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After the death of a Tory MP in dubious circumstances, New Labour arrives in the Rapstone Valley in the shape of Terry Flitton and his very PC wife, Kate. The seat is captured, but at the at the terrible price of collaboration with the old Thatcherite Lord Titmuss, still a force in the area.Tags
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Member Reviews
The style of this book reminded me of Priestley's tales of red brick universities: a comfortable, not laugh aloud, but amusing read.
As with all good fiction, this book also highlights truths in the real world. Terry Flitton is a socialist but, he is willing to compromise his beliefs in the drive for power. The Conservative Leslie Titmuss, on the other hand, appears to stab his party in the back by supporting Terry but, this is merely part of a long term plan. Where have I seen this before? Conservatives are experts on slicing a sliver from the opposition, converting them, and moving on to the next. Divide and conquer - a phrase created for the right.
As with all good fiction, this book also highlights truths in the real world. Terry Flitton is a socialist but, he is willing to compromise his beliefs in the drive for power. The Conservative Leslie Titmuss, on the other hand, appears to stab his party in the back by supporting Terry but, this is merely part of a long term plan. Where have I seen this before? Conservatives are experts on slicing a sliver from the opposition, converting them, and moving on to the next. Divide and conquer - a phrase created for the right.
The entire set of the Rapstone series, featuring that dreadful politician Leslie Titmuss - pokes fun at Tories and Liberals alike, from social pretensions to oh, let's say, sexual oddities (more the Tory side of things, probably). Reminds me of my village in Kent. Can be read and re-read, without dimishing enjoyment!
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146+ Works 15,677 Members
Series
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- England, UK
- Epigraph
- ...So he passed over, and the trumpets sounded for him on the other side. Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress.
'Of course government in general, any government anywhere, is a thing of exquisite comicality to a discerning mind.' Joseph Conrad, Nostromo - Dedication
- For Sinead Cusack
- First words
- A bird, one of the Red Kites restored to our skies as a result of careful breeding in the Nature Area, drifting among the grey and pink clouds of a September dawn, had the best view of the impact of recent history on the Raps... (show all)tone Valley.
- Quotations
- You know the sort of woman. Adores the working classes but doesn't want any of them coming to supper.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It could have been a gesture of greeting or farewell. But then she turned away.
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- Members
- 206
- Popularity
- 156,624
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.45)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 16
- ASINs
- 6
