The Hippopotamus

Hivemind187

I just finished it and thought I'd share that the titular novel by Stephen Fry is probably one of the best works of modern times.

Utterly brilliant, completely unafraid and quite suitable subject matter for the patrons of this forum.*

I reccomend anyone to pick it up and give it a read, or if you are lazy you can get it as an audiobook read by the author.



*The inevitable Christians disagreeing with authors lifestyle excluded.

Popinjay

Hmmm... Haven't read that one but 'Paperweight' is pretty good. It's a collection of Fry's essays, columns and other small bits and has his play 'Latin or Tobacco and Boys' at the back.

'The Liar' was a great read too.

Hivemind187

I enjoyed "The Liar" and unfortuantely I only have a broken audio version of "The Tennis Platers Balls" but I find that the Hippopotamus is his best work so far.

The humorous takes on some of his contemporaries are both skewering and warmly flattering. Clear references to Julien Clary are of course the most obvious.

5uspect

I really enjoyed his debate with Hitchens that someone posted awhile back.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/Blasphemy.mp3

Hivemind187

5uspect wrote: »

I really enjoyed his debate with Hitchens that someone posted awhile back.
/goes in search of it...

Fry got into it with Hitchens? Thats a little odd. Fry is himself and avowed disbeliever. I can't remember if he is a humanist or just a plain old atheist though.

5uspect

I use the word debate loosely!