The Merde Factor cover art

The Merde Factor

How to survive in a Parisian Attic

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.


Englishman Paul West is living the Parisian dream, and doing his best not to annoy the French. But recently things have been going très wrong:

He's stuck in an apartment so small that he has to cut his baguettes in two to fit them in the kitchen.

His research into authentic French cuisine is about to cause a national strike - and it could be all his fault.

His Parisian business partner is determined to close their tea-room. And thinks that sexually harrassing his female employees is a basic human right.

And Paul's gorgeous ex-girlfriend seems to be stalking him.

Threatened with eviction, unemployment and bankrupcy, Paul realises that his personal merde factor is about to hit the fan...


© Stephen Clarke 2012 (P) Penguin Audio 2012

 Contemporary Fiction Europe Genre Fiction Funny

Critic reviews

Has done more for the Entente Cordiale than any of our politicians.
Edgier than Bryson, hits harder than Mayle.
Must-have comedy-of-errors diary of being a Brit abroad.
All stars
Most relevant
Didn't enjoy the perturbed at much as the first book of merde. Loved the story and the way it is written.

Loved the story.

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Afraid Tom Allens performance doesn't seem to fit the character Paul unlike Michael Praed who read A Year in the Merde, so didn't enjoy Merde Factor as much, despite enjoying him on Radio 4. If you enjoyed A Year in the Merde, this is an extension of Paul West's adventures and mis-adventures in France this time often with Jake in tow. Read the book some years ago and remembering how much I enjoyed it thought I would get the audio to enjoy in the car.

An entertaining book especially as a holiday read, in this case a less so enjoyable read.

Great book let down by the performance

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Not funny, not evocative of Paris and full of painful stereotypes and unlikeable characters whilst being racist and clichéd towards the French.

Pointless and not funny

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What would have made The Merde Factor better?

I could only manage a few minutes at the beginning it was so very boring. Nothing grabbed my attention, quickly turned off!

Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen Clarke again?

I enjoyed "reading" Merdé and Merdé actually, 1000 things etc, I just wonder if listening to them makes it less entertaining?

Bored....

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