Happiness - Softcover

Ferguson, Will

Softcover

ISBN 10: 8495908336 ISBN 13: 9788495908339

Publisher: Emecé Editores, 2005

Synopsis

Rare book

About this title

Review:

"The Age of Nice is at hand, and there's nothing we can do about it." But the main protagonist of Will Ferguson's Happinesss terminally luckless book editor Edwin de Valu does want to do something. In fact, he feels obliged to put a stop to the Age of Nice, because it's all his fault. Desperate to save a flagging career in the world of self-help publishing, Edwin has staked everything on a dubious, thousand-page manuscript bearing the motto "Live! Love! Learn!" Promising its readers endless wealth, effortless weight loss and everlasting happiness, the book has become a runaway success. And that's where Edwin's problems really begin. Not just the murderous cartel of drug and tobacco barons who want Edwin's head on a plate. Also the fact that misery, cynicism, irrational hatred, draught beer--all the things that once made Edwin's life as an underdog bearable--have become outlawed. It's down to one man to save the globe from the tyranny of the Group Hug. But can Edwin do it, before the world economy melts down and a bestselling serial killer called Dr Ethics enacts his own deadly revenge?

It has been said--possibly by the sort of homily-peddling guru that Ferguson attacks so masterfully in his debut novel--that there are many routes to happiness. The general effect of reading this razor-sharp satire on the self-help industry is to understand that these routes lead us nowhere, except perhaps to a cul-de-sac called Hell. This would be depressing to realise, except that Happiness clubs its readers into submission with the sort of zany, almost other-worldly wit that makes us profoundly glad to be alive. --Matthew Baylis

Review:

"A brilliant parody . . . bright and very funny." (Mail on Sunday)

"Will Ferguson's talent as a satirist is to be treasured. His wit enlivens every page, and what starts as an amusing book about publishing expands into a glorious romp though modern life." (Literary Review)

"HappinessTM is a wonderfully assured, gleefully twisted and deeply irreligious satire which manages to be as moving as it is funny." (Charlie Hill Independent on Sunday)

"Will Ferguson is a very gifted writer." (Bill Bryson)

About this edition

• Publisher: Emecé Editores
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 8495908336
• ISBN 13: 9788495908339
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 309