Synopses & Reviews
Adrian Healey is magnificently unprepared for the long littleness of life; unprepared too for the afternoon in Salzburg when he will witness the savage murder of a Hungarian violinist; unprepared to learn about the Mendax device; unprepared for more murders and wholly unprepared for the truth. Unprepared or not, Adrian is led through an adventure that takes in toast, Piccadilly rent-boys, Charles Dickenss lost pornographic novel, an international espionage conspiracy, disgraceful scenes on the cricket field and a machine that compels its victims to tell the truth.
About the Author
Stephen Fry was born in 1957. His first written work, “Mummy” was awarded the Sunnyvale Primary School Gold Star for neatness in 1961. His better-known works are The Liar, Moab is My Washpot and The Stars Tennis Balls. He has also appeared on TV in “Blackadder” and “Jeeves and Wooster.”
Reading Group Guide
A chronic liar with few friends meets Professor Trefusis -- academic, broadcaster, polyglot and admirer of Elvis Costello -- and is led through an adventure that takes in Piccadilly rent-boys, a lost pornographic Dickens novel, international espionage and disgraceful scenes on a cricket field.
1. To what extent is Fry inviting the reader to draw parallels between his role as an author of fiction and the character of Adrian, who could be said to personify fiction?
2. By rewarding Adrian with success and prestige is Fry condoning deceit? How might this be applied to the broader context of society and the role of morality within it?
3. Map the stages of Adrian's odyssey, what are the main events within the narrative that may be considered milestones in the character's development?
4. What role, if any, does emotion play in Adrian's sexual encounters? Consider this in the light of his relationships with other characters including Cartwright, Trotter and Jenny.
5. "' We can be fairly certain' he {Trefusis} said 'that animals do not lie. It has been both their salvation and their downfall. Lies, fiction and untrue suppositions can create new human truths which build technology, art, language, everything that is distinctly of man. The word 'stone' for instance is not a stone, it is an oral pattern of vocal, dental and labial sounds or a scriptive arrangement of ink on a white surface, but man pretends that it is actually the thing it refers to." (p.300)
Is Fry defending Adrian's duplicity by asking us to consider the impossibility of an absolute truth since language is itself held up as a code of multiple meanings and misleading by nature?
6. How might the knowledge of Fry's own biography help in your understanding and appreciation of the novel?