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The Office Workshop
Evelyn Waugh has a mission, and it’s not merely to live down his parents’ admiration for his literary namesake. His mission is to use more direct methods than literary ridicule to undermine the self-regard of those who see themselves as the beneficent shepherds of a wayward herd.
His colleague, Jessica James, more astute than he, finds ways to guide his plans so that both their ends are served.
Their target, Phil S Stein, the Minister of Aesthetics, fails to see the trap they have prepared for him at The Writers’ Retreat. He gambles on gaining more exposure in the elite press as he assumes direct control of The Retreat and chairs a joint meeting of the writing workshop groups meeting under its aegis.
With a large press corps in attendance, Stein is horrified to find that each ‘reading’ becomes progressively more critical of the actions and principles of the government and party which hold his allegiance.
The evening’s concluding press conference dissolves in chaos as Stein flees from accusations that he is attempting a coup. Evelyn and Jessica congratulate one another and speculate about their next target.
His colleague, Jessica James, more astute than he, finds ways to guide his plans so that both their ends are served.
Their target, Phil S Stein, the Minister of Aesthetics, fails to see the trap they have prepared for him at The Writers’ Retreat. He gambles on gaining more exposure in the elite press as he assumes direct control of The Retreat and chairs a joint meeting of the writing workshop groups meeting under its aegis.
With a large press corps in attendance, Stein is horrified to find that each ‘reading’ becomes progressively more critical of the actions and principles of the government and party which hold his allegiance.
The evening’s concluding press conference dissolves in chaos as Stein flees from accusations that he is attempting a coup. Evelyn and Jessica congratulate one another and speculate about their next target.
239 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 11, 2011
Derek was the first person to review Dragon Bones in full. He passed away in the following months from health issues he'd been fighting since I met him in 2007. He never told the writing group that he'd had The Office Workshop published, so I was delighted to receive this copy from his wife recently.
As with his other stories, this is a satirical political intrigue set in a writing group and while it won't keep you guessing, it's a fun read from start to finish. The only complaint I ever found with Derek's writing was his inability to put aside pedantically correct grammar. However, it doesn't take long to get used to all his characters sounding like Oxford professors.
I don't believe there are any more copies floating around book stores, but if you can find one in a second hand store, grab it.
As with his other stories, this is a satirical political intrigue set in a writing group and while it won't keep you guessing, it's a fun read from start to finish. The only complaint I ever found with Derek's writing was his inability to put aside pedantically correct grammar. However, it doesn't take long to get used to all his characters sounding like Oxford professors.
I don't believe there are any more copies floating around book stores, but if you can find one in a second hand store, grab it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review