Ink and Incapability

Ink and Incapability is the second episode of the third series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder. Samuel Johnson (Robbie Coltrane) seeks Prince George's patronage for his new book, A Dictionary of the English Language. The Prince – seeking to amend his reputation as an "utter turnip-head" – is keen, but Blackadder tries to turn him against the idea, condemning the dictionary as pointless ("it's the most pointless book since 'How to learn French' was t... more

Ink and Incapability is the second episode of the third series of the BBC sitcom Blackadder. Samuel Johnson (Robbie Coltrane) seeks Prince George's patronage for his new book, A Dictionary of the English Language. The Prince – seeking to amend his reputation as an "utter turnip-head" – is keen, but Blackadder tries to turn him against the idea, condemning the dictionary as pointless ("it's the most pointless book since 'How to learn French' was translated into French") and making disparaging remarks about Dr. Johnson. It soon emerges that Blackadder resents Dr. Johnson for apparently ignoring his novel Edmund: A Butler's Tale which, under the pseudonym of "Gertrude Perkins", he had secretly sent to Johnson in the hope that Johnson would use his influence to promote and seek financial backing for the novel, which Blackadder considers his crowning achievement. Dr. Johnson has a meeting with the Prince, during which George fails to grasp the purpose of the Dictionary and Blackadder... less