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Cuthbert #1
Shakespeare's Cuthbert
At the heart of this riotous laugh-a-paragraph farce that will delight members of amateur dramatic societies everywhere, lies a forgotten village in a remote valley where the 'real valley folk' live, including Cuthbert, the village undertaker, impressario of the shambolic annual theatre production, and holy fool; Margery, the local beauty and mother of the Mafia twins whose constant creative disruption provides a reliable source of hazard and misadventure; the anonymous milkman whose flashing teeth can fell a woman at fifty paces; Percy the gardener whose still waters run curiously if not necessarily deep; and the regulars at the Mandrake Arms who drink to remember, drink to forget as plots and plans flourish in their midst.
Suddenly into this by-water of rural oblivion bursts a band of newcomers who have taken up residence of the seigneurial Mandrake Hall – Henry, a prominent media reporter and his daughter who is more horse than her horse; Henry's brother, Ronald, an adventurer, a mercenary and a sometime crook; and the unreconstituted Captain and his much put-upon wife Elspeth.
What are these rank and unlikely outsiders doing in these obscure parts and what are they looking for as they vigorously comb the village and the extensive network of tunnels built beneath it?
One clue is the persistent legend that the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, was once employed as a tutor up at the Hall (thus the annual village play) and that there might still be fragments of his early work – a fumbling politically-incorrect piece – waiting to be discovered.
Fame and fortune may follow, but corpses will be dug up first.
Suddenly into this by-water of rural oblivion bursts a band of newcomers who have taken up residence of the seigneurial Mandrake Hall – Henry, a prominent media reporter and his daughter who is more horse than her horse; Henry's brother, Ronald, an adventurer, a mercenary and a sometime crook; and the unreconstituted Captain and his much put-upon wife Elspeth.
What are these rank and unlikely outsiders doing in these obscure parts and what are they looking for as they vigorously comb the village and the extensive network of tunnels built beneath it?
One clue is the persistent legend that the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, was once employed as a tutor up at the Hall (thus the annual village play) and that there might still be fragments of his early work – a fumbling politically-incorrect piece – waiting to be discovered.
Fame and fortune may follow, but corpses will be dug up first.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 18, 2013
To my mind, there is no-one better at the well crafted joke than Patrick Barrett and this book is a great illustration of this. The cover price would be justified on the basis of the first few paragraphs alone. There are some hilarious scenes and great characters. I read an earlier version of this years ago when we were both begging for reviews on Authonomy and I have to say that this version is a huge improvement. My only criticism would be that the plot could be a little more carefully developed. There are a number of occasions when a problem is set up, apparently from nowhere, purely in order for it to be immediately resolved (with some great jokes along the way). However, this is hardly the end of the world and, considering that my own attempt at humorous fiction is languishing behind 350,000 others and has not attracted the rave reviews that Shakespeare's Cuthbert has, I should probably shut up and just let you enjoy a mad time in the valley.
May 20, 2012
Not the funniest book you'll ever read, quite possible the driest. But if you enjoy bone-dry, bone-brittle wit, this for you. Think Pratchett, think subtle. Think you may need strings to keep track of who is chasing what while chasing who else with lust or larceny in their hearts. But it gets 4 for the best line I have read in any book in a great while:
When real life visited Cuthbert, it came like the seventh cavalry with the whole Sioux nation screaming behind it.
Worth every moment for that image (and how true it is)
When real life visited Cuthbert, it came like the seventh cavalry with the whole Sioux nation screaming behind it.
Worth every moment for that image (and how true it is)
March 27, 2012
This type of book is not my normal fare, not being YA, fantasy, or paranormal, but, I have to say, I loved it.
Set in 'the valley', Shakespeare's Cuthbert follows the life of farmer and local undertaker, Cuthbert; he's not 'real valley folk', he's a bit dim and a true accidental hero, and he is really fun to read.
The book is quite long and densely packed with chortles and asides (a la Terry Pratchet, only not at the bottom of the page) - be warned, until you get used to this, you may get a little lost as the story delves into an anecdote without warning, but it's normally worth the delve.
All the valley characters are as engaging as they are odd from Geraldine the somewhat cracked archaeologist to Percy 'the gardener', who seems to have a lot of strings to his rather bent bow. And close to my heart are the twins, they have no non-collective names, they are the valley mafia and ruthless, plus they like large bangs :).
At times this book made me smile, at others snigger and at others laugh so hard I had people coming in to see what I was laughing about. The best bits are the jokes that creep up on you and take you by surprise - all I will finish with is to say 'ninja sheep'. :D
Set in 'the valley', Shakespeare's Cuthbert follows the life of farmer and local undertaker, Cuthbert; he's not 'real valley folk', he's a bit dim and a true accidental hero, and he is really fun to read.
The book is quite long and densely packed with chortles and asides (a la Terry Pratchet, only not at the bottom of the page) - be warned, until you get used to this, you may get a little lost as the story delves into an anecdote without warning, but it's normally worth the delve.
All the valley characters are as engaging as they are odd from Geraldine the somewhat cracked archaeologist to Percy 'the gardener', who seems to have a lot of strings to his rather bent bow. And close to my heart are the twins, they have no non-collective names, they are the valley mafia and ruthless, plus they like large bangs :).
At times this book made me smile, at others snigger and at others laugh so hard I had people coming in to see what I was laughing about. The best bits are the jokes that creep up on you and take you by surprise - all I will finish with is to say 'ninja sheep'. :D
October 29, 2014
I rarely read comedy, but now and again a good giggle is great, and Shakespeare’s Cuthbert certainly made me laugh. Cuthbert, dear Cuthbert, an innocent really who ends up appearing wise. He is so ignorant of the world around him that he bumbles into the oddest situations … and somehow emerges as the clever one!
Come and delve the tunnels under this very strange valley and discover their secrets, and stumble with Cuthbert in the dark into tapestries and coffins and the like. Your eyes will be wide as you wonder what he can possibly get up to next. He isn’t alone in his stumbling, as many characters attempt to find the hidden treasure in this place where Shakespeare is reputed to have lived for a time. Did the Bard leave behind an unknown play? Come and find out!
Seriously now, this is well written, keeps you guessing and certainly makes you laugh. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy something off-beat and love a good giggle.
Come and delve the tunnels under this very strange valley and discover their secrets, and stumble with Cuthbert in the dark into tapestries and coffins and the like. Your eyes will be wide as you wonder what he can possibly get up to next. He isn’t alone in his stumbling, as many characters attempt to find the hidden treasure in this place where Shakespeare is reputed to have lived for a time. Did the Bard leave behind an unknown play? Come and find out!
Seriously now, this is well written, keeps you guessing and certainly makes you laugh. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy something off-beat and love a good giggle.
February 20, 2013
A mysteriously hilarious novel!
An undertaker who came into possession of a farm from his parents, and came with a very popular "Barn" where a traditional stage play, Shakespeare transpire. Cuthbert's family has always organized the theatre's custom, and was famed in the valley. And so, was the dedication to the "Bard"...... children were introduced into performance upon an early age.
Meanwhile, Cuthbert was busy with his "Barn" for their yearly play. A burglary was conducted in Cuthbert's property (farm)upon knowing that he's keeping a secrecy of the unknown manuscript by William Shakespeare. When the clumsy burglar destroyed a whole council states of spiders, and whole family made homeless, Cuthbert has had enough they would be facing him like the "Spanish Inquisition".
An undertaker who came into possession of a farm from his parents, and came with a very popular "Barn" where a traditional stage play, Shakespeare transpire. Cuthbert's family has always organized the theatre's custom, and was famed in the valley. And so, was the dedication to the "Bard"...... children were introduced into performance upon an early age.
Meanwhile, Cuthbert was busy with his "Barn" for their yearly play. A burglary was conducted in Cuthbert's property (farm)upon knowing that he's keeping a secrecy of the unknown manuscript by William Shakespeare. When the clumsy burglar destroyed a whole council states of spiders, and whole family made homeless, Cuthbert has had enough they would be facing him like the "Spanish Inquisition".
November 19, 2011
Shakespeare's Cuthbert is a bucolic ball. Between Cuthbert's farm and Mandrake Hall are tunnels where scrolls from Shakespeare's time are hidden and characters whose oddities are revealed while they hunt for the rumored treasure. The entire valley becomes a scenario roiling with the entrances of Percy the gardener, the brothers who reside at the hall, an antique dealer, Cuthbert's one-time girlfriend who can identify the scrolls, and the players in their annual play.
There's clever dialogue, anecdotes about this rural place that accompany encounters and conflicts, and the preparation for the play, performed from the scrolls finally. This is a richly written romp.
There's clever dialogue, anecdotes about this rural place that accompany encounters and conflicts, and the preparation for the play, performed from the scrolls finally. This is a richly written romp.
July 14, 2012
Loved this book! Hard to believe this Barrett's first book. With lyrical prose and a deft hand turning language on it's head, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent "in the valley". I cannot recall the last book that incited to me to laugh out loud as much as this one. The characters are well voiced, both animate and inanimate, that I would truly enjoy reading more books set "in the valley". I really want to know what the twins are up to now! This was free download but I am now heading to Amazon to hopefully find another of his work and will willingly pay for any I find.
August 26, 2012
The undertaker Cuthbert is quite slow, albeit very lucky, and he organises the local annual Shakespeare's play. He is surrounded by odd characters looking for a treasure that might exist (or not) in the valley, but the real folks from the valley that help with the play don't like these newcomers. This book is a funny read, but quite long and I admit I got lost sometimes. Eventually I caught up with the main story line, the characters and what they were doing, and found a book filled with very funny lines that get you completely by surprise. Quite a fun read once you get settled in the story!
November 28, 2012
Entertaining comedy featuring Cuthbert, who maintains equanimity, and enjoys serendipity, throughout the strange events that occur in his neighborhood when locals and incomers start looking for something valuable and historic.
May 29, 2013
Well this book started out slow and I was gonna give up but the morre I read the funnier it became! I was laughing outloud at almost every chapter! I would totally recommend this to read for those of you who enjoy a good comical story!!
June 29, 2014
Cuthbert is such a hilarious character.Misfortune follows him constantly be he is left unaffected by it because he is totally oblivious of his surroundings.Patrick Barrett wrote this comedic tale so well that I couldn't stop laughing from beginning to end.
July 27, 2014
A highly amusing bit of tongue in cheek humour. There's a cast of the most delicious characters, each one a comic gem in their own right.
And as for Cuthbert himself...he could be straight out of Wodehouse.
And as for Cuthbert himself...he could be straight out of Wodehouse.
June 2, 2012
Hilarious story about Cuthbert. If you are not fond of word play and puns, this is not for you. I LOVED IT!
September 26, 2012
Not the easiest of stories to follow given the writing style but the humour was good & an entertaining read
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January 27, 2013I will not rate as I didn't get far, not for me.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews