpose might be.[1]”
Screed: a long discourse or harangue; a piece of writing[2].
Reference[]
- ↑ Correspondence with Charles Bowen.
- ↑ Wiktionary: screed