Stephen Fry, The Hippopotamus

1994 356 page paperbackHaving enjoyed his many tv outings in various guises, i have come to envy his intelligence and sophistication. With his fiction receiving solid reviews i thought i would start with this book. I had high hopes, fully expecting a composition befitting of his brainpower. Unfortunately the book starts with Fry stereotypical characters, well-to-do folk calling each other dearest or darling, rubbing their judgements up against each other until the reader has contempt for them all. This may pass as wit in some circles, but it's not interesting to me. About half way through the book, the storyline appears. This doesn't bode well for the book holding together, or the story being very strong. Throw in some cheap shocks, namely bestiality and rather vulgar talk, and you're about done.It's a kind of adolescent mystery jaunt, filled with lamentable characters in upper class Britain. I felt obliged to finish it only out of respect for my former preconceptions of the man. It's not completely without merit. The Author has undoubtable language skills, can write wonderful rolling passages that fulfill the reader, although there are far too few here. The characters also display compassion and humanity with fervour. Unfortunately the character and class background has taken the place of story.A thoroughly awful book, junk fiction at it's worst. The question is do i try anything else of his?