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High Society

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High Society

By: Ben Elton
Narrated by: Greg Wagland
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About this listen

The war on drugs has been lost but for want of the courage to face the fact that the whole world is rapidly becoming one vast criminal network. From pop stars and princes to crack whores and street kids. From the Groucho Club toilets to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, we are all partners in crime.

High Society is a story, or rather a collection of interconnected stories, that takes the listener on a hilarious, heart-breaking, and terrifying journey through the kaleidoscope world that the law has created and from which the law offers no protection.

©2002 Ben Elton (P)2009 Random House Audio
Literary Fiction Mystery Suspense Fiction Exciting Witty
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What listeners say about High Society

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    5 out of 5 stars

Free Peter Paget! Get his bill into law

We really could do with the Peter Paget bill. Found it gripping, looked forward, in a busy life, to the next opportunity to continue listening to the next twist of awkward complications Ben has given to his intrinsic characters. Throughly entertaining. The legalisation of drugs suggests crime statistics would be reduced.

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1 person found this helpful

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Brilliant Concept

Loved this book when I read it and was glad to hear it on Audible. The narration was excellent and didn't detract from the story as I remembered it.

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1 person found this helpful

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Utterly brilliant!

This is a book that will challenge your views and take you on a rollercoaster ride through the lives of very recognisable types of people. It is written with the sharp wit expected from Ben Elton, showing the depth and complexity of the characters and how their lives are intertwined. Beautifully read in a way that brings those characters to life and makes you care about them. Hard hitting and hard to put down.

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2 people found this helpful

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Thought provoking spotlight on drug question.

Very cleverly written thought provoking story surrounding the theme of drug legalisation and consequences of today's criminalisation of drugs and users in today's society. Very enjoyable interconnected stories.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and gut wrenching

This book left me feeling so heavy. It’s funny at times, very entertaining and engrossing. The characters are so relatable and really bring the book to life. One of the best books I’ve ever listened to, thank you Ben Elton. And thank you Greg Wagland for a perfect performance. Brilliant.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this one

This is by far my favourite Ben Elton book, a great and very true look at modern life if a bill to legalise all drugs were to be established and what that would mean for all the people involved.
I love all the characters and the way in which they all entwine as paths cross seen from different perspectives and through the different classes of New Labour's Britain.
From Hilarious stories to sickening acts and more, the book takes you on a journey through UK Drug culture from the Homeless and Prostitutes of London, The Drug Dealers and Currpt officials through the working class to the A List Celebs, Government employees and MP's and the Upper Class and of course the Police.
A top read/listen not to be missed!

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7 people found this helpful

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Wow!

Pity about the 'poetic justice ' conclusion, but it gripped my attention till the end.

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Makes you think

Don’t let the rough language put you off. This book has a story to tell.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Strangely compelling

The voice artists is outstanding. Every character stood out with different accents and intonation. This carried the narrative briskly forward and made this a great listen.

At first, I feared that the plot was drifting and wasn’t going anywhere. The pace seemed monotonous, with few dramatic peaks. But this was a strangely compelling listen - intriguing. I ended up binge listening. I was left with a sort of bleak feeling but also very happy that I took a punt and bought it.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Thought provoking read

How many ways can you look at the effects of drugs on British society? Ben Elton takes a dozen or so victims and associated story lines, as they all are in one way or another, eventually coming to the conclusion that there's not much to be done about it all. It's hard to feel much sympathy for the characters until a small ray of hope appears towards the end. I'm glad he managed to inject hope into the story as it would have been a very bleak read. A good book for someone who has no idea how the drug and criminal classes operate in the UK.

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3 people found this helpful