American journalist Maggie Monroe wants to research a story in
Yemen on honour killings, but her boss at the current affairs TV
programme Newsline has other ideas: he is sending her to England to
'revisit Brideshead' and file a story on 1,000 years of
aristocratic rule. In London, meanwhile, Daniel Bevan - eldest son
of Alistair, a cousin to the Queen - is struggling to write his
regular piece for the Spectator while attempting to kick the demon
drink by attending Alcoholics Anonymous. His girlfriend has thrown
him out so he's staying with his younger brother Rory, who is
strictly teetotal. But when Daniel wakes in the night, desperate
for a drink, a chain of events unfolds which leaves Rory with more
responsibilities than he has previously bargained for. Using a neat
narrative device, Pollen gets inside the heads of both of her
protagonists, mixing their stories with a deft touch and much
situational humour. Rory has set up his own business helping
poverty-stricken aristocrats make money out of their crumbling
mansions, and Maggie enlists his services, finding it harder than
she anticipated to get the ruling classes to confide in front of
the camera. When she stumbles across a 'real' story, she begins to
realize she has a conflict of interests. Will she or won't she dish
the dirt? Hunting Unicorns began its life as a screenplay, and
Pollen displays a consistently sure touch with her locations,
moving between them with a convincing amount of detail. She
possesses a good eye for comic situations, but knows that comedy is
only one half of the story. As Daniel puts it: 'You drink, snort,
take pills, it's only ever about trying to find a place where you
can be happy.' What seems at first to be a deceptively light read
ends up as an often hilarious and frequently poignant
race-to-the-finish. (Kirkus UK)
American Maggie Monroe is a journalist for New York's hard-hitting
current affairs show Newsline. Independent and fearless, the more
cutting-edge the story, the happier she is. But when her next
assignment turns out to be an in-depth documentary on the decline
of England's ruling classes, she's furious at being sent to cover a
bloody tea party. Meet the Earl and Countess of Bevan, eccentric,
maddening and with family secrets to hide. Meet Daniel Bevan -
their eldest son. Funny, attractive and hopelessly alcoholic. Meet
Daniel's responsible brother Rory - angry, self-mocking and
strictly teetotal. When Maggie discovers Rory to be an uninvited
chaperone on the first stop of her journey the two look set to
clash. Maggie finds herself torn between her journalist ideals and
coming to terms with a greater understanding. This unlikely
romantic comedy paints an endearing portrait of a family, which
like so many others, holds itself together despite its evident
frailties. 'Hilariously accurate . . . A gifted writer with a
pithy, poetic style' Wendy Holden, Daily Mail
General
Imprint: |
Pan Books
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
2004 |
Authors: |
Bella Pollen
|
Dimensions: |
197 x 129 x 23mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Mass Market
|
Pages: |
350 |
Edition: |
Unabridged edition |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-330-41157-8 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
Genre fiction >
Romance >
General
|
LSN: |
0-330-41157-8 |
Barcode: |
9780330411578 |
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