- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Canada (Oct 2 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0143054007
- ISBN-13: 978-0143054009
- Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 15 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 431 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #234,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This laugh-out-loud, darkly intelligent debut suggests that Thewlis might meet with considerable success should he decide to quit acting and take up the pen full-time. London artist Hector Kipling paints huge canvases dominated by a single head. He's doing well, but he's not nearly as famous as his best friend, conceptualist Lenny Snook. Eaten up by jealousy, Hector believes that Lenny has made his fortune with stolen ideas. As Hector struggles to cope with an absent girlfriend, his parents' insane expenditures and a vandal attacking his most valuable painting, things begin to go very wrong indeed. Readers who have mourned the end of Sue Townsend's wonderful, long-running Adrian Mole series will find solace of a sort here, as will anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking skewering of modern art by a knowledgeable writer and an inescapably doomed but appealing hero. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"...the art-world milieu is deftly handled, and there's a splendidly mean and morbid wit at play in this antic account of a man whose life seems a "drunken collaboration between Feydeau and Dante." ...this is far more than an actor's vanity project: Thewlis has talent." -- Kirkus Review
"I laughed and laughed until I read my own name amongst the carnage of Thewlis's unfortunate characters. This book is a disgrace - it's mean, cruel and refreshingly cynical." -- Jake Chapman
"Satirical first novel by stage actor-turned-promising writer." -- The Observer, Must Read Edition
"Thewlis is an authentically talented newcomer. There is a terrific relish for words, a lively, salty dexterity with both dialogue and comic setpieces." -- The Telegraph Magazine UK
'David Thewlis has written an extraordinarily good novel, which is not only brilliant in it's own right, but which stands proudly, shoulder to shoulder beside his work as an actor and screenwriter, no mean boast. He is the epitome of the true renaissance man. A hero of mine' -- Billy Connolly
"I laughed and laughed until I read my own name amongst the carnage of Thewlis's unfortunate characters. This book is a disgrace - it's mean, cruel and refreshingly cynical." -- Jake Chapman
"Satirical first novel by stage actor-turned-promising writer." -- The Observer, Must Read Edition
"Thewlis is an authentically talented newcomer. There is a terrific relish for words, a lively, salty dexterity with both dialogue and comic setpieces." -- The Telegraph Magazine UK
'David Thewlis has written an extraordinarily good novel, which is not only brilliant in it's own right, but which stands proudly, shoulder to shoulder beside his work as an actor and screenwriter, no mean boast. He is the epitome of the true renaissance man. A hero of mine' -- Billy Connolly
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hector is pure magic!, Nov 25 2007
By L. Bradach - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Late Hector Kipling (Hardcover)
How often do you come across a book that makes you laugh out loud? David Thewlis has penned such a marvel--a sharp, brilliant story that retains a marvelous sense of wit, along with being dead-on accurate at nailing the inner angst of the artist. Do not miss this one.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Self(ish) Portrait, May 11 2008
By EddieLove "EddieLove" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Late Hector Kipling (Hardcover)
The story of an artist whose talents don't extend to the simplest matters of adult, human interaction. This is full of laugh-out-loud send-ups of modern art and the details of Hector's love and family lives may make you cringe with no small measure of recognition. The action is a little repetitive and the ending gets very dark, but Thewlis really knows what he's doing.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well-done, but too dark for me, Jan 16 2008
By Carla Lilie "carlachris" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Late Hector Kipling (Hardcover)
There's no question that "The Late Hector Kipling" is a witty, entertaining novel. Thewlis has an engaging style of writing and the various characters are well-drawn. I also enjoyed his take on contemporary art and the contemporary art scene. What I did not enjoy so much was the character of Hector Kipling. At first Hector seems to be a moderately decent guy. He has some dark thoughts, but so do we all. As the book is written in the first person, the reader is definitely given a warts and all view of Hector. I don't see how the book could have been written in any other way and been as effective.After awhile, though, I was praying for Hector to make even one mature decision. I was starting to find him really tiresome and I lost any ability to relate to him. I enjoy black comedy, but this seemed to be at the dark, extreme edge of black comedy. It was just too dark for my taste. For me, this was probably a 3-star book. I've given it 4-stars because it was very well done; it just veered off into a direction I didn't care for.
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