Product Description

Seventy-Two Virgins is a comic political novel, with similar appeal to Stephen Fry or Ben Elton, written by one of Britain's most popular politicians. It is Boris Johnson's first novel and was widely acclaimed on publication. The American President, on a State Visit to Britain is giving a major address to a top-level audience in Westminster Hall. Ferocious security - with some difficulties in communication - is provided by a joint force of the United States Secret Service and Scotland Yard. The best sharpshooters from both countries are stationed on the roof of the Parliament buildings. Then a stolen ambulance runs into trouble with the Parking Authorities. A hapless Member of Parliament, having mislaid his crucial pass, is barred from Westminster, his bicycle regarded as a potential lethal weapon. And a man going by the name of Jones, although born in Karachi, successfully slips through the barriers, and whole new ball game starts. Despite the united efforts of the finest security minds, events begin to spin out of control. A remarkable new worldwide reality television show dominates the airwaves. And the most unlikely heroes emerge!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13620 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Review
'A hectic comedy thriller!a rip-roaring knockabout farce!refreshingly unpompous, faintly dishevelled and often very funny.' Mail on Sunday 'At the centre of his first novel, a light comedy, is a terrorist plot of frightening ingenuity!the comedy is reminiscent of Tom Sharpe.' Sunday Times 'Johnson scores in his comic handling of those most sensitive issues!he succeeds in being charming and sincere!Boris Johnson has written a witty page-turner.' Observer 'Among the hilarious scenes of events and the wonderful dialogue which keeps the story moving at a cracking pace, Johnson uncovers some home truths!I can give no higher praise to this book than to say that I lapped it up at a single uproarious sitting.' Irish Examiner 'As an author, the Shadow Arts Minister is in a class of his own: ebullient, exhausting but irresistible.' Daily Mail 'fluent, funny material!the writing is vintage, Wodehousian Boris!it has been assembled with skill and terrific energy and will lift morale in the soul of many.' Evening Standard 'This is a comic novel, but Johnson is never far away from making serious points, which he leads us towards with admirable stealth.' Daily Telegraph 'a splendidly accomplished and gripping first novel!Few authors could get away with it, but this one most certainly does. Highly recommended.' Sunday Telegraph 'The rollicking pace and continuous outpouring of comic invention make the book!The guardians of our author's future need not worry. This is a laurel from a new bush, but certainly a prizewinner.' Spectator 'invents a genre all of his own: a post 9/11 farce!a pacy, knockabout political thriller which takes in would-be terrorists careering through Westminster in a stolen ambulance, a visit from the US president, celebrity chefs, snipers, tabloids chasing extra-curricular!as much fun reading it as Johnson had writing it.' GQ 'As well as Mr Johnson's inside knowledge of Parliament and his exuberantly idiosyncratic prose style, Mr Johnson is also brilliant at characterisation - each one of his cast of hundreds leaps to life in a few sentences!and yes, I laughed out loud approximately every 30 minutes.' Country Life

From the Author
It maybe a truism but I wrote this novel because I had to.
I had long wanted to write fiction but had never quite got round to it. Then last year when I was planning to work on a quite different book, the idea of a political thriller set in one day in the Palace of Westminster came into my head. It was irresistible. I rose every day at 4am to write. The characters, the scenario, the developments of the plot took on a life of their own - which is supposed to be the mark of a good story. I will leave you to be the judge of that but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I am - clearly - interested in politics, in the way politicians work, in the life of Westminster. I find the interaction with our closest ally endlessly fascinating. So a novel which presented a shocking event at Westminster and involved Members of Parliament, the political establishment, some apparently disenfranchised zealots and a worldwide audience participating in a novel form of voter power enabled me to share many of my interests with readers to my, and I hope their, enjoyment.

It is strange how few political novels are written in Britain and yet all human interest, plenty of drama and some comedy is there. Perhaps Seventy Two Virgins will lead the return to political thrillers.

About the Author
Boris Johnson is the editor of the Spectator, MP for Henley, writes a column for the Daily Telegraph and has just been appointed Shadow Arts Minister. He lives in London and Oxfordshire with his wife and their children.

Customer Reviews

Codswallop with extra tripe
Dear oh dear. Boris is a talented wordsmith and a man of considerable intelligence but you would not know it if you read this. Wafer thin plot built up with barely credible characters and more than a couple of stereotypes. Not really worth it unless you need some light distraction - i.e. stuck in an airport. Stick to the cerebral Boris!! Saw this book for sale in a pound shop recently - overpriced at that!!

A great rainy afternoon read.
Boris Johnson is one of those people who hide a frighteningly acute mind behind a bumbling persona, and I get the impression that he knocked this book out over a long rainy weekend. The plot is flawed, the pace slackens in places and, on reflection, this is a piece of lighter than light fluff. I can understand why BJ would resist a stronger editorial hand, but the book suffers as a result.

But, by Heaven, its funny! Boris Johnson takes huge swipes at the world and his dog, including himself, but cleverly avoids taking sides. ON the other hand, like Dave Courtney, he can dress up discomforting ideas in hilarious language and make you laugh despite yourself.

A good way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Sir Boris for PM
On the evidence of Seventy Two Virgins, Boris Johnson would make a good novelist or a good Prime Minister - he would probably have to decide which. `Flawed genius' may be a bit rich but hints at the general impression.

The American President is due to address the UK Parliament in Westminster Hall and meanwhile a serious but badly planned bomb cum kidnapping venture is under way. It's set in 2004, after 9/11 but before 7/7. Things go awry on all fronts but Johnson presents the drama with considerable tension, great humour and an astonishing political sensibility. How could this man be a Conservative MP?

The book is slow to start. The entire story takes place in under 4 hours but the build-up to the drama takes half the space without much happening. There is also a great deal of gratuitous erudition: okay, Boris, we've got the point, you're an extremely clever bloke but when you're writing a story like this, you need to move like Archer!

The kidnapping attempt, when it comes, is taken with deadly seriousness and yet has some hilarious sections as the author (relevantly) attacks some random targets: the fast food industry, bureacrats, celebrity chefs, religious fanatics, misogynists and military maniacs in no particular order. The book is worth the money for the rant about the food industry alone.

I was kept guessing as to how the book would end, but when it did it was satisfying. And was it all an improbable farrago?

I leave you with the author's last words:

-The only implausibility in this story is to imagine that (the kidnappers) could for a moment elude the police who guard the Palace of Westminster with such vigilance, tact and kindness.-