Product Description

When pretty young TV researcher Nicky Proctor visits Cafe Henry in London's Soho, Henry Pratt's life changes forever. He becomes an instant star of the TV food quiz, "A Question of Salt" and before long he is given his own series, "Hooray, it's Henry". The book of the series reaches Number Two. He's a celebrity. Henry Ezra Pratt has come a long way from his humble beginnings. But, as usual in Henry's life, things begin to go wrong. He incurs the deep hatred of rival celebrity chef Bradley Tompkins, with his bad manners, bad wig and no Michelin stars. A war is waged against him, escalating into plots and deceptions which threaten to destroy the reputation and career of the man dubbed 'The People's Chef'. It must be Bradley behind all this - or must it? On the domestic front, too, there are storms ahead. Henry is blissfully happy in his second marriage to Hilary, but he is sorely tempted by young Nicky and his lovely co-star Sally. Can he resist? Can he become a real man at last? Or will success spoil Henry Pratt for good...? We last met Henry Pratt in "The Cucumber Man". "Pratt a Manger" continues the hilarious story of a great British underdog.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #226320 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

From the Publisher
From the creator of Reginald Perrin - a hilarious novel returning to the life of Henry Pratt ...

From the Inside Flap
When pretty young TV researcher Nicky Proctor visits Cafe Henry in London’s Soho, Henry Pratt’s life changes forever. He becomes an instant star of the TV food quiz, A Question of Salt and before long he is given his own series, Hooray, it’s Henry. The book of the series reaches Number Two. He’s a celebrity. Henry Ezra Pratt has come a long way from his humble beginnings.

But, as usual in Henry’s life, things begin to go wrong. He incurs the deep hatred of rival celebrity chef Bradley Tompkins, with his bad manners, bad wig and no Michelin stars. A war is waged against him, escalating into plots and deceptions which threaten to destroy the reputation and career of the man dubbed ‘The People’s Chef’. It must be Bradley behind all this – or must it?

On the domestic front, too, there are storms ahead. Henry is blissfully happy in his second marriage to Hilary, but he is sorely tempted by young Nicky and his lovely co-star Sally. Can he resist? Can he become a real man at last? Or will success spoil Henry Pratt for good…?

We last met Henry Pratt in The Cucumber Man. Pratt a Manger continues the hilarious story of a great British underdog.

From the Back Cover
Acclaim for David Nobbs

‘A delicious entertainment, as comic and as sharp as they come’ Guardian

‘He perfectly encapsulates the British sense of humour in all its many guises’ Daily Telegraph

‘He got where he is today by being very funny over a very long period of time’ Observer

‘A marvellously comic novel’ Sunday Times

'David Nobbs is probably our finest post-war comic novelist' Jonathan Coe

‘A more delightfully understated memoir you couldn’t wish to find’ Mail on Sunday

‘I Didn’t Get Where I am Today…’ is anecdotal, angry, heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny’ Time Out

‘One of the most noisily funny books I have ever read’ Michael Palin

‘Playwright, comedy scriptwriter, and author of some of the finest humorous novels of recent years, David Nobbs has extended his range yet again, showing he can be just as funny writing about real events … Read all his novels you can lay your hands on, then read this book for a rare glimpse at the roots of comic inspiration’ Sunday Express

‘Wry, gentle and funny autobiography’ The Times

'Like all the best comic novels, mixes sadness with laughter to great effect' Independent

'Clever, deftly written and wonderfully funny' Financial Times

Fiction

Customer Reviews

Pratt A Manger
I thought that The Cucumber Man was to be the last we heard of Henry Pratt. This delightful novel is the fourth novel in the series. For me, it lives up to the standard of Pratt of the Argus and The Cucumber Man, though the first book, Second from Last in the Sack Race is still the best. A must if you have read the others and worth finding and reading the others first if you have not. Might be a bit of an odd read if this is your first taste of Henry Pratt.

Keep it up , David!
The fourth Henry Pratt novel. Henry, in his 60s, has lost the charm of his early years, but still remains a likeable character. Coming about ten years after The Cucumber Man, it was difficult to remember all the friends and family as they turn up to search for long-lost Ben, but it didn't take too long to get into this book. David Nobbs is easy to read, an excellent novelist. I've also enjoyed A Bit Of a Do and Reggie. Before reading this, make sure you catch up by reading at least Second From Last in the Sack Race (one of my favourite books) and Pratt of the Argus.

Slow to start, too much sex!
David Nobbs is one of my favourite writers and the Henry Pratt series is his finest works (or is it the Reggie Perrin work? Or was it Going Gently? Certainly wasn't Sex and Other Changes).
Anyway, this book brings us up to date with Henry and Hilary, but I found some of the sexual references simply crude - not funny in the way they were before. A minor moan, though, for the rest of the book after a slow start is wonderful - Cousin Hilda's sniff even makes several appearances even though she is dead. The ending worried me slightly, but it was all resolved (can't say too much lest I spoil it for you). Thanks Mr Nobbs - another fine work.