The Stars' Tennis Balls

A compelling novel of revenge told with wit and skill.A thrilling novel inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo from British actor, comedian, author, presenter, journalist and national treasure, Stephen Fry.___Ned Maddstone has the world at his feet. He is handsome, talented and about to go to Cambridge, after which he is expected to follow his father into politics. But an unfortunate confrontation with a boy in his school results in a prank that goes badly wrong and suddenly he's incarcerated - without chance of release.So begins a year long process of torment and hopelessness, which will destroy his very identity, until almost nothing remains of him but this unquenchable desire for revenge...Praise for The Stars' Tennis Balls-'Fry adds a talent for terror and suspense-writing to his quiverful of skills ' Daily Telegraph'Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks, you listen. When he writes, you read' Literary Review'A great writer by the standards of any British contemporary' Sunday Times

“"The Stephenesque ... a national as well as a family treasure." -- Guardian "It is impossible to be unimpressed by Stephen Fry's writing." -- Scotland on Sunday "No one can make you feel quite like Stephen Fry can." -- Time Out "Stephen Fry is one of the great originals." -- Financial Times From the Hardcover edition.”

A gruesome romp through the canon of human wickedness The Times
Fry isn't just a good writer as comedians go - he's a great writer by the standards of any British contemporary... gleaming and wit-fuelled... It keeps you simultaneously gripped and chuckling throughout. Later
A Count of Monte Cristo for the dot.com generation... Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks you listen. When he writes, you read. Literary Review
Stylish... written up with zest and humour... a page-turner and full of fun Spectator

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI, and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Liar - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos and Heroes, his retelling of the Greek myths, are both Sunday Times bestsellers.

We are merely the stars' tennis balls, struck and banded Which way please them The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster For Ned, 1980 seems a blissful year. Handsome, charming, popular and talented, his life is progressing smoothly, effortlessly, happily. And when he meets the lovely Portia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. But timing is everything in life, and his life is about to change for ever. 'Has a lightness of touch that comes only with a mastery of language.. A page-turner' Observer 'Every bit as witty and clever as one would expect' Mail on Sunday ' Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks you listen. When he writes, you read' Literary Review

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