Women in the background

by Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries's first novel. Mrs Petty is a famous housewife with a successful TV show. She is also Derek Pettyfer - fiftyish, cultured, set in his ways. His arrival at any party, however sophisticated, always provokes a discreet little frisson amongst the guests. But Derek is also lonely.

Genres: Fiction, Humor

Loose Leaf

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

John Barry Humphries was an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the Court of St. James's. He was a film producer and script writer, a star of London's West End musical theatre, an award-winning writer and an accomplished landscape painter.

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful, beyond belief. It just shows what happens when a talented stage comedian tries to switch medias. Definitely one of the worst books I've ever read, and I've read my share.
(Edited Feb 2021) I was thinking about the worst books I've read since joining GoodReads and it came down to two. When I read this, I didn't tie in the author to Australia's Dame Edna, who I'd seen on a couple of occasions when US Public Television tried to insert some Aussie programming. (Amusing but not my cup of tea.) I found this book in some book dump of mostly crap in some unnamed thrift shop and decided to give it try. Hint for the future: when GoodReaders give a book less than a 3, they're rarely wrong. This book still gives me horrors; better to just leave it at that...

[Colin Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very witty and entertaining read.

[Wendy Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humphries' greatest creation is without doubt Dame Edna Everage and there is much in this book that echoes the irreverent humour of the great Dame. The hapless Derek is at first difficult to tolerate because his antiquated misogyny makes him very unlikable but as the book progresses I couldn't help feeling sorry for Derek whose biggest crime is his naivety. He trusts all the wrong people and one can't help but hope his lonely questing for love will not lead him down any more treacherous dark alleys. The worst of the ex-pat Australians pitch up in this comic-tragic look at what goes on behind-the-scenes as Humphries unmasks respected, albeit fictitious, icons in every field of the arts. No-one seems capable of loyalty and as the inevitable romantic pairings driven by mutual depravity occurs poor Derek is left completely alone to bear the brunt of all his betrayal. This was Humphries' first novel and given his enormous fame as a Dame Edna it's a courageous thing to do. But despite a few flaws and potholes in the narrative and some antiquated Aussie vernacular like 'yonks' and 'come the raw prawn' which I've never heard ANYONE say, the story pulls you in and elicits a kind of head-shaking sympathy for the main character who just never seems to learn, bless him.

[Paul Doughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barry is one of my favorite Australians so I was fairly open minded to recieve and persist here. One of the most entertaining features is that on almost every page Barry drops a word that is not really in everyday usage. This became a real part of the books structure and although character development and plot weren't really treated with the same finicky obsession, his intelligence and wit shines and is quite endearing - especially for a fan. Although they appear in different guises, Barry slips in and out :) of his established and varied stage characters with which Australians are historically familiar. No real expectations but it did make for humorous reading; Good fun. Thanks Barry!

[Jyv · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book looked fairly promising but in the end I just found it disappointing. I was particularly annoyed at the constant referrals to Kiwi women (New Zealanders) having a name ending in '-wyn' and saying 'wee' all the time. This might have been funny if it was typical but it isn't so it wasn't. I didn't see the point. It was lame. Some of the book was mildly amusing but on the whole, it left me feeling a little disgruntled.

[Charles James · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the internal sleeve describing the book "fiercely intelligent,supremely hilarious.. bears the hallmark of comic genius ", something of a disappointment . The book had the feel of a 1970's Australian sitcom .Didn't laugh once . All characters unsympathetic

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this comic romp of a novel, and was most surprised at the author's extensive command of the English language. MY online dictionary got a workout, and even then, it frequently failed!

[Gregory Totman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a fan ! Having met Barry on a few occasions in my professional life as a photographer . My office wall adorns a portrait of myself with Les Patterson. It’s an image I cherish especially since the print is autographed by Barry.
I had a dinner party and my guests listened to monologues of Les Patterson and they loved it. . This book is almost autobiographical at a guess I don’t know. It’s entertaining did Barry really have a shifty manager? He seems to smart for that to have happened.
The last show of Barry’s which was a warts and all reveal he talked of his struggle with alcoholism. Well documented and yes Derek is a reformed boozer .
Another review of this book from an American reader is less complimentary. Americans have never been tuned to Aussie humour . I mean they laughed at Bill Cosby and Steve Carell . Wait to read what Derek thinks of his American followers.

[Helen Noonan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny, of course, although I didn't laugh out loud too often. It was a tragi-comedy which managed to build tension very skillfully right up to the end. I had a lot of empathy for the likeable and flawed main character and I actually found it quite sad and poignant. It was a really well crafted novel and fun to read quickly.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me appreciate the wit of Barry Humphries, the actor and 'manager' of Dame Edna Everage. Lovely ending.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing book. It was easy to relate to the characters, and while the story line was fairly predictable (especially from the blurb on the back!) it was well written.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read... not startingly funny but perhaps this was my mood at the time.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so - sadly

[Sophie Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lurid, amusing, occasionally brilliant - he really needs a proofreader, though!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book - have read it twice - makes me laugh

[Mike Finn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly slipped into predictable farce but otherwise was shaping up as an entertaining read about female impersonator's troubled financial situation and relationships.

[Greg James · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting but flawed tale, owing much to Barry 's complicated personal life, I suspect! He clearly had a bit to get off his chest. His memoirs are a much better read.