England, my England: the controversial tale of a particularly English killer. Born of working class parents in a market town, witness his bloody struggle against bullies, teachers, liberals, the aristocracy, and a bloated culture screaming for annihilation. And the cat.
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Oct 15, 2009
"An original, superbly written read" It’s not very often that you physically react to literature. Other forms of entertainment often cause a response from the body. Think of horror films that make you scream and jump in terror, euphoric music that causes you to lose your inhibitions and dance and computer games that initiate yells of victory or exasperation. Reading a book generally causes the imagination to explode with wonder, delight, sadness or fear, leaving the physical body inert and unaffected. I gasped, shook my head, roared with laughter, recoiled in disgust and questioned the nature of humanity out loud while reading England, My England. England, My England is a complex animal. It follows the birth, childhood and teenage years through the years of an individual who is both thoroughly evil yet uncompromising and brutally honest. From his entrance into the world, through the neglect and abuse he suffers as a toddler and his cruel and vicious teenage years, he kills,... More > maims, tortures, mocks and rapes. He doesn’t apologise for what he has done, nor does he care about the suffering he causes to others. He is cold and he is ruthless. This is not to say that he is inhuman, far from it in fact. He encompasses the very worst elements of human nature; those who abuse, those who pray on the weaknesses of others and those who act on their depraved fantasies. He possesses their malice, magnified tenfold, alongside a high intellect and a wicked sense of humour. The protagonist, for his name is never revealed, exists to punish others and fulfil his own sexual desires. So where does this leave the reader? How can we sympathise with such a monster? Sympathy, or at least a justification for his actions, comes through the abuse and neglect which he suffers, primarily at the hands of his parents and the family cat, which provides some of the funniest and most bizarre moments in the novel. Teachers, nurses and other children all become his enemies, torturing and abusing him with no motive other than the pleasure of seeing others suffer. When vengeance comes it is (usually) deserved, purging the world of another undesirable. The first person narrative works splendidly. The reader becomes the main character in the story, feeling the pain and abuse he endures (and he endures a lot…), revelling in his murderous glory and experiencing the grotesque sounds and smells of a world that is dark, dirty and dangerous. As you follow him on his journey, the task of deciphering his thought processes becomes a constant battle. He doesn’t say what you expect him to say, he doesn’t do what you want him to do. As he walks through life meting out violence to others I waited for his redemption, for the point at which he realises the error of his ways and the moral tale is told. I shan’t reveal the end of the book (which has to be read to be believed) but let’s just say that redemption comes in many forms and morality is a matter of opinion. England, My England is original in the true sense of the word, a satirical take on modern culture and a descent into madness. It is very funny, it is very dark and it will stay with you for a very long time. If, after reading the book (and you must see it through to the end in order to understand it), you are left feeling offended and outraged then you didn’t ‘get it’, and the satire and honesty has been lost on you. It may require a few readings before you extract all of the nuances and subtle witticisms, but each time the journey from start to finish is just as affecting as the last. Daniel Laverick News Editor close-upfilm.com< Less
