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The Hippopotamus

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The Hippopotamus

By: Stephen Fry
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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About this listen

Ted Wallace is an old, sour, womanising, cantankerous, whisky-sodden beast of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. Fired from his newspaper, months behind on his alimony payments, and disgusted with a world that undervalues him, Ted seeks a few months repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the country mansion of his old friend Lord Logan.

But strange things have been going on at Swafford. Miracles. Healings. Phenomena beyond the comprehension of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted....

©1994 Stephen Fry (P)1994 Random House Audio
Dark Humour Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Fiction Funny
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The narration was great but the story was disturbing and I didn't especially enjoy it.

Well read but I didn't like the story

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Stephen's ability to make the reader really like the protagonist, for all his apparent faults, is legend. And to make us see through the utter pomposity and stupidity of some characeters whilst simultaneously quietly championing others is similarly brilliant. Loved the twists and turns this tale took, AND found the whole thing completely beliavable too. Give more please, old darling!

Stephen Fry should write more novels!

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Very well written, smart, witty & I love Teds character!!! Do not be put off by previous prudish reviews. It’s funny / smart and entertaining.

Love it

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I normally love everything Stephen Fry does, but really struggled with this one. Maybe it’s too much British wit for me, shame because I really wanted to get into it.

Struggled to get into it

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Really enjoyed this from Stephen Fry. It had a bit of everything, it was laugh out loud funny, intelligent, had subtle warmth, a bit outrageous and brilliantly presented as always. Loved the twist on the classic manor-house mystery plot as well as it felt fresh and easy to engage with.

Masterful

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