The great pursuit
The Great Pursuit by Tom Sharpe, published by Harper & Row in 1977, is a novel that explores the chaotic world of a small literary agency, Frensic and Futtle. Following a damaging court case that leads to a decline in business, the agency receives a mysterious manuscript titled “Pause O Men for the Virgin.” The story revolves around the agency’s decision to use an aspiring author, Peter Piper, as a stand-in for the anonymous writer, leading to a series of comedic misadventures as Piper navigates the complexities of a promotional tour in the United States.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into the absurdities of the publishing industry and the challenges faced by those trying to manage a literary career. The plot thickens as Piper, initially unaware of the chaos he is about to unleash, becomes embroiled in a whirlwind of misunderstandings and unexpected events. This edition, comprising 235 pages, presents a humorous take on themes of identity and the often unpredictable nature of fame within the realm of fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
Frensic and Futtle is a small and successful literary agency. But following a successful court case by a woman who claimed to have been libeled by one of their authors, the agency rapidly loses business.One day, a manuscript for a book called “Pause O Men for the Virgin” arrives at the agency, together with a note from the author’s solicitor, saying that the author wishes to remain anonymous and that the agency has carte blanche on how it deals with the book. The book turns out to deal with the love affair between an 80-year-old woman and a 17-year-old youth.The populist American publisher Hutchmeyer agrees to sign a deal to publish the book in the United States for $2 million, providing the author carries out a promotional tour of the country. Sonia and Frensic decide to use aspiring but unpublished author Peter Piper to stand in for the anonymous author. But when Piper receives a proof copy of Pause from the publisher by mistake, it takes a certain amount of persuasion and arm-twisting from Sonia Futtle to convince Piper to travel to America.An innocent abroad in the States, Piper is the unwitting cause of confusion upon confusion, disaster upon disaster.
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