Who, me?

I was sitting outside Maison Bertaux contemplating the sybaritic joys of the world's finest vanilla cheesecake when my mind suddenly latched onto the conversation of the two gay boys at the next table.

These boys -- obviously from wealthy backgrounds -- were discussing school, and one of them was snorting with derision about an "essay" he had just been asked to write: "200 words on your favourite typeface. I mean, what sort of nerd has a favourite typeface?"

Um...

My favourite is unquestionably Joanna.

Designed by genius typographer/evil kiddy-fiddler Eric Gill, this is one of his less well known designs. It's modern but clearly from a long line of Humanist fonts, simple but bursting with personality, and the italic (or, rather, sloped Roman) is one of the most delightful of any font.