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The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

Reginald Perrin Series, Book 1

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The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

By: David Nobbs
Narrated by: David Nobbs
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About this listen

Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, the creation of comedy genius David Nobbs, is surely one of the best-loved comedy heroes of our time - in both literature and television. So it is with great pride that Audible presents Reggie's escapades in digital audio for the very first time: we invite you to join him, and the memorable supporting characters who help him along the way, on one man's quest to avoid an everyday existence.

Reginald Perrin is sick to death with selling exotic ices at Sunshine Desserts. He's fed up with his boss C.J. who delights in making his life hell. And he's had enough of his eager young assistants who think everything is 'super'. So begins Reggie's battle against consumerism. Driven to desperation by the rat race and the unpunctuality of Britain's trains, Reggie's small eccentricities escalate to the extreme. Until, finally, he leaves behind the unacceptable face of capitalism altogether. Driven off in a motorised jelly, and creating the world's biggest loganberry slick on his way, he dumps his clothes on a Dorset beach and sets off for new adventures....

Having graduated from Cambridge University, David Nobbs entered the army, then tried his hand at journalism and advertising before becoming a writer. A distinguished novelist and comedy writer, Nobbs has written for hit TV comedy shows including The Two Ronnies and created the TV sitcom The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin, adapted from his own Reginald Perrin comedy novels. He lives near Harrogate with his wife Susan.

©1975 David Nobbs (P)2013 Audible Ltd
Literature & Fiction Comedy Funny

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All stars
Most relevant
I read this book (and later the sequel) way back in the 1970s, before - if I remember correctly - seeing the television series. It has really stayed with me over the years, so much so that I have always recalled many passages and phrases, and welcomed them as old friends when listening to these audiobooks. I found the stories just as amusing and insightful now as then, and while much of the detail of everyday life is necessarily dated, the way in which Nobbs gets under the skin of the British psyche holds true. The mild mannered yet oddly anarchic character of the books still comes through.
Some readers questioned having David Nobbs reading the books himself. I was a bit dubious at first but soon forgot that and thoroughly enjoyed his narration.

Still crazy after all these years...

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I really enjoyed this book for all the reasons in the title. Also probably because I work in an equally soul-devoid dessert factory and can relate to the character's feeling of emptiness and his endurance of stifling management tactics. It made me LOL too. Thank you David Nobbs.

Poignant, funny, characterful, charming

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The successful author Jonathan Coe, argues this is one of the most under-rated novels of the 1970s. He suggests that it was and is overlooked because of the extremely successful TV series of the time. (I was around at that time, but never watched it. From snippets I have seen since the novel is better.) This novel and audio-book is pure listening pleasure. So then you may ask, why listen or read a novel from the 1970s? Very simply because it is as relevant today as it was then. More than this it is hugely funny, satirical and questioning about what really matters in a human being’s life. There are few listeners or readers who will not find identification or sympathies with the main character, Reginald Perrin. He is a joyous creation. There is a raft of other characters who will also amuse, delight and sometimes sadden. This is fiction and therefore not fully divorced from reality. Poor Joan. The audio-book is expertly read by the author and can therefore be seen as authoritative. In terms of fun, and laughter, it abounds and acts as a spoonful of sugar to the proverbial medicine as it goes down. No listener need hesitate in selecting this audio-book; they will be hugely rewarded.

One of the Most Under-rated Novels of the 1970s

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Would you listen to The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin again? Why?

A compelling tale of an executive's slide into a mental breakdown and his subsequent realisation that he still loves his wife, there are several insights into Reggie's decent into madness, the storey lines are strong and the comedy is subtle and the situations believable well worth visiting again.

What did you like best about this story?

It follows the television series closely but adds a great deal of incidental detail to the characters.

Which character – as performed by David Nobbs – was your favourite?

Reggie, David brings a warmth and depth to his characterisation of the lead in this book

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

It was a wonderful easy listen and next time I will do it in one go.

Poiniant witty and thought provoking

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I remember repeats of Perrin from childhood, and always enjoyed Leonard’s Rossiter’s performance. The novel is a different proposition. You’ll find the jokes from the telly series, but really it’s the poignant story of a midlife crisis. Perrin, a long-serving executive at Sunshine Desserts, fears he’s losing his mind. The daily commute is driving him mad. He hits upon a plan to escape his humdrum existence ... this is smart comedy, with poetic moments. The best one-liner is Perrin’s observation that he has a good marriage — and he isn’t going to let his wife spoil it. Nobbs manages to poke fun, without dehumanising his characters. The suburbia he satirises is also lovingly depicted... yes, it’s stifling, and full of crushed dreams and simmering frustrations. But Nobbs doesn’t look down on any of the people he writes about (well, maybe CJ, Perrin’s insufferable boss...) The narration, by Nobbs himself, takes some getting used to. Nobbs isn’t a natural narrator: he’s too quick, and doesn’t make much effort to differentiate between voices. But eventually I ‘tuned in’, and within a couple of hours I was hooked.

I didn’t get to where I am today listening to Audible

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