Published
by HarperCollins,
2 October 2000.
ISBN: 978-0-00232672-8 (HB)
When the British and Irish governments decide to hold a conference intended to resolve some of the sensitive cultural issues in Anglo-Irish relations, Baroness (Jack) Troutbeck seems an unlikely choice as chairwoman. Until one recalls her late-night drinking session at the Lords with a visiting Irish delegation, when she waxed lyrical about her excursions to the emerald isle when she was a girl. And so, her friend, Robert Amiss finds himself organising the conference.
Gathered together
in a pink monstrosity masquerading as Moycoole Castle are the republications,
nicknamed 'MOPE' 'Most Oppressed People Ever' their loyalist equivalents,
nicknamed DUPE, 'Downtrodden Unionists for Parity Esteem'. Also present,
delegates from Wales, and Kelly-Mae O'Hara from America representing the
American Catholics, plus a Japanese Irish studies specialist to observe and
record the event. All in all, a mixed bag.
I have not encountered Baroness Troutbeck before, but I loved her immediately,
and feel strongly that if she had chaired some of the conferences I have
attended, they would have benefited greatly from her wit and wisdom,
particularly the latter when she continually cuts short the speeches in order
to head for the bar. Also, most worthy of mention is the waitress Philomena,
whose firm grasp on the essentials was something to behold. In a few words of
dialogue Philomena materialised before me. I wouldn't like to cross her, but
I'd like her on my side. Even before the conference has begun several people
have dropped out and the numbers are considerably reduced, but they are soon to
be reduced even further, as one by one the delegates start to meet with fatal
accidents.
A wonderful piece of satire, but one which I may have appreciated more had I a
firm grasp on Irish politics, but on reflection, maybe the book illustrates
that no one really has a firm grasp on Irish politics. Sparkling dialogue, I
started to put post-it notes on the pages with passages of particular
brilliance and then found I had as many post-it notes as pages. Highly
recommended.
----
Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Ruth Dudley Edwards has
been a teacher, marketing executive and civil servant and is a prize-winning biographer
as well as an historian, journalist and broadcaster. The targets of her satirical crime novels
include, academia, the civil service, the House of Lords, gentlemen’s clubs, a
Cambridge college, the Church of England, publishing, literary prizes and
political correctness. In 2008 she won
the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award for Murdering
Americans. Killing the Emperors is about
conceptual art and won the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award 2013, as well as the CWA
Non-Fiction Gold Dagger for Aftermath: The Omagh Bombings and The
Families’ Pursuit Of Justice (2010).
No comments:
Post a Comment