Amazon.co.uk Review:
”Ned Maddstone has it all. He's handsome and talented; he has the love of a beautiful woman and in 1980, he stands at the brink of a glittering future. He rounds off an outstanding public school career with a sailing trip to Scotland, which is where his fortunes enter a terrifying tailspin. Determined to honour the dying wish of his sailing instructor, Ned returns to London, where the schemes of jealous classmates catapult him into a 10-year nightmare. Confined to a solitary Hell, believed dead by all those who loved him, Ned transforms from a terminally nice guy into a creature bent on revenge, a revenge both satisfying and apocalyptic.
Few writers can deliver so much in one package, but here Stephen Fry combines a riotous satire of the privileged classes with elements of the darkest thrillers. While the plot bounces from the sublime to the surreal, his characters remain acutely real. Ned's classmates, slow-witted hedonist Rufus Cade, and the Machiavellian climber Ashley Barson-Garland—who is aroused by the sight of straw boaters—are masterful creations. This novel has nothing to do with tennis, and everything to do with the cruel logic of Fate. Game, set and match to Mr Fry.”
Good and fast read. I did not read the text on the back very carefully, so it took until page 268 till the coin dropped and I realised that I was actually reading Alexandre Dumas.... Sad ending. I liked the first part of the book better. The story is very close to Monte Christo and therefore there were not any surprises towards the end, it was too predictable. Still enjoyed it though.Also by Stephen Fry: The Liar (Lisa)
