|
THE EX-WIVES (Arrow £5.99)
I loved writing this novel. I stole some of its jokes
from my partner at the time, the cartoonist Mel Calman, himself
the veteran of several marriages. Its main character, Russell
Buffery, isn’t based on Mel but has some of his problems,
including a bad back, assorted step-children and a tendency
to find himself in vaguely humiliating situations. I became
very fond of him, and even fond of his various ex-wives, despite
this bad behaviour and his shameless adultery.
Actor Russell Buffery’s voice is his most reliable
organ, where women are concerned, and he’s got three
ex-wives to prove it. Under the weather, over the hill, and
with only a dog for company, Buffy’s bacherlorhood is
looking worryingly confirmed – until he meets Celeste,
a young girl who works in the local chemist shop and who appears
to hold the prescription for the elixir of Buffy’s lost
youth. Dazzled by love, Buffy little suspects that Celeste
is systematically researching his ex-wives, children and step-children,
and unearthing secrets that will change all their lives irrevocably.
“Wonderfully funny.”
(Daily Mail)
“Cracking good dialogue, excellent jokes and laser-sharp
apercus. It is meant as a compliment when I say that she is
like a female Kingsley Amis.”
(Daily Telegraph)
“Marries comedy and canniness into a novel that’s
warm, tolerant, shrew and exuberant.”
(Sunday Times)
“You’ll be hooked from the first page of this
original, funny book…just delicious.”
(New Woman)
272 pages (31 May, 1994)
Publisher: Arrow; ISBN: 0749315180
|
