- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd (20 Mar 1978)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0436458071
- ISBN-13: 978-0436458071
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,045,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Throwback
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Product Description
Review
'His tale of an illegitimate member of the squirearchy earning his inheritance by increasingly nasty methods is both inventive and pacy' New Statesman 'Romp about one of nature's gentlemen making his innocent and ruthless way through the jungle of contemporary sex, VAT, law and order, etc... savage, knock-about farce' Observer 'Black humour, comic anarchy at its best' Sunday Times 'Crazy, but is all done with a savage delight which will have you laughing out loud' Daily Mirror 'He is funny, bitter, a danger to his public and should be applauded wildly by all' The Listener
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Observer
‘savage, knock-about farce’
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This story is written in the typical Tom Sharpe style (ie. hillarious and surreal)but the plot seems much more plausible. Basically, it is about an aged and very old-fashioned landowner, his equally eccentric and out of touch grandson, a middle aged woman who marries the former for his money, and her dopey daughter who marries the latter. Needless to say, the mother gets far more than she bargained for (eg.living in the back end of beyond, without her usual comforts, and with an over-sexed 90 year old). The real star of the show is the grandson (aka the Throwback) who moves to surburbia with his new wife and causes laugh out loud chaos. Throughout the book mystery surrounds the parentage of the Throwback-I won't spoil it, but it's a brilliant twist, and you won't guess it.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found The Throwback to be one of the funniest books ever drawn from the 'deranged' mind that is Tom Sharpe. The son, of who(?), is the nemisis of all that is ordered, sane and loyal. The grandfather (of who?) is as mad as a kipper. The wife....doh! The lawer, the butler, the taxidermist, the flawshounds......need I go on?
There is always a danger that his books will date, or become socially unnaceptable due to the changing values of todays readers (something which would be unfortunate and self parodying as the humour is always about challenging stupid social values).
However, The Throwback is self contained, without time and a joy to behold. Anyone not offended, or who doesn't laugh out loud at the same time, isn't reading it properly
There is always a danger that his books will date, or become socially unnaceptable due to the changing values of todays readers (something which would be unfortunate and self parodying as the humour is always about challenging stupid social values).
However, The Throwback is self contained, without time and a joy to behold. Anyone not offended, or who doesn't laugh out loud at the same time, isn't reading it properly
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this book many years ago, and continue to re-visit it to this day - it is the funniest novel I have ever read.
The first time I read the chapter about the old army colonel & the french letter I was sitting on the train travelling home, and got very odd looks from my fellow commuters - you cannot help but laugh out loud at the absurd but plausible scene that unfolds in the Colonels bedroom.
On lending the book to family members & friends, it has never returned, causing me to be on my 8th or 9th copy - it is that popular.
I don't think anything Tom Sharpe has done before or since live up to the quality of this book - although some come close.
The first time I read the chapter about the old army colonel & the french letter I was sitting on the train travelling home, and got very odd looks from my fellow commuters - you cannot help but laugh out loud at the absurd but plausible scene that unfolds in the Colonels bedroom.
On lending the book to family members & friends, it has never returned, causing me to be on my 8th or 9th copy - it is that popular.
I don't think anything Tom Sharpe has done before or since live up to the quality of this book - although some come close.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tom Sharpe at his anarchic best
For me this is the best novel written by Tom Sharpe; perhaps I am prejudiced since I grew up & was educated in the UK of the 1950's onwards & can easily visualise Sharpe's... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Wayland
This is the Funniest Book I Have Ever Read.
I love Tom Sharpes work, but none have I ever found reducing me to helpless laughter as The Throwback, as Lockhart Flawse sets out to regain his inheritance. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Guanabat
entertaining
Blast from the past smacks of old ealing comedy kind hearts and coronets type of thing good if you need a laugh
Published 4 months ago by Amelia
Laugh out loud funny !!!
If you only ever read one Tom Sharpe novel In your life make sure it's this one. From the opening paragraph you will be chuckling loudly, and embarrassingly so if you are in... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Staycalm49
Disappointing
Although I loved all Tom Sharpe's books I'd read before this one was simply disappointing - just not funny or witty plot line, had to put it down about 100 pages into it.
Published 9 months ago by EKLondon
Tired, dated...and just not funny
Having cried genuine tears of laughter while reading Porterhouse Blue twenty years ago, when my book club chose The Throwback for last month's read I ordered it with eager... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Andy Hillier
Comic Genius
This book is a sheer comic genius. There are very few books which can make me laugh out loud and this is one of them. The writing is wonderful and the characters are eccentric. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dan
Outrageous and the funniest book ever written!
I have read most of Tom sharpe's books. Some are very funny, others I found good but not very funny. This book however, is just THE funniest book I have ever read. Read more
Published 15 months ago by hondacxrider
The Throwback, Tom Sharpe - Hysterically funny comedy from The Master,...
In the remote wilds of Northumbria lives Edwin Flawse, and the illegitimate son of his daughter, Lockhart. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Victor
Not up there with the classics
I had a real problem with this book. I have read and enjoyed most Tom Sharpe and looked forward to this one, but I was very disappointed and it took me until the end to work out... Read more
Published 21 months ago by ChrisPAmbulance
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