The Hippopotamus - Stephen Fry

The Hippopotamus is Stephen Fry's third novel. Other than reading his autobiography, which I thoroughly enjoyed, this is the first novel of his that I have read. I have to say I was slightly disappointed with it. I adore Stephen Fry and really enjoy listening to him talk. A great deal of what he says goes way above my little head but I like to gaze in awe and wonderment anyway! When I read this work, I found it more difficult to follow his language than when he speaks, possibly because my intellect is not up to it, or possibly because he does not write clearly. In all honesty, it is probably more likely to be the former! I won't give up on Fry. I have all his ...

As a novelist, Stephen Fry is definitely winning my favour at present. His work is fairly light, witty, and has the added bonus of intelligent thoughts, original ideas and occasionally provocative subject matter. Easy to consume and very pleasing, "The Hippopotamus" is a read I would recommend. The plot: Ted is an aging failed poet, failed theatre critic, with a failed marriage, failing health - in short, his life is a bit of a mess, he's just lost his job and nothing looks bright. A chance encounter with his goddaughter sets him off on an unlikely missions; to visit an old friend and report to the god daughter if he sees anything unusual. All very ...

This, the third novel by Fry truly lives up to our expectation's and shows that Fry can easily live up to the literary standards of the likes of Wilde himself. As always Fry presents us with, for want of a better term, an ante-hero. Ted Wallace (our protagonist) is an old, sour, whisky-sodden beast of a poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. After being fired from his job Ted sets out to the country for what he is hoping will be a relaxing time with his old friend Lord Logan. The Byzantine mass of seething confusion, madness and country frolicking ensues. At times slightly strange, at other’s completely bizarre. Although slightly difficult ...