The Wimbledon Poisoner

by Nigel Williams

Book Overview

From the author of "Witchcraft" and "Buttons in the Marsh" comes this black comedy about an unsuccessful solicitor who decides to murder his wife, with devastating results. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0571173667
• ISBN13: 9780571173662
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 0.1" x 0.1"

Customer Reviews

Very entertaining

Thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I'm looking for other books by this author. If you like a book with dry humor and outright funny too this is a great read for you.

What a fun book!

Who would have thought? This book was such a vacation from everyday life. I thouroughly enjoyed Henry's soiciopathic ways (although he's not a sociopath because he does feel guilt. Sort of)and loser personality. This is the story of a man who has been emasculated by his wife, his job, and has little to look forward to until he decides to poison his wife. His thought process is so deliciously evil! He actually acts out on his thoughts though, whereas most of us would stop ourselves from even thinking that way for longer than a micro-second. This book is like what would occur if we took away all consequences and morality from a person. It's a fantasy, and that's why it's so enjoyable. It is also hilarious, because Henry is such an impulsive poisoner, he can't seem to get it right and leaves a path of bodies strewn around his neighborhood as he tries to get his wife. he digs himself deeper and deeper in only a way a total loser can (funeral speech) and doesn't know when to stop. Very funny. I wanted this book to keep going and it has actually sparked a desire to write again. I will definitely check out Mr. Williams other books.

English black comedy at its best

I just love this book. From Henry's habit of naming people for their irritating habits (such as Mr and Mrs 'Is-the-Mitsubishi-Scratched-Yet? at Number 42)his contempt for his Pasat and his hilarious and inept attempts to poison his wife, the entire street, and random members of the public, I just couldn't put it down. Then I had to come to terms with how macarbre that made me! But never fear, Henry is saner than he sounds, and that is the beauty of this book, it uncovers all of the mad thoughts everyday people have about their lives but would never admit to, and I think every one of us will recognise ourselves, or people we know, in the very real and flawed people that populate Henry's Wimbledon world. If you love Tom Sharp, Roald Dahl or any other writer whose humour is as black as it is funny, this is well worth a read.

A brilliant black comedy

Henry Farr is, to everyone else, a VERY boring man. But really, deep down he has a desire to murder his wife. It's not that he's a sadist or anything, he just can't think of any other way to prolong her absence indefinately.This is a brilliant and hilarious book. I loved it, and would suggest it to anyone who is looking for a light comedy. Nigel Williams has written a great story about middle aged man going through one of lifes crisis' - the book is easy to read, and really is impossible to put down.

Thoroughly entertaining

This book is engaging and unpredictable. The humor is dark and dry. In some unsettling way you want him to succeed.