My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
Falstaff
by
Robert Nye
The most beloved comic figure in English literature decides that history hasn't done him justice -- it's time for him to tell the whole unbuttoned story, his way. Irascible and still lecherous at eighty-one, Falstaff spins out these outrageously bawdy memoirs as an antidote to legend, and in the process manages to recreate his own.
This splendidly written novel is a feast,
...morePaperback, 464 pages
Published
February 18th 2003
by Arcade Publishing
(first published 1976)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
104)
I really ought to add a "history" shelf to my bookshelves. I keep running into books which really ought to be classified as such. Even the works of fiction. Probably especailly the works of fiction.
So, I really liked this book. It's well written and in a style that feels genuine and fresh. The novel is supposedly dictated by an excessivly age'd Sir John Falstaff to one of four men who tend to rotate in and out. And, having been told to write down every word he says, t...more
So, I really liked this book. It's well written and in a style that feels genuine and fresh. The novel is supposedly dictated by an excessivly age'd Sir John Falstaff to one of four men who tend to rotate in and out. And, having been told to write down every word he says, t...more
Okay, this book could be about 50 pages shorter and be better for it, but beyond that I really have no complaint and I have to say, this book surprised me with how good it ultimately turned out to be. Nye's narrator is by turns profane and poetic, epitomizing Shakespeare's Falstaff with astonishing accuracy while still managing to re-invent him and many of the other figures of the Henry plays. The book is both quintessentially medieval and English as well, filled with details and side stories th...more
This is a fantastic novel, the imagined 'autobiography' of one of Shakespeare's most famous, characters, dissolute, drunken, lecherous, cowardly, a rascal, but somehow lovable.
The author captures the tone of Sir John brilliantly, borrowing from Falstaff's appearances in Shakespeare's plays and retelling the stories from his perspective, versions which invariably make him look more heroic and even more lusty.
The book is funny and even moving as Falstaff recognises the wani...more
The author captures the tone of Sir John brilliantly, borrowing from Falstaff's appearances in Shakespeare's plays and retelling the stories from his perspective, versions which invariably make him look more heroic and even more lusty.
The book is funny and even moving as Falstaff recognises the wani...more
c1976. I am not sure if a historical novel can be described as dated. But it certainly seemed to me that there was a lot of gratutious mention of sex and various activities. I don't think that I am a prude but this was overwhelming due to the absolute volume. Not even well done really - just crude and coarse and I can't help thinking that this was typical of the popular novels of the period where it was considered daring and fresh to write "candid" and romping2 novels. I think I got t...more
A great lark!
Hilarious. And lots of cod pieces!
Jo
marked it as to-read
Steven
marked it as to-read
Trubliphone
is currently reading it
Matthew Pridham
marked it as to-read
Nick
is currently reading it
Stasia
marked it as acl
chartreusereads
marked it as to-read
Erika
added it
Negatroyd
marked it as to-read
Chas LiBretto
marked it as to-read
Katie Lawrence
marked it as to-read
Emilytaylor
added it
Tori
added it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers Also Enjoyed
Nye started writing stories for children to entertain his three young sons. Nye published his first adult novel, Doubtfire, in 1967.
Nye's next publication after Doubtfire was a return to children's literature, a freewheeling version of Beowulf which has remained in print in many editions since 1968. In 1970, he published another children's book, Wishing Gold, and received the James Ke...more
More about Robert Nye...
Nye's next publication after Doubtfire was a return to children's literature, a freewheeling version of Beowulf which has remained in print in many editions since 1968. In 1970, he published another children's book, Wishing Gold, and received the James Ke...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
