Reading the 20th Century discussion

Welcome to our January 2025 buddy read of....




The Wilt Alternative (1979)

by

Tom Sharpe


All our welcome

Come one, come all



In this, the second in the chronicles about Henry Wilt, our hero is no longer the victim of his own uncontrolled fantasies. When Wilt becomes the unintentional participant in a terrorist siege he is forced to find an answer to the problems of power that have corrupted greater men than he.

Read early due to the vagaries of library reserves and once again very enjoyable, skewering everyone and everything.

I will wait to say more until more have started reading it.

Feel free to comment Ben - but keep it spoiler free for now


I cant wait to get started with more Wilt

I’m starting this today. Need a bit of light reading this week.

I can't wait to join you SueLucie. The moment I finish Jill the Reckless I am straight on to The Wilt Alternative.

Retro comedic esapism is what I need too.

Talking of escapism, I'm off to the cinema to see the Dylan film this evening (A Complete Unknown). Two hours twenty minutes so hoping it's going to be worth it.

I hope so too, it certainly has a good looking cast and some great reviews. I have it on my wish list.

I was going to read Jill next but am so far behind the rest of you I decided to jump over her to Wilt.

Oh good! I've been waiting patiently.

Only a few pages in but feeling great about being back in Wilt's world. Not least to reunite with Eva and the quads who I love

Yes, it’s good to be back in familiar territory. Or maybe not so familiar. The quads took me by surprise - did I miss something? At first I thought they must be babies but they seem to be well beyond that stage.

This is a few years on from the first one

Published in 1979 and doesn’t it show. A very unreconstructed time capsule and yet Wilt’s put upon everyman persona is still relatable and sympathetic

The crocodile! The tooth mug!


I’ve been chuckling away

There’s something going on with the German lodger, I’m sure she”s hiding something and Wilt will be in trouble soon. He’s teetering on the edge already. Turning the pages as quickly as I can to find out.

He's always on the edge!

I was surprised Eva was so keen to rent to her.

Let’s face it, Eva’s judgement is seriously awry and she’s very impulsive

When the plaster comes off 😱

About halfway through now and it’s fair to say that things take a dramatic turn

They certainly do and not as I’d expected. Bring on Eva (my favourite character) with a battle cry - Charge!!

Finished - phew! Quite a rollercoaster and good fun to the last page.

The pairings of Wilt and Eva and of Wilt and Inspector Flint are comic genius.

And I wonder whether older versions of the Quads add to the comedy. I've read that the later Wilt books aren't up to the same standard as the first two, but I would love to find out that this isn't the case. These have been such fun.

I imagine Flint played by Herbert Lom (Inspector Dreyfus}, though obviously their relationship is not the same.

Wilt & Eva are wonderful together. I’m not sure about the quads, they didn’t really contribute much to my enjoyment of this one so I don’t imagine older versions would either. I think my enjoyment comes less from visualising the farcical situations Wilt and others get into but more from the characters’ interaction and misunderstandings (Wilt & Eva).

Yes, the Wilt/Eva dynamic is fabulous, and Inspector Flint’s traumatised take on them both just adds to the joy. I haven’t finished yet but am loving the second half as the drama comes thick and fast, as does the associated comedy

SueLucie I bought all the books whilst reading the first one and so will be reading on. If you’d like to continue next month with number three then just say the word. And you Ben

I fully expect it to be the law of diminishing returns but even subpar Wilts must have something to recommend them?

On to chapter 18 (of 22). This is a riot. I thought I’d read this before many decades ago but none of it seems familiar, and is all the better for it.

Just finished. Mirth a plenty.


Whilst undeniably anachronistic it’s still a very enjoyable read despite a few jarring moments.

I’d be up for another Wilt and only plan to read one or two of the RTTC books next month so February is quiet for me.

These books are very much of their time, aren’t they? I was in my 20s when they were published and loved them, though I can’t say I remember much about them. (view spoiler)[I wasn’t expecting the terrorist angle, I thought I saw more of a love triangle coming. I could have done without Gudrun’s assault on Wilt in the attic but it sets Eva up nicely. (hide spoiler)]
The next one looks good.

They are indeed somewhat anachronistic but they still hit the funny bone hard.


Shall we do book three - Wilt On High - in February? No pressure. I'll be reading it soon no matter what

Sure. Hope Ben is up for it too.

Yes! My request is in at the library.

Hurrah