If I Ruled The World - Paul Gervais
Reader's Digest UK|May 2021
Artist and author of the PEN/Faulkner Award finalist, Extraordinary People, Paul Gervais’ latest exhibition is a series of portraits inspired by Lucian Freud
If I Ruled The World - Paul Gervais

I would be a king, not a prince. I used to want to be a prince. Mostly because I wanted to wear the clothes, whatever the era or culture: Renaissance, Ancient Egypt, Maasai warrior… My mother killed me with childhood dentistry and I appreciate that now that I’m old, but regrettably, this shower of affection did not make me a prince. Never mind, the prince thing is no longer my goal. I want to be king. That’s the ticket. And if so…

I would outlaw couples sitting side by side, facing out in a restaurant. This might be OK for them, a nice alternative to looking only at each other throughout the meal, but I don’t see why I should have to be the object of their attention with all the whispered comments and giggles. Sure, I’m paranoid, but so?

This story is from the May 2021 edition of Reader's Digest UK.

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