Awards
A New York Times Notable Book for 1998.
Synopses & Reviews
The hilarious and critically acclaimed national bestseller; A New York Times notable book of the year
"The book's strengths are...its dry, deftly understated wit; its careful plot and character construction; its clever, on-the-money dialogue...Those pleasures carry you a long way." —The New York Times Book Review
"What impresses most about Hemingway's Chair is [Palin's] firm command over the basic craft of novel-writing. His book is well-paced, his prose carefully-hewn, his characters fully developed and convincingly human. And his comic timing is impeccable." —Washington Post
"Throughout, Palin's empathetic humor informs this perceptive tribute to the art of manliness." —Entertainment Weekly
Martin Sproale is an assistant postmaster obsessed with Ernest Hemingway. He lives in a small English village, where he studies his hero and putters about harmlessly--until an ambitious outsider, Nick Marshall, is appointed postmaster instead of Martin. Slick and self-assured, Nick steals Martin's girlfriend and decides to modernize the friendly local office by firing dedicated but elderly employees and privatizing the business. Suddenly, gentle Martin is faced with a choice: meekly accept defeat as he always has, or fight for what he believes in, as his hero Hemingway would. Filled with Michael Palins trademark wit and good humor, this novel is for anyone who has ever dreamed of triumphing over the technocrats and backstabbers of the world. Hilarious, touching and ultimately inspirational, Hemingway's Chair will make readers stand up and cheer.
Review
"Funnyman Palin brings a light touch to this yarn, treating his characters and their many weaknesses with an affection that will have readers rooting for his unlikely hero." Publishers Weekly
Review
"The book's strengths...are precisely the ones you don't expect: its dry, deftly understated wit; its careful plot and character construction; its hearty, well-formed sentences; its clever, on-the-money dialogue." Bruce Weber, The New York Times Book Review
Review
"Is there anything that Michael Palin can't do? Now, with Hemingway's Chair, he's produced an engaging and accomplished first novel. It makes you wonder when we'll be hearing the premiere of Palin's First Symphony....His book is well paced, his prose carefully hewn, his characters fully developed and convincingly human. And his comic timing is impeccable." The Washington Post
Review
"Throughout, Palin's empathetic humor informs this perceptive tribute to the art of manliness." Megan Harlan, Entertainment Weekly
Review
"The spirit of Hemingway is evident in Palin's prose." The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Review
"This comic novel should enjoy critical acclaim while finding popularity among readers who can't distinguish a Python from a garden snake. It is a tale of frustration that is both gentle and snappy, human to the core." Library Journal
Synopsis
The hilarious and critically acclaimed national bestseller; A New York Times notable book of the year
"The book's strengths are...its dry, deftly understated wit; its careful plot and character construction; its clever, on-the-money dialogue...Those pleasures carry you a long way." —The New York Times Book Review
"What impresses most about Hemingway's Chair is [Palin's] firm command over the basic craft of novel-writing. His book is well-paced, his prose carefully-hewn, his characters fully developed and convincingly human. And his comic timing is impeccable." —Washington Post
"Throughout, Palin's empathetic humor informs this perceptive tribute to the art of manliness." —Entertainment Weekly
Martin Sproale is an assistant postmaster obsessed with Ernest Hemingway. He lives in a small English village, where he studies his hero and putters about harmlessly--until an ambitious outsider, Nick Marshall, is appointed postmaster instead of Martin. Slick and self-assured, Nick steals Martin's girlfriend and decides to modernize the friendly local office by firing dedicated but elderly employees and privatizing the business. Suddenly, gentle Martin is faced with a choice: meekly accept defeat as he always has, or fight for what he believes in, as his hero Hemingway would. Filled with Michael Palins trademark wit and good humor, this novel is for anyone who has ever dreamed of triumphing over the technocrats and backstabbers of the world. Hilarious, touching and ultimately inspirational, Hemingway's Chair will make readers stand up and cheer.
About the Author
Michael Palin is an actor, a comedian, a travel writer, and a founding member of the Monty Python team. He has written and acted in dozens of successful performances. Hemingway's Chair is his first novel. He lives in North London with his wife and three children.