Blott On The Landscape

Apr 5, 2026 3:46 PM

Author:Tom Sharpe

The landscape is flawless, the trees majestic, the flora and the fauna are right and proper. All is picturesquely typical of rural England at its best. Sir Giles, an MP of few principles and curious tastes, plots to destroy all this by building a motorway smack through it, to line his own pocket and at the same time to dispose of his wife, the capacious Lady Maude.

But Lady Maude enlists a surprising ally in her enigmatic gardener Blott, a naturalised Englishman in whom adopted patriotism burns bright. Lady Maude's dynamism and Blott's concealed talents enable them to meet pressure with mimicry, loaded tribunals with publicity and chilli powder, and requisition orders with wickedly spiked beer.

This explosively comic novel will gladden the heart of everyone who has ever confronted a bureaucrat, and spells out in riotous detail how the forces of virtue play an exceedingly dirty game when the issue is close to home.

Reviews

Confirms that he had inherited the mantle of the late P.G. Wodehouse. This is deliciously English comedy

—— Guardian

Extremely funny . . . Mr Sharpe's dialogues is nifty, imaginative, enjoyable

—— Peter Ackroyd , The Spectator

I laughed out loud, I really did . . . Tom Sharpe is nowhere more buoyant than when mounting catastrophic scenes of hilarious mayhem

—— The Statesman

A very funny writer indeed . . . Tom Sharpe's comedy lies as much in his language and the pace of the dialogue as in the outrageous muddles and confusions of his comic situations

—— The Times

This exuberant novel will cheer all those who dislike bureaucracy

—— Daily Telegraph

Farcical in the best sense: Blott on the Landscape is as tense and compelling as any good detective novel

—— The Times

This first novel is undeniably rich: a tale woven around the importance of faith, whether in imaginary friends or undiscovered treasures, and the strength of family

—— The Times

The year's most impressive debut

—— John Carey , Sunday Times

Like Donna Tartt’s "The Secret History" or a good film noir . . . Jane’s low-key narration has just the right tone to keep readers hooked

—— People magazine

The strength of 'The Lake of Dead Languages' is a silken prose that lures the reader into Goodman’s . . . story of murder, suicide . . . revenge, and madness

—— The Washington Post Book World

Part suspense, part coming-of-age, and all-enthralling . . . A book that needs the roar of a fire to ward off its psychic chill

—— The Denver Post

Previous Article：The Stars Can Wait Next Article：The Great Pursuit

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.