Fart history? Joseph Pujol trumps them all
The farting feats reported on these pages (Letters, 15, 16, 17, 18 August) are nothing compared to those of Joseph Pujol (1857-1915), who turned farting into an art form. Known as Le Pétomane, his shows in Paris attracted huge audiences, including royalty from various countries. The national anthems of several countries were part of his repertory, and Galton and Simpson made a film about him in 1979.
His achievements have been secured posthumously in a number of ways. Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974) features the character Governor William J Le Petomane, and another comedy film, Up the Creek (1984), features Lepetomane University. Le Pétomane also appears as a character in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge (2001).
As yet there is no operatic treatment of Le Pétomane’s career, but maybe one day, one of our brighter composers such as Michael Finnissy, Thomas Adès, Mark-Anthony Turnage or Symon Clarke might fill the gap. Music may then acquire a new term, molto fartissimo.
Meirion Bowen
London
• Is it not time for the Guardian to stop farting about and reprint the famous 1960s article by Peter Lennon on Joseph Pujol? I still have my yellowed copy if you can’t find yours.
Cyril Duff
London
• I think we should put farting in its historical context by acknowledging those who made a living from it. Before Joseph Pujol there was Roland le Fartere – a minstrel in the court of Henry II who would have the king in stitches with his annual Christmas party trick of a leap, a whistle and a fart.
David Hulme
Stockport, Manchester
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