See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

15 used & new from £0.01
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Dwarves of Death
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book

The Dwarves of Death (Paperback)

by Jonathan Coe (Author) "I find it hard to describe what happened ..." (more)
2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


2 new from £2.25 13 used from £0.01
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 10 used & new from £4.50
Paperback £7.99 £5.99 24 used & new from £3.10

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

A Touch of Love

A Touch of Love

by Jonathan Coe
3.2 out of 5 stars (5)  £5.99
The Accidental Woman

The Accidental Woman

by Jonathan Coe
3.7 out of 5 stars (11)  £5.99
The Rain Before it Falls

The Rain Before it Falls

by Jonathan Coe
3.5 out of 5 stars (38)  £4.37
The House of Sleep

The House of Sleep

by Jonathan Coe
4.6 out of 5 stars (45)  £5.99
The Closed Circle

The Closed Circle

by Jonathan Coe
3.6 out of 5 stars (25)  £5.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (29 Mar 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140294929
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140294927
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 360,997 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #21 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > C > Coe, Jonathan

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description
William's life is beset with frustration: his band turns his melodic songs into grotesque parodies of Status Quo, and cool Madelaine dangles out of reach. Things could hardly get worse, it seems - until he becomes the only witness to a bizarre murder. "A very clever, very funny book ...Brilliant" - "Sunday Times". "Like a Hitchcock movie on drugs ...a novel of considerable gusto and panache" - "Observer". "It's about being young, poor, confused and in love ...Sharp, lucid and witty" - "Guardian".
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
I find it hard to describe what happened. Read the first page
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
(3)
(2)
(3)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Dwarves of Death
65% buy the item featured on this page:
The Dwarves of Death 2.8 out of 5 stars (8)
The House of Sleep
12% buy
The House of Sleep 4.6 out of 5 stars (45)
£5.99
The Rain Before it Falls
9% buy
The Rain Before it Falls 3.5 out of 5 stars (38)
£4.37
What a Carve Up!
8% buy
What a Carve Up! 4.6 out of 5 stars (50)
£5.99
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:    (0)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars An Early Work That Shows Some Signs Of The Artistry To Come, 23 Mar 2001
By Fastest Loser (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews
I am a big fan of Jonathon Coe. I read this book after enjoying "What A Carve Up !" and "The House Of Sleep". I found it a little disappointing.

The story has to be shoehorned into shape for it to make any sense, and some of the characters are drawn a little too roughly. The plot requires a good deal of imagination to make it fly, and it seems as if it haad been added rather late in the process.

That said, it also contains the writer's honest eye for detail, and he captures the ordinariness of life in many well-drawn scenes.

I think this is an example of the early work of a writer who now produces extremely enjoyable, meaningful, challenging and accessible work. He doesn't deliver it in this early work, but you can see the early signs of it here.

I couldn't in all honesty recommend it to anyone but his biggest fans, despite the fact it is streets ahead of most of the c**p that litters the booksellers nowadays. Compared to the quality of his later work, this book does not deliver. Only for those who are truly fascinated in the work of this talented writer.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A bit disappointing..., 25 April 2006
By Snapdragon (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
Like other reviewers, I had read 'The House of Sleep' and absolutley loved it, so I was a bit disappointed when I read 'The Dwarves of Death'.
The blurb lead me to believe this would be more about the actual murder that William witnesses, instead it was more of an exploration of his relationship with Madeline.
There were some nice observations but I wouldn't say it was up to Coe's usual standard.
The bits about the different notes and keys of piano music also left me a bit cold.
I do disagree with the other reviewer about the loose ends though. One of the things I love about Coe's books are the structure...how different threads are picked up and tied up neatly by the end.
Sorry...but not his best work. If you haven't read his stuff before go with 'The House of Sleep'instead.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars fantastic - one of my favourite books, 17 Dec 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Dwarves of Death (Paperback)
Since I first brought this book when I was 16 I've had to re purchase it four times - and I still don't have a copy. Its one of those books where you feel compelled to tell everyone to read it, then they do, then they don't give it back or lend it to someone else and its lost again. Compulsive to read, eminently re-readable, I'll just have to go out and buy it again - and never lend it to anyone else
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars The Dwarves of Death
I've read a few of Jonathan Coe's books, so was pleased to find this one in a charity shop. Unfortunately, I found it to be pretty much unreadable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by gerty guinea

2.0 out of 5 stars Not one of his best
Uninteresting and repugnant characters, complex implausible plot. Good thing that his elegant style shines through, or I wouldn't have bothered finishing it, short though it is.
Published 17 months ago by Jezza

3.0 out of 5 stars "What's up?"..............."Nothing"
This book seems to be marketed as a mystery, but reads more like a Nick Hornby lager saga. At the end of the book lots of things suddenly fit together but, unlike with a proper... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2005 by dangermash

3.0 out of 5 stars well now...
this is more of a caution for those who want to read some J. Coe. I have not read this particular book, but i do think he was honing his craft a little in his first few novels... Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2004 by john mertens

4.0 out of 5 stars superb full of witty phrases that sum up Coe so perfectly.
When you pick up a book, and then put the book down two days later with blisters on your fingers from turning the pages to quickly you know that you have hit a winner. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2000

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject











i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

›Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

  

Train Hard...Play Hard

Nike, Gola, Converse, and more
Gear up with up to 60% off athletic and outdoor shoes.

›Shop now

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates