The Stars' Tennis Balls Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

The Stars' Tennis Balls Book

Ned Maddstone has it all. He's handsome and talented; he has the love of a beautiful woman and in 1980, he stands at the brink of a glittering future. He rounds off an outstanding public school career with a sailing trip to Scotland, which is where his fortunes enter a terrifying tailspin. Determined to honour the dying wish of his sailing instructor, Ned returns to London, where the schemes of jealous classmates catapult him into a 10-year nightmare. Confined to a solitary Hell, believed dead by all those who loved him, Ned transforms from a terminally nice guy into a creature bent on revenge, a revenge both satisfying and apocalyptic. Few writers can deliver so much in one package, but here Stephen Fry combines a riotous satire of the privileged classes with elements of the darkest thrillers. While the plot bounces from the sublime to the surreal, his characters remain acutely real. Ned's classmates, slow-witted hedonist Rufus Cade, and the Machiavellian climber Ashley Barson-Garland--who is aroused by the sight of straw boaters--are masterful creations. This novel has nothing to do with tennis, and everything to do with the cruel logic of Fate. Game, set and match to Mr Fry. - - Matthew BaylisRead More

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  • Amazon

    For Ned, 1978 seems a blissful year. Handsome, popular, responsible, and a fine cricketer, life if progressing smoothly, if not effortlessly. When he meets Partia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. What if her left-wing parent despise his Tory MP father? Doesn't that just make them star-crossed lovers?

  • Foyles

    Ned Maddstone has the world at his feet. Handsome, charming, popular and talented, his life is progressing smoothly, effortlessly, happily. But an unfortunate confrontation with a boy in his school results in a prank that goes badly wrong and suddenly he's incarcerated - without chance of release. So begins a year-long process of torment and hopelessness, which will destroy his very identity, until almost nothing remains of him but this unquenchable desire for revenge.'Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks you listen. When he writes, you read' Literary Review'Keeps you simultaneously gripped and chuckling throughout' Later

  • Play

    'We are merely the stars' tennis balls struck and banded / Which may please them'. ('The Duchess of Malfi' John Webster). For Ned 1980 seems a blissful year. Handsome charming popular and talented his life is progressing smoothly effortlessly happily. And when he meets the lovely Portia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. But timing is everything in life and his life is about to change forever.

  • BookDepository

    The Stars' Tennis Balls : Paperback : Cornerstone : 9780099471554 : : 05 Aug 2004 : So begins a year-long process of torment and hopelessness, which will destroy his very identity, until almost nothing remains of him but this unquenchable desire for revenge. 'Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality.

  • ASDA

    For Ned 1978 seems a blissful year. Handsome popular responsible and a fine cricketer life if progressing smoothly if not effortlessly. When he meets Partia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. What if her left-wing parent despise his Tory MP father? Doesn't that just make them star-crossed lovers?

  • Waterstones

    For Ned, 1980 seems a blissful year. Handsome, charming, popular and talented, his life is progressing smoothly, effortlessly, happily. And when he meets the lovely Portia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. But timing is everything in lif

  • 0099471558
  • 9780099471554
  • Stephen Fry
  • 5 August 2004
  • Arrow Books Ltd
  • Paperback (Book)
  • 384
  • New edition
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