People
My favourite piece of information is that Branwell Brontë, brother of Emily and Charlotte, died standing up leaning against a mantle piece, in order to prove it could be done.
— Douglas Adams · The Salmon of Doubt
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Adams calls this his favourite piece of information: a man who supposedly died standing up against a mantelpiece, just to prove it could be done. The delight is in the sheer pointless stubbornness, a fact prized for being absurd rather than useful.
Context reviewed