Aristocratic novelist Sophia Money-Coutts is hopping mad after the best-selling author of Crazy Rich Asians apparently named a character in his new book after her without permission.
In response, she calls American writer Kevin Kwan, whose book was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster, ‘lazy’ ‘weird’ and ‘creepy’.
He named a posh, glossy magazine writer in his newly published novel, Lies and Weddings, Cosima Money-Coutts.
Sophia, daughter of Crispin Money-Coutts, the 9th Lord Latimer, asks: ‘Can I go after the Crazy Rich Asians writer for using me in his new novel?
Aristocratic novelist Sophia Money-Coutts is hopping mad after the best-selling author of Crazy Rich Asians apparently named a character in his new book after her without permission
In response, she calls American writer Kevin Kwan, whose book was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster, ‘lazy’ ‘weird’ and ‘creepy’
He named a posh, glossy magazine writer in his newly published novel, Lies and Weddings, Cosima Money-Coutts
‘I have got to the part where a journalist who works for a posh magazine rocks up at ‘Greshambury Hall’ for an interview. Guess what this journalist is called? Cosima Money-Coutts.
‘Cosima definitely reminds me of, well, me, given that I used to work for Tatler and spent a good deal of my time motoring around big houses interviewing posh people about their fireplaces and labradors.’
Writing on her Substack blog, Sophia says: ‘It seems a bit lazy for Kevin not to have thought at any stage, ‘Oh, s***, that’s pretty close to a real-life person, I possibly should change her name.’ He would have had *so many* opportunities to tweak it, and he just didn’t.
‘Alternatively, he could have parodied my name – Cosima Cash-Natwest? Cosima Dosh-Monzo? Or maybe Money-Coutts is so improbable and downright ludicrous you simply cannot beat it.
‘But Kevin didn’t even try to come up with a parody. It feels a bit weird and creepy. Although I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that.’
She adds: ‘There’s the usual legal disclaimer in the front of the novel, ‘This is work of fiction…Any resemblance to actual persons is entirely coincidental’, but forgive me, Kevin, for saying that seems a tiny bit laughable in this context.’
Coast is clear for King’s old school
This will bring back memories for King Charles: his alma mater is to redevelop its coastguard building.
He was a member of the Gordonstoun school coastguard and spoke in 2017 about his ‘real-life work’ there.
At a Buckingham Palace ceremony recognising volunteers he joked: ‘Most of the time we spent hoping that some enormous aircraft carrier would run aground so that we could rescue the entire crew with what was then a very complicated set of breeches buoys.’
The new building will include a briefing room and office, with construction costing around £225,000.
Prince Philip was among Gordonstoun’s first pupils and Princes Andrew and Edward also attended the school in Moray, Scotland.
General view of Gordonstoun School, which is to redevelop its coastguard building
Aug. 15, 1962 King Charles, 13 years old, during his first term at Gordonstoun School
It’s the dog days of summer for Bridgerton star
However, warm the weather, the ladies in Bridgerton remain firmly buttoned up. But when filming stops, Simone Ashley enjoys stripping off in the heat.
And the Surrey-born actress, 29, who plays Viscount Bridgerton’s wife, Kate, in the costume drama, shared this snap of her enjoying the sun with her spaniel, Myla.
‘She’s the funniest dog ever, and amazing,’ Simone says. ‘She comes everywhere with me and is just really special. I think dogs are amazing.’
Simone also enjoys the company of Constantin ‘Tino’ Klein, the boss of a company that organises ice races in Austria.
And the Surrey-born actress, 29, who plays Viscount Bridgerton’s wife, Kate, in the costume drama, shared this snap of her enjoying the sun with her spaniel, Myla
Simone Ashley is character in the Bridgerton series
Glorious ex-MP Penny takes up a seat at sunny Goodwood
Failure sometimes yields unexpected rewards, as Penny Mordaunt was pleasurably reminded this week.
On the day that MPs broke up for summer recess, the former minister, who lost her Portsmouth North constituency last month, treated herself to some fun at Glorious Goodwood, summer’s most splendid race meeting.
The 51-year-old divorcee dressed with characteristic verve in a top patterned with gold and navy blue chevrons.
Was it intended to semaphore that Penny, a former Royal Navy reservist, remains single, following her split, from her boyfriend, classical singer Ian Lyon?
On the day that MPs broke up for summer recess, the former minister, who lost her Portsmouth North constituency last month, treated herself to some fun at Glorious Goodwood
Baroness asks House of Lords about fetish clothing
Anne Jenkin has tabled a very curious question in the Lords: ‘To ask His Majesty’s Government what is their policy on civil servants wearing fetish clothing in the workplace?.’
Baroness Jenkin, the estranged wife of Tory MP Sir Bernard, declines to say what has prompted her question, but she has been outspoken on gender issues.
Last year, she denounced the Lord Chancellor’s decision to recognise Matilda Simon, a transgender woman, as the 3rd Baron Simon of Wythenshawe.
Anne Jenkin has tabled a very curious question in the Lords: ‘To ask His Majesty’s Government what is their policy on civil servants wearing fetish clothing in the workplace’