When young Elliot gets a labourer's job at Mr Evans's after being sacked from a pig farm for liberating six of its sows, he thinks he'll have even more opportunities to lean on gates or stare at fields. But his best mate Spike keeps getting him into trouble, first by showing him what is being grown in a tucked-away polytunnel, and then turning up at his caravan's door with a van full of weed. As Elliot tries to help his friend get rid of the hot merchandise, they find themselves at the receiving end of a cruel cat-and-mouse game.
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Review
'One of the most distinctive voices in modern British fiction.' -- Evening Standard
'A sharp stylist.' -- Sunday Telegraph
'Vividly, defiantly realistic at times, luridly surreal at others, his writing's ability to compound striking metaphors of the abstract with a graphic physicality has won him a deserved following.' -- The Times Literary Supplement
'At a time of growing urbanism and reductive social interaction, this delightful novel extols the simple virtues of landscape and love, a sentiment that is as important now as it was when Benson first became a storyteller. Perhaps even more so.' -- Independent on Sunday
'An adventure story written in Benson s distinctive, flourish-filled style and suffused with his deep and abiding love of the West Country.' -- Daily Mail
'A coming of age novel that turns the plot of a thriller into a lyrical celebration of the mysterious and enchanting power of the natural world.' -- The Times Literary Supplement
'A haunting tale of love, clairvoyance and cannabis.' -- The Guardian
'Peter Benson writes like an angel fuelled by inspirational quantities of organic Somerset cider. Get drunk on this fine novel.' --The Regency Book Club --The Regency Book Club
'a sharp stylist' --Sunday Telegraph
'Vividly, defiantly realistic at times, luridly surreal at others, his writing's ability to compound striking metaphors of the abstract with a graphic physicality has won him a deserved following.' --The Times Literary Supplement
'A sharp stylist.' -- Sunday Telegraph
'Vividly, defiantly realistic at times, luridly surreal at others, his writing's ability to compound striking metaphors of the abstract with a graphic physicality has won him a deserved following.' -- The Times Literary Supplement
'At a time of growing urbanism and reductive social interaction, this delightful novel extols the simple virtues of landscape and love, a sentiment that is as important now as it was when Benson first became a storyteller. Perhaps even more so.' -- Independent on Sunday
'An adventure story written in Benson s distinctive, flourish-filled style and suffused with his deep and abiding love of the West Country.' -- Daily Mail
'A coming of age novel that turns the plot of a thriller into a lyrical celebration of the mysterious and enchanting power of the natural world.' -- The Times Literary Supplement
'A haunting tale of love, clairvoyance and cannabis.' -- The Guardian
'Peter Benson writes like an angel fuelled by inspirational quantities of organic Somerset cider. Get drunk on this fine novel.' --The Regency Book Club --The Regency Book Club
'a sharp stylist' --Sunday Telegraph
'Vividly, defiantly realistic at times, luridly surreal at others, his writing's ability to compound striking metaphors of the abstract with a graphic physicality has won him a deserved following.' --The Times Literary Supplement
About the Author
Born in 1956, Peter Benson was educated in Ramsgate, Canterbury and Exeter. His first novel, The Levels, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. This was followed by A Lesser Dependency, winner of the Encore award, The Other Occupant, which was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award, and three more novels: Odo's Hanging, Riptide and A Private Moon. He has also published short stories, screenplays and poetry, and his work has been adapted for TV and radio and translated into many languages. He lives in Exeter, Devon with his wife.
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48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Sayer
Format:Paperback
Peter Benson is one of the finest writers of his generation, and Two Cows and a Vanful of Smoke is fresh evidence of his talent.
Set in the legendary summer of 1976, and against the enchanting landscape of Somerset, it tells the story of Elliott, a young jobbing labourer who is drawn by his feckless mate into trying to dispose of a hoard of dope plants which the two came across in a hidden polytunnel. And what follows is a manic flight across the parched countryside from the owners of the stash, a tender love affair with a hippy girl, and a general coming-to-terms for Elliott with his own dreams and failings.
For anyone familiar with Benson's earlier work, Two Cows... ranks alongside The Other Occupant, Odo's Hanging, and Riptide as his very best, and it looks sure to become one of the most beguiling reads of 2011.
Heartily recommended.
Paul Sayer - author of the Whitbread-winning novel, The Comforts of Madness.
Set in the legendary summer of 1976, and against the enchanting landscape of Somerset, it tells the story of Elliott, a young jobbing labourer who is drawn by his feckless mate into trying to dispose of a hoard of dope plants which the two came across in a hidden polytunnel. And what follows is a manic flight across the parched countryside from the owners of the stash, a tender love affair with a hippy girl, and a general coming-to-terms for Elliott with his own dreams and failings.
For anyone familiar with Benson's earlier work, Two Cows... ranks alongside The Other Occupant, Odo's Hanging, and Riptide as his very best, and it looks sure to become one of the most beguiling reads of 2011.
Heartily recommended.
Paul Sayer - author of the Whitbread-winning novel, The Comforts of Madness.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Rog.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
From the brief synopsis I'd been given, I was expecting the sort of caper Guy Ritchie would turn into a film which convinced no-one. What I actually got was an astonishing love letter to the countryside, poetic and lyrical, and funny and frightening in equal parts. Like the other reviewer, I had to finish the book in a single sitting, then come here and rave about it, then go and buy everything else Peter Benson has written. You should too.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By D. Ryan
Format:Kindle Edition
I was expecting a bit of a knockabout romp, but got something much better.
I love the author's decidedly idiosyncratic use of metaphor, and his ability to inspire emotion, while maintaining a good narrative pace.
I couldn't put it down (to the extent that work today was a nightmare of fatigue..)
and now I'm going to see if Peter Benson has any other delights in store.
I love the author's decidedly idiosyncratic use of metaphor, and his ability to inspire emotion, while maintaining a good narrative pace.
I couldn't put it down (to the extent that work today was a nightmare of fatigue..)
and now I'm going to see if Peter Benson has any other delights in store.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous Read
I don't quite know what I expected from this book. The title certainly doesn't give much away, but what I found was a riveting read and found I couldn't put it down until I found... Read more
Published 1 month ago by SharonM
3.0 out of 5 stars
Weird. Confusing And Weird
I don't even really know where to start with this book. It's like being in a fever dream, where you can't stop yourself spilling out a stream of nonsensical conscience. Read more
Published 2 months ago by suggsygirl
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
This was an Ok read, I found it got a little extreme at times and lost believability. An easy read though
Published 4 months ago by happyshopper
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining romp
A 'small' tale but moves along a pace. An unlikely hero is its charm. If you want to avoid the popular blockbuster and smile at ordinary life. You will enjoy it.
Published 5 months ago by J. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice subtle story
This was a very enjoyable read although you keep wondering why the main character keeps making such poor choices of action
Published 5 months ago by NJB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful: engaging plot & characters you actually want to meet
This is just a terrific book - one of the best I have read for months. The plot itself builds and grabs you and becomes a complete page turner (I read it in 24 hours) but the real... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ivan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great, fun read
This was my first introduction to the author, Peter Benson. I shall eagerly seek out more of his books if they are of a similar high standard as this one. Read more
Published 7 months ago by K. Storch
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two cows and van full of smoke
I loved the descriptive writing, it reminded me of my childhood in 1976 in Somerset. The story wasn't what I was expecting, but enjoyable all the same. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Miner49ers other half
5.0 out of 5 stars
21st century Oscar Wilde - Wonderful Book
I am looking at a picture. It is so detailed, it exceeds the quality of the finest photograph. Not only can I see this picture, but I can smell it too; I can hear it, touch it and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Martin Robson
3.0 out of 5 stars
A haunting book that never quite reconciles its diverse facets
The title of this novel both echoes the film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and implies a fair sprinkling of stoner comedy. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Thomas Blount
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