Kitchen venom

by philip-hensher

Winner of a Somerset Maugham Award 1997 A stunning novel of political life, betrayal and passion, which lifts the lid on vice within the Palace of Westminster!and cost Hensher his job as a House of Commons clerk. John is a distinguished widower with a hump, two daughters, and an important job in the House of Commons. He also has a fondness for visiting rent boys in the afternoons, and a passion for secrecy!

Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Novels, 20th Century

259 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 1996

Reviews

[Ryan Davison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partly nihilistic, somewhat satirical, Kitchen Venom is a look at gay British clerks who work in the House of Commons. It's an odd bird of a book.

A reader can expect some entertaining scenes, but even more boring ones, some mildly interesting characters, but more dull ones. It highlights a hunchback, his mean chain-smoking drunk of a daughter, and thankfully, Louis, a super-sexy, unabashedly fat, gay man. The writing has its moments and is good in stretches, but the plot jumps with a randomness we must assume is an attempt at being whimsical. At the halfway point the main point of the book is unclear, and by the end, we are left guessing.

The few scenes from the perspective of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher left me wanting more. She observes that she might have a meeting with someone she'd have forgotten by the next day, but they would remember it for the rest of their lives. It's an interesting reflection about the ultra-famous.

This is a new printing (with a fantastic cover) available in March of 2026. If resounding themes that will resonate with new readers exist they eluded me. Thanks to Edelweiss for a review copy.

[Daily Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly have no idea what I thought of this book. There was middle class family stuff going on. There was house of parliament stuff going on. I never knew or had any emotions about the characters. But I feel I've missed something vital. Not sure what though. And I can't say I didn't like it.

[Glenn Richard]

"Quickly, giving nothing away of their grandeur, the Cabinet assembled in the little room. In their faces, confidence and cheer blandly showed. As they came in, and as they stood, however, the stiffness and rage and fear showed itself, and they did not try to keep it apart. Sometimes they talked generally, but today they talked little, and to their associates, looking about them. The Prime Minister came into the ante-room almost sideways with the last member of the Cabinet, her grand strut unlike his confident rapid slouch. When she walked, she seemed to extinguish a cigarette beneath every pace, it could be seen that she was in the right."

[Annette Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this political/family drama for its sly humour, its revelations about the banality of life in Westminster and because of the slow burn that almost imperceptibly increases in tension as the story progresses. Sad that the author lost his job as a Commons Clerk for writing a novel with Commons Clerks in it but maybe a good thing for literature. Probably means the story is a bit too close to the bone for some.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

TBC

[Gareth Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read 3 of Philip Hensher's later novels (King of the Badgers, Northen Clemancy and Mulberry Empire) in the last 6 months or so, I was looking forward to reading his 2nd novel. Unfortunately it's a rather dull piece of work. It's not without it's moments - there is a wonderful desction of Mrs Thatcher's walk and some great dialogue when Jane is involved. However, the book lacks coherence and the parts set in Westminster are very disappointing.

[Poonam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by the author. A really dull piece of work that superficially ramble about so that you don't feel much for any of the characters, perhaps Jane's helplessness. Then it rambles from House of Commons, an intriguing piece about Mrs Thatcher, also some unpredictable, meaningless events. I read it on a long bus journey, nothing about the book made it pleasurable.

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clever writing but characters' actions and motives were not credible. Funny in places but overall a disappointment.