This is a love story, narrated by one of the protagonists, Henry Blain, a prison cook. Blain, sixty-something Liverpudlian, is an unreconstructed male, Shakespeare lover, adulterator of food, and a murderer. The prison he works in is called Strangeways. The love affair, with a 50 year old reporter with the Anglican tribune, takes place against the background of the 1990 siege. At first vilified by the prisoners - who understandably blame him for the quality of the food they're served and devastate his garden with ...
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This is a love story, narrated by one of the protagonists, Henry Blain, a prison cook. Blain, sixty-something Liverpudlian, is an unreconstructed male, Shakespeare lover, adulterator of food, and a murderer. The prison he works in is called Strangeways. The love affair, with a 50 year old reporter with the Anglican tribune, takes place against the background of the 1990 siege. At first vilified by the prisoners - who understandably blame him for the quality of the food they're served and devastate his garden with missiles flung from the roof - Blain later becomes their hero. Along the way we learn of Blain's years in the Merchant Navy, where he perfected the art of manipulating the menu to reflect his own moods - if he was feeling low, for example, he would produce food whose digestive effects would render its eaters equally depressed. We also find out that he has murdered two wives, one mistress and a blackmailer, and buried them in the garden. A meditation on food and digestion, with a large measure of sex and fantasy and a handful of murders thrown in, this is an anarchic, funny, irreverent novel. A wholly original concoction from a talented young French writer - an unusual view of a very British event. A French 'Shallow Grave'.
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Add this copy of Strange Ways to cart. $14.52, good condition, Sold by Kennys.ie rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galway, IRELAND, published 2000 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Add this copy of Strange Ways to cart. $16.47, new condition, Sold by Aardvark Books Ltd rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bucknell, HEREFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Phoenix Press.
Add this copy of Strange Ways to cart. $16.77, very good condition, Sold by Prominent Trading Company rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, HEREFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2002 by Phoenix.
Add this copy of Strange Ways; Autographed to cart. $20.00, very good condition, Sold by FOL_LIVINGSTON, ships from Livingston, MT, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Orion Publishing Group.
Add this copy of Strange Ways to cart. $24.02, very good condition, Sold by Hay-on-Wye Booksellers rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hereford, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2000 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson History.
Add this copy of Strange Ways to cart. $43.97, like new condition, Sold by Burwood Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Wickham Market, SUFFOLK, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2000 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
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Seller's Description:
First U.k. Edition. Hardback. Dust Jacket. 8vo. Original publisher's royal blue cloth, lettered silver at the spine. Henry Blain is chief cook at Strangeways. The stomachs of 1, 600 prisoners are at his mercy, and he plays them like a maestro. The menu reflects Blain's moods, and its effects echo in the prison's plumbing. A lover of Shakespeare, exotic plants and women, Blain meets his match when riots break out at Strangeways. ISBN: 1861591721 Pages: 184 Fine in fine dust jacket.
Add this copy of Strange Ways to cart. $67.45, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Clarita, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Weidenfeld & Nicholson history.
