The world's largest pumpkin was grown in 2009 by Nick and Christy Harpy from Ohio, USA, and weighed 1, 725lb (782kg).

BBC: Ian and Stuart Paton with pumpkin

In fact, Fosca is so much of a harpy and so conniving that it's hard to believe her hellish persistence could ever turn Giorgio into her admiring lover.

WSJ: Review: Intense revival of Sondheim's 'Passion'

The cast is a mixed salad: Rip Torn as the randy old King, Asia Argento as his mistress, Judy Davis as a court harpy, and Marianne Faithfull, no less, as the mother of Marie Antoinette.

NEWYORKER: Marie Antoinette

Mr. Rowson shows the queen in 1987 with curling lips and a bulbous nose receiving Margaret Thatcher, but the target is not Her Majesty but the then prime minister a sharp-nosed harpy with Cruella de Vil talons.

WSJ: Her Maj: 60 Years of Unofficial Portraits of the Queen | Cartoon Museum | Too Gentle on the Queen? | By Richard Holledge

There is nothing worse than a formerly promiscuous aunt now on a crusade for moral rectitude playing the harpy and scold in the sick room, elbowing the doctor aside to upbraid the patient with inappropriately timed, self-righteous sermons.

FORBES: It's Time For The Republicans To Play Budgetary Small Ball