http://lizzysiddal.wordpress.com/2009... ( )

Bizarrely this book has a different title in America, but that peeve aside, it's really rather excellent. Michael Owen sets out to write a biography of right-wing aristocratic family, the Winshaws; people so odious it's fun to hate them as they're shown committing a series of acts against human decency. How greedy, heartless bastards own the world and everything in it. Funny, political, compelling, clever... It's a great novel. Makes me wish I was really a socialist ( )

The 80s and a wealthy family of awful people, occasionally funny, twisted tale made interesting with rants on privatisation, arms etc, entertaining ( )

Masterful satire by a very funny man who was clearly enraged by Thatcherite conservatism. ( )

80's anti Thatcherite classic political comedy that explores the impact of greed on various aspects of cultural and economic life(NHS, Media etc). Follows the fortunes of various family members after the "death" of a brother in the war through the eyes of a biographer hired by the" mad" aunt with hilarious consequences. You didn't have to there to enjoy the hatchet job on the 80's so read and think never again in our lifetime...sigh ( )