Porterhouse Blue: Amazon.ca: Tom Sharpe: Books

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Product Description

Porterhouse College, renowned for its gastronomic excellence, the arrogance of its Fellows, and its academic mediocrity, has a new Master. Determined to change all this, he finds a most intransigent foe in Skullion, the Head Porter. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Never before published in America, and now a six-hour PBS presentation, Porterhouse Blue is the story of one college campus with more problems than students. A revolution at Porterhouse College sends a lot of things out in the open--namely one gross of condoms. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
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First Sentence
It was fine feast. Read the first page

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Concordance

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews

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4 star:		(2)
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Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars The humour is academic., Jan 28 2004

By	Sailoil (Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porterhouse Blue (Paperback)

A satirical leg-pull on one of Britains most august institutions, the Oxbridge College. All the pomp is there, the swan stuffed with widgeon, ageing dons clinging to their chairs with dead cold hands, gate porters who have more in common with east european secret police than with door men.

Within this stuffy and pompous world Sharpe sets a hilarious story. Gas filled condoms bobbing on the lawn, exploding chimneys, numerous haircuts on the one day. All the elements of a good farce are brought together to give a really good funny read. Not the funniest Sharpe novel, but definitely on form.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Rip Roaring Fun...Hilarious Academic Farce, Nov 15 2003

By	S. Henkels (Devon, Pa United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Porterhouse Blue (Paperback)

There's an out loud laugh a minute in this university life farce. The old verses the new, tradition and progress, black humor and farce abound..Some eccentric characters even by Brit standards, and written so well you'll breeze right through it! Also great descriptions, and you'll feel you're a casual witness to the academic shenanigans all the way through. My only criticism is some very serious situations (like a murderous fire) may be taken a bit too casually..Still, with a touch of class and bawdiness, this one is a real winner!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, but somewhat inaccessible, April 23 2003

By	"corwalch" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porterhouse Blue (Paperback)

Of all Tom Sharpe's novels, _Porterhouse Blue_ is perhaps the least accessible. It helps to know something of Cambridge, Peterhouse in particular. Hugh Trevor-Roper, Lady Alexandra, Brian Wormald, and others make barely disguised appearances. Likewise does it help to know something of the Cambridge tripos system and the actual role of the colleges in undergraduate life. Helps to know something, that is, but not too much, as "true insiders" have told me it barely scratches the surface. Overall, funny and viciously satirical, but not Tom Sharpe at his best.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A first class read!!
Sharpe is very sharp indeed with Porterhouse Blue. He captures the atmosphere of English academic conservatism at its very funny and ironic best. Read more

Published on Dec 27 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh Out Loud Funny
I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book, and laughed from the beginning to the end. I've also listened to Ancestral Vices, another very funny book. Read more

Published on Dec 5 2001

3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best work
I read this book after reading the Wilt series and Indecent Exposure. I must say I was a bit disappointed. Read more

Published on Feb 28 2001 by ahmadku

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious send-up of classic British university life
Hilarious, witty, wonderful book. The TV series (which appeared on PBS but does not seem, regrettably, to be available on video) did the book justice, but Sharpe's prose is... Read more

Published on Jun 22 2000 by Jonathan Moore