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  • The Hippopotamus

  • By: Stephen Fry
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (685 ratings)

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The Hippopotamus

By: Stephen Fry
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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Summary

Ted Wallace is an old, sour, womanising, cantankerous, whisky-sodden beast of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. Fired from his newspaper, months behind on his alimony payments, and disgusted with a world that undervalues him, Ted seeks a few months repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the country mansion of his old friend Lord Logan.

But strange things have been going on at Swafford. Miracles. Healings. Phenomena beyond the comprehension of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted....

©1994 Stephen Fry (P)1994 Random House Audio
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What listeners say about The Hippopotamus

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Funny and fascinating

A wonderfully wirtten and clever novel that covers countless dark and heavy topics with witt and sophistication. Fry is a huge talent and shows it here both as author and actor.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well it is Stephen Fry

Brilliant narration, funny and rather explicit at times. i recommend it as a good listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just great

In all honesty I nearly stopped after the first chapter. Ted is an egotistical, misogynistic, self opinionated nightmare. However, this IS Stephen Fry, so I carried on & it was definitely the right decision. The Hippopotamus is wickedly caustic, dry, non PC & most importantly… funny. Do not read if you are of a sensitive nature. I was truly shocked by one storyline, but you have to hand it to Mr Fry, he delivers a fantastic book with superb narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bit peculiar but good

Really enjoyed it though has some very strange adult themes. Not for the faint hearted.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

most entertaining drive to Italy!

loved it especially Oliver. You can never have enough cock gags. Good story very skillfully read.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Stephen Fry brings all his characters in this great story to life in a brilliant read. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As you’d expect- it’s brilliant

Loved this book. Made me laugh out loud, mad storyline, thoroughly enjoyable, well written and well read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slightly Odd but worth sticking to the end

Great narration as always by the marvel that is Stephen Fry - the story is decidedly odd and I thought about giving up a few times in the beginning but it is really worth sticking with it as it is a great slow burner

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A Challenging Listen

I'm not sure whether I can really profess to have enjoyed this story. There were some interesting passages, some more difficult to endure than others. I knew nothing of the story before embarking upon this book and having had more than one WTF moment, I'm not sure I would have bothered if I had. The trouble is on one hand it is well written and quite funny but on the other it is also deeply unsettling. Suffice to say if casual misogyny, homophobia, bullying, rape and bestiality are your thing you might fare better than I.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The mind from which this novel emanates is ...

If you could sum up The Hippopotamus in three words, what would they be?

Other people's poetry.

What did you like best about this story?

The varying styles, tenses and characters and the fact that Stephen didn't have an ending in mind until the last delivery.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Oliver Mills reading his diary entry. He f****d her the little darling f****d her.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Is there really such thing as the operation of grace?

Any additional comments?

I have read and listened to every Fry book/audio book including autobiographies. I'm waiting now for Making History.

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1 person found this helpful