The Apologist cover art

The Apologist

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Marc Basset, restaurant critic for a national newspaper, has made vitriol his trademark. His vivid cruelty makes his many readers laugh - until a chef roasts himself to death in his bread oven, leaving Bassett’s review of his restaurant stuck to the door. When Marc learns of the chef’s suicide, he experiences a new sensation - remorse. By apologising to the wife and daughter, he begins to experience levels of self-satisfaction that he never thought possible.

©2004 Jay Rayner (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd Literature & Fiction Satire Comedy

Critic reviews

"A very surprising, very funny book." (Arabella Weir)
"It is a brave writer who apologises for his novel in the preface, but Jay Rayner has apology taped.... The timeliness of the novel is a terrific coup." ( The Independent)
All stars
Most relevant
Wonderful, page-turning story. The food descriptions are mouth-watering, the relationships are plausible.

It seems slightly autobiographical!

Fantastic fun!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an enjoyable and fascinating (for a fan of all things to do with food and drink) romp through publishing and political theory.
I found the ending almost rushed, as if the author was embarrassed by it.
Well read by the author, he makes it seem autobiographical although of course it is a work of fiction, unless like me, you think Jay Rayner has become more mild in his reviews in recent years!

Really? Is that the ending?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
truly awful. a shame A I've loved his other books. but this? just bad. Avoid

Stinker

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.