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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 (677 ratings)
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The Hippopotamus cover art

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

What listeners say about The Hippopotamus

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Extremely funny

A great story, funny from start to finish. I loved the reveal at the end. A great bunch of strange, pompous and eccentric characters without too much of Fry's own history (hopefully at least!) interwoven like some of his others. Very, very enjoyable and, of course, expertly read by the man himself.

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10 people found this helpful

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

Stephen Fry at his best

What made the experience of listening to The Hippopotamus the most enjoyable?

This was beautifully written and narrated. A great story, couldn't stop listening, the aural equivalent of a page turner. Excellent characters, a great plot.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hippopotamus?

The twist, which I never suspected for a moment.

What does Stephen Fry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His wonderful speaking voice reading his own words. What could be better.

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

Stephen Fry has worked a miracle with this great story.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Story teller extraordinary

Would you listen to The Hippopotamus again? Why?

Stephen Fry can do nothing wrong in my mind. This book is just another facet of his brilliance. A very clever, very sexy, very funny, totally compelling book. I will definitely listen to it again, probably more than once.

What did you like best about this story?

The unexpected twists. The characterisations.

What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?

Stephen Fry has the most incredible speaking voice and makes the characters live because he is also a brilliant actor.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely

Any additional comments?

Thoroughly enjoyable listen.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

shame about the obscenity

Could have been so good . . was so promising . . but just too obscene.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Vulgar

I have read the lier and although it was rude at bits I was fine with that but this book has beastiality and statutory rape I found disturbing and distasteful. Also didn’t think Stephen read it as well as his autobiography’s and the lier.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    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
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    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
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Stephen Fry classic

As always, Stephen delivers a flawless performance. The story was interesting. ..bit odd. ..but it wouldn't be Fry without some gratuitous swearing and explicit sexual references.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

bloody awful

This book is terrible. I had high hopes but it has no redeeming features whatsoever.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Got up it's own fundament a wee bit too much!

Witty as one would expect, with a nice finish, albeit somewhat 'So long and goodnight!'

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1 person found this helpful