What a Carve Up!: A wickedly funny take on life under the Thatcher government by the award-winning author of Middle England: 57 (Penguin Essentials, 57) - Softcover
Synopsis
The hilarious 1980s political satire by Jonathan Coe, published as a Penguin Essential for the first time.
It is the 1980s and the Winshaw family are getting richer and crueller by the year:
Newspaper-columnist Hilary gets thousands for telling it like it isn't; Henry's turning hospitals into car parks; Roddy's selling art in return for sex; down on the farm Dorothy's squeezing every last pound from her livestock; Thomas is making a killing on the stock exchange; and Mark is selling arms to dictators.
But once their hapless biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family's trail of greed, corruption and immoral doings, the time growing ripe for the Winshaws to receive their comeuppance. . .
This wickedly funny take on life under the Thatcher government was the winner of the 1995 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
'A sustained feat of humour, suspense and polemic, full of twists and ironies' Hilary Mantel, Sunday Times
'A riveting social satire on the chattering and all-powerful upper classes' Time Out
'Big, hilarious, intricate, furious, moving' Guardian
Written with his signature wit, Jonathan Coe's unmissable new novel, The Proof of My Innocence is available now!
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Jonathan Coe was born a few miles from Bournville in 1961. The author of political satires such as Bournville, What a Carve Up! and Number 11, and family sagas such as The Rotters' Club and The Rain Before It Falls, his novels have won prizes at home and abroad, including Costa Novel of the Year and the Prix du Livre Européen (both for Middle England).
From the Back Cover
The hilarious 1980s political satire by Jonathan Coe, published as a Penguin Essential for the first time.
It is the 1980s and the Winshaw family are getting richer and crueller by the year:
Newspaper-columnist Hilary gets thousands for telling it like it isn't. Henry's turning hospitals into car parks, Roddy's selling art in return for sex; down on the farm Dorothy's squeezing every last pound from her livestock, Thomas is making a killing on the stock exchange, and Mark is selling arms to dictators.
But once their hapless biographer Michael Owen starts investigating the family's trail of greed, corruption and immoral doings, the time growing ripe for the Winshaws to receive their comeuppance. . .
This wickedly funny take on life under the Thatcher government was the winner of the 1995 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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What a Carve Up! (Penguin Essentials)
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Acceptable. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. The book is perfectly readable and fit for use, although it shows signs of previous ownership. The spine is likely creased and the cover scuffed or slightly torn. Textbooks will typically have an amount of underlining and/or highlighting, as well as notes. If this book is over 5 years old, then please expect the pages to be yellowing or to have age spots. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Seller Inventory # CHL10468625
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What a Carve Up! (Penguin Essentials)
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Condition: Very Good. 1759674931. 10/5/2025 2:35:31 PM. Seller Inventory # U9780241978917
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What a Carve Up!
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What a Carve Up!
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Condition: Good. 01st Edition. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 18751869-20
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What a Carve Up!
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Condition: Very Good. 01st Edition. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 52092814-20
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What a Carve Up!
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What a Carve Up! (Paperback)
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Penguin Books Ltd, London, 2016
ISBN 10: 0241978912
ISBN 13: 9780241978917
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Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
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Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. The hilarious 1980s political satire by Jonathan Coe, published as a Penguin Essential for the first timeA brilliant noir farce, a dystopian vision and the story of an obsession. Michael is a lonely, rather pathetic writer, obsessed by the film, 'What A Carve Up!' in which a mad knifeman cuts his way through the inhabitants of a decrepit stately pile as the thunder rages.Inexplicably, Michael is commissioned to write the family history of the Winshaws, an upper class Yorkshire clan whose members have a finger in every establishment pie. But as a murderous maniac stalks the family, Michael realizes that his favourite film is coming true. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780241978917
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What a Carve Up!
Seller: La Plume Franglaise, Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure, France
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Condition: good. Envoi avec suivi, rapide et soigné. Vendeur Pro specialiste livre depuis plus de 10 ans, produit en stock, expédié en 24 heures depuis la France, emballage soigné sous bulles (pour les envois de plus de 6 euros). Seller Inventory # Ddm 201005 569 26
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What a Carve Up!
Seller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
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PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # DB-9780241978917
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What a Carve Up! (Penguin Essentials)
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
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Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780241978917