The Death of an Owl, Paul Torday
The Death of an Owl, Paul Torday
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The Death of an Owl
From the author of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, a witty tale of scandal and subterfuge

Author: Paul Torday, Piers Torday

Narrator: Leighton Pugh

Unabridged: 8 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/14/2016

Synopsis

Brought up in Switzerland, the only son of well-to-do parents, Charles Fryerne is somewhat unprepared for the world he meets when he goes up to Oxford University in the early 1980s. There he meets a fascinating social set, including a stellar young playwright, a student dubbed 'the future leader of the Conservative party' and a mercurial figure with ambitions to become the youngest prime minister since Pitt.

When they leave university, the characters go their separate ways. But as Charles's career as a journalist takes off, he finds himself once more in their orbit and observes at first hand the price of ambition, and the inner workings of the political machine. And when the country's future leader accidentally hits an owl on a country road, there are difficult choices to be made...

DEATH OF AN OWL is a satire on political expediency and spin from the author of SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN.

(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group

About Paul Torday

Paul Torday burst on to the literary scene in 2007 with his first novel, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, an immediate international bestseller that has been translated into 28 languages and has been made into a film starring Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Blunt. His subsequent novels, THE IRRESISTIBLE INHERITANCE OF WILBERFORCE, THE GIRL ON THE LANDING, THE HOPELESS LIFE OF CHARLIE SUMMERS, MORE THAN YOU CAN SAY, THE LEGACY OF HARTLEPOOL HALL and LIGHT SHINING IN THE FOREST, were all published to great critical acclaim. He was married with two sons by a previous marriage, had two stepsons, and lived close to the River North Tyne. He died at home in December 2013.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Matt on March 24, 2016

I came to this book as a fan of Piers Torday. I adored his Last Wild trilogy and then read that he had completed his father's unfinished manuscript. The story (of writing the book) and the story (contained within the book) were too intriguing to ignore. In case you don't know, when Paul Torday died,......more

Goodreads review by Davida on December 11, 2018

After author Paul Torday died, his son Piers found his father's last manuscript, which was supposed to become his ninth novel. Piers decided to complete this unfinished work to honor his father's memory. Read my review of this unintentional collaborative effort here. [URL not allowed]......more

Goodreads review by Katy on April 04, 2016

I was sad to hear the news of Torday's death, and the poignant story that his son had completed his last novel before publication. I've loved the other Torday books I've read and wanted to see his final piece. At no point in reading did I think "There, that's where he stopped", I got to the end and......more

Goodreads review by Barbara on August 22, 2016

I've always thought that Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was rather over-rated but I've still been happy to give a few more of Paul Torday's books a read. Sadly, with his death before this book was completed, we won't get anything new from him so it's inevitable that his fate hangs over this book in a s......more

Goodreads review by Dorothy on March 25, 2016

Andrew Langford is driving home one night along a country lane, when a barn owl flies into his windscreen. It is an accident, nothing more. However, Andrew is in line to be the country's next prime minister and he has recently been appointed to a select committee concerned with the Wildlife and Coun......more

Quotes

best suited to a fireside on a winter's night, but it's no less satisfying for that DAILY MAIL

A delightful Gothic fantasy... Witty and well-crafted - completed with panache THE GUARDIAN

Compelling blend of morality and satire SUNDAY MIRROR

Skeweringly accurate... THE DEATH OF AN OWL will ring true with anyone who has ever hated politicians or fallen out of love EVENING STANDARD

The Death of an Owl makes the journey from well-crafted and urbane political novel to spooky melodrama with elegance. A pleasure to read DAILY EXPRESS

Piers has taken up the story so perfectly that you can't see the join. THE TIMES

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