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A review by dave_holwill
King of the Badgers by Philip Hensher
3.0
I liked the style, the mostly unlikeable characters and snarky commentary.
I enjoyed the character study of middle-class incomers in Devon.
I was sad that the plot hinted at in the blurb was abandoned much sooner than expected.
I was even more sad that the author had clearly never tried to get around North Devon by train before. The London geography is spot on, and the fictional town of Hanmouth is just fine, but turning Barnstaple into a city and giving Bideford back its long closed station and a brand new Sainsburys grates on anyone who actually lives in North Devon.
I know it's a small thing, but go fictional on your towns and don't upset the locals by rubbing their awful transport links in their faces.
Other than that gripe, the characters are wonderfully drawn, and fantastically awful in a good way. I recognise the town of Hanmouth, and could make a few guesses as to where it is intended to be.
I enjoyed the character study of middle-class incomers in Devon.
I was sad that the plot hinted at in the blurb was abandoned much sooner than expected.
I was even more sad that the author had clearly never tried to get around North Devon by train before. The London geography is spot on, and the fictional town of Hanmouth is just fine, but turning Barnstaple into a city and giving Bideford back its long closed station and a brand new Sainsburys grates on anyone who actually lives in North Devon.
I know it's a small thing, but go fictional on your towns and don't upset the locals by rubbing their awful transport links in their faces.
Other than that gripe, the characters are wonderfully drawn, and fantastically awful in a good way. I recognise the town of Hanmouth, and could make a few guesses as to where it is intended to be.