William Shakespeare's Brexit: A Political Sh*tstorm in Five Acts

by Boris Starling

'This is our story. All Brexit's a stage, and all the men and women merely players...' Written by the Bard himself, with a little help from novelist Boris Starling, this wonderful 'comedy of errors' retells the tragic story of the UK's acrimonious break from the EU, written in wonderful iambic pentameter. A story of cynical electioneering and poisoned political scheming, featuring the likes of Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron, this is a most original take of the defining event of our time - and the perfect satire for anyone interested in politics, humour, or even a little bit of Am-dram.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Adult

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

Boris Starling's writing career began at the age of eight, when his English teacher spotted that his short story was (a) unusually good for a child his age (b) copied verbatim from Tintin's 'Prisoners Of The Sun.' (That was also the first time he learnt the word 'verbatim', not to mention the term 'copyright violation'.)

All his work since then has been strictly his own. He has written eight novels, including Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers. Five appear under his own name (Messiah, Storm, Vodka, Visibility and, in a daring breakout from one-word titles, The Stay-Behind Cave) and three as Daniel Blake (Soul Murder (UK)/Thou Shalt Kill (US), City Of Sins (UK)/City Of The Dead (US) and White Death). Every one of these books features someone dying horribly somewhere along the way. Sometimes they even deserve it.

Boris also created the 'Messiah' franchise which ran for seven years on BBC1, and has written screenplays for productions in the UK and US.

He has inherited his grandfather's male pattern baldness, but sadly not his prodigious height. He is a keen sportsman, though he has now reached the age where enthusiasm and experience are beginning to trump sheer skill. He lives in Dorset, England, with his wife, children, greyhounds, and however many chickens manage to keep clear of marauding foxes.

Reviews

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly, Shakespeare is rather fitting for Brexit. Enjoyed the nods to characters (Sarah Gove being Lady Macbeth of the Daily Mail etc) and found it a pleasant comic relief and well-written satire of the political climate. Lost stars purely because having to relive the mess made me ineffably angry. Again, unsure if something still impacting the nation can be satirised... wouldn’t be surprised if covid became part of the next instalment.

[Azrael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cynical satire told truly in the style of William Shakespeare; bringing the modern political tensions to the people in just a way I feel The Bard would be proud of. Starling has channelled Shakespeare through his verse to create a hilarious and unique take on the 'political sh*tstorm' that is defining modern Britain, unfortunately it is also quite an accurate depiction. This book used humour, irony, exaggeration and ridicule to brilliantly expose and criticise the stupidity of contemporary politicians; a perfect satire set within the context of the central topical issue in modern Britain - Brexit. The author has a great command of language and I particularly enjoyed Boris Johnson's soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 5, where he uses a number of Shakespearean insults in a voicemail to Michael Gove - I may have to adopt some of them into my personal vocabulary. A well-written book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading - hilariously funny and outrageous.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious in parts esp the references to Osborne, Farage, Geldof, Rory Stewart, Gove and Boris. I can't give it 5/5 though as not familiar enough with Shakespeare so couldn't quite understand it all.

[Ashley Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shakespeare had a crafty knack for bringing drama alive with a crackling intensity; this brilliant play about the extraordinary drama of Brexit brings it even more alive with the Bard’s mellifluous verse.

You get to relive the crazed chaos that an allegedly strong and stable Conservative Party unleashed on the British State with terrible consequences that are still unfolding, obscured by bodies being allowed to pile high from the Covid Pandemic. I doubt Ed Milliband could have out-done this with his own Red brand of alleged chaos.

Michael Gove and his Daily Mail columnist wife are given the famous lines of Macbeth and the ambitious, plotting Lady Macbeth. Highly appropriate considering how often Gove has wielded the knife of betrayal in those Neo-Gothic corridors of power. I wonder when all the hand-washing will start?

Jacob Rees-Mogg lends a sinister presence to proceedings, compared in the text to a dark pencil.

Boris Johnson’s over-the-top manner of speaking is superbly spliced with Shakespearean language; highly appropriate when one considers he may have missed urgent Cobra meetings at the start of the pandemic, writing his yet-to-be published book on Shakespeare while the country was ravaged by a modern plague. Still, someone’s got to pay for all that gold wallpaper!

If Brexit has you feeling fed up, frustrated and helpless, as I do, this wonderful text will give you some welcome relief.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shakespeare’s plays broadly fall into three categories: histories, tragedies and comedies. This parody falls into all three of those categories but, unfortunately, also falls into the trap that Brexit is beyond parody.

[Jordan Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brexit was never so fun as this!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constant chuckles.

[Max McWhirter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.82! I couldn’t really vibe with the format but it was really funny! I recommend researching Brexit a little before reading the book if you don’t know anything about it.

[Laura Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Laugh out loud funny.