The Observer Archive

While the world’s extremists are quite open about their fear of sex, the British pretend to be utterly at ease with it. Henry Porter, “Too close for our comfort”, The Observer, 13 October 1996 Favorite0

We are not a physically confident nation. When we think of ourselves making love we do not summon the blissful image of taut bodies coupling, but a vision of up-ended buttocks and too much cellulite. (…) Undressed we think of ourselves more naked than nude, the sort of nakedness you find in

It is also, you will notice, foreign. We find it helpful to associate sexual products and practices with foreigners because—naturally—we could not possibly have invented them. (…) Abroad is where sex happens and where the British are most at risk. Sarah Ferguson is trapped having her toes sucked in France, Hugh Grant

The British consider sex far too fleshy for comfort. Henry Porter, “Too close for our comfort”, The Observer, 13 October 1996 Favorite0

The British love sex—when other people are doing it. But we also hate sex—when we are doing it ourselves. What, asks, Henry Porter, does this say about our values? Henry Porter, “Too close for our comfort”, The Observer, 13 October 1996 Favorite0