The characters are wholly believable with the snobbery and self righteousness of the upper classes, the excellent kingsley with his unwavering beliefs, to the squaddies that were used as cannon fodder shining through. Ben elton is one of britains most provocative and entertaining writers. In time and time again, international bestselling author ben elton takes. Time and time again is, of all eltons great and prophetic books, one of my favorites. How much history do i need to know in order to follow the plot. In the first casualty, elton takes on the great war and a man, who doesnt want to fight for intellectual reasons. Set during the first world war the description of trench life gave me a real sense of being there and throw in a really interesting character policeman turned conchie and its a. Ben eltons 14th novel, two brothers, tells the story of two german boys brought up as twins who end up on opposite sides in the second world. My second ben elton and while it was better than the first book i read blind faith it isnt saying much as blind faith was a mere 2 star read for me.
But only in middleage has ben elton finally felt he has the maturity and experience to commit it to paper. My second ben elton and while it was better than the first book i read blind faith it. He toured australia and new zealand with the same show in 2006. From ben elton, author of the hugely successful past mortem, a gutwrenching historical drama which forces us to handle the truth. It really teaches you of some events in the first world war. It was eltons first novel, and launched his writing career. Buy ben elton ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. He was a leading figure in the british alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as the young ones and blackadder, as well as also a successful standup comedian on stage and tv. Benjamin charles ben elton born 3 may 1959 is an english comedian, author, playwright and director. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or. English author and entertainer ben elton has written many novels, seemingly all on different subjects. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the first casualty by ben elton. Blackadder back and forth, 2000 besides the foremost scene of mr bean itv, 1990.
This was not a bad book, but i thought that it could have been done better, given the interesting premise. The first casualty by ben elton goodreads share book. While i enjoy time travel books as much as the next reader, i still recall my doubts when i was first pitched this book. Ben elton became a standup comedian primarily to showcase his own writing, but became one of britains biggest live acts. I enjoyed this book but found some of the writing a bit lazy. The hero, inspector douglas kingsley, has a wife with golden curls and shapely ankles. Its a detective story a detective story set against the backdrop of that war. The war on drugs has been lost but for want of the courage to face the fact that the whole world is rapidly becoming one vast criminal network. The poppy and the faded sepia photograph of soldiers wearing brodie helmets are as clear indicators as you can get.
Douglas kingsley, a brilliant detective for the london metropolitan police, was drafted and filed for conscientious objector. A conspiracy of leftwing writers, academics and teachers had used it as propaganda, he said, to convince us that the first world war was a series of catastrophic mistakes perpetrated by an. Black adder following him through time and english history from. Blind faith by ben elton depressingly plausible dystopian futurebritain in which privacy is a crime the first casualty by ben elton part world war i murder mystery, part political polemic. World war i in the first casualty and the poetry of rosenberg and sorely. It is the deeply personal and heartfelt story he has wanted to tell all his life. The secret nazi family history that inspired ben eltons. If the first world war has such powerful resonances that it can impart. In 2007, ben elton was awarded an honorary rose for lifetime achievement at the rose dor festival. Loved everything about it so much so i bought the full version. Elton has an annoying habit of repeating messages in the draft which adds little. Centering on the infamous world war ii firebombing of dresden, the novel is the result of what kurt vonnegut described as a twentythreeyear struggle to write a book about what he had witnessed as an american prisoner of war. Ben attended godalming grammar school, joined amateur dramatic societies and wrote his first play when he was 15 years old. See more ideas about novels, first world and books.
Ben elton on his new book and his reaction to michael goves comments about blackadder. The tone of the book very cleverly evoked the time of its setting. Ben elton is a champion amongst the best and whole deal comedic creators and performers on the planet. It was my dad who said it was a really interesting novel. You probably know ben elton as the writer behind such amazing shows as blackadder and the young ones. Its a great polemic on the folly and fabrication that accompanies all warfare. Full of concealment, contradiction and disillusion, it is dark, depressing and very good indeed. The novel was adapted into stark, a television miniseries. Set during the first world war, the first casualty focuses on conscientious objector, douglas kingsley, a once celebrated policeman but now disgraced and. Slaughterhousefive, an american classic, is one of the worlds great antiwar books. From celebrity to climate change, from the first world war to the end of the world, his books give his unique perspective on some of the most controversial topics of.
Seems to be the case for dervla in dead famous, as even sally says shed like her to be her date at pride. Read the first casualty by ben elton available from rakuten kobo. A well researched novel based on the horrors of world war 1. Ben elton s 2005 novel the first casualty clearly advertises itself as a world war i novel. He got those voices of the men and the masters of the first world war to perfection. From the groucho club toilets to the poppy fields of afghanistan, we are all partners in crime. Ben elton on his new book and his reaction to michael goves. Set during world war i in flanders in june of 1917 this book is dedicated to ben eltons two grandfathers who fought on opposite sides during the war. The first casualty 2005 is a historical crime novel by english author ben elton, set during the first world war. As such my expectation was high for this book, a time travel story with the infamous wit of ben elton.
His goal was to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead studied theatre and drama at manchester university. From celebrity to climate change, from the first world war to the end of the world, his books give his unique perspective on some of the most controversial topics of our time. It concerns a somewhat priggish and sanctimonious policeman, who, in the first world war, finds that a strict regard for logic and truth leaves him the wrong side of the law. The first casualty by ben elton book 23 editions published. Elton and curtis also wrote atkinsons 1986 stage show the new revue, and mr. The one that entered is of our universe, but the one we follow for most of the book is from a time when the first world war is the only world war and it lasted 11 years. If the first world war has such powerful resonances that it can impart genuine feeling to a work by ben elton, perhaps we credit its other fictional chroniclers with a transcendent power that. Stantons derringdo is diverting fun but the books real strength happens to be.
Ben eltons first casualty is a fiction book with very nonfictional facts. Ben elton has a brand new novel about traveling back to. Ben eltons 2005 novel the first casualty clearly advertises itself as a world war i novel. Stark was reprinted 23 times in its first year, and ultimately sold well over a million copies, making elton one of a small number of novelists to sell more than a million copies of their first book. In 2005 elton did his first standup tour since 1997, touring the uk with get a grip. I was hoping that time and time again would perhaps be a satirical romp through time or at least with a thick vein of the authors humour running through it. Ben eltons time and time again is a decent read that explores the consequences of a time loop allowing a time traveller to change events in the past. Whilst recovering from shell shock inside a military hospital, popular war poet and soldier viscount abercrombie is shot dead. I loved it and am going to be telling everyone to read it. This is powerful, fast, exciting and very different from previous works by elton. Time and time again though is a book that i will find very hard to forget it absolutely blew me away. Ben elton, pictured with his wife, saxophonist sophie gare, has wanted to write this story his whole life.
The first casualty essays are academic essays for citation. Ben elton, the first casualty is worth the read more of a before going to bed book. Upon reconstructing the story at all bases, it is obviously well researched it gives you a look into the true psychological effects an physical effects during world war 1. When the hero gets to the front line, the book moves onto a different. He was a highprofile frontman of 1980s leftwing political satire. From pop stars and princes to crack whores and street kids.
Ben elton is an english author of humour, dystopian fiction and historical fiction novels. If you could go back in time and change one piece of history what would you consider to be the i thought i knew ben elton. Ben elton has a brand new novel about traveling back to stop. I first came across ben elton back in the 1980s when he was a comedian, and some of his novels especially gridlock are sidesplittingly funny. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The choosing result was endlessly superior to the essential game plan, the jokes running the degree from the complex to the smudged every now and again in the same sentence, and the curtiselton association stayed set up for the last two course of action the georgian blackadder the third, 1987. Ben elton was a central figure in the choice dramatization scene in britain in the 1980s, and his thriving has continued as he spread out onto the stage, the novel composed work, and musicals. Douglas kingsley, a brilliant detective for the london metropolitan police, was drafted and filed for conscientious objector status. Elton became a standup comedian primarily to showcase his own writing, but became one of britains biggest live comedy acts. You probably know ben elton as the writer behind such amazing.