Norman Conquests: Table Manners; Living Together; Round and Round in the Garden (An Evergreen book) [Paperback]

Alan Ayckbourn (Author)

Book Description

Series: An Evergreen book | Publication Date: January 22, 1994

This brilliant comic trilogy details the amorous exploits of Norman, assistant librarian, whose one aim is to make the women of his life happy—these women being, as it happens, three sisters, one of them his wife, who can’t wear contact lenses because “life with Norman is full of unexpected eye movements.” Each play stands uproariously on its own yet interlocks with the others to form an ingenious Chinese puzzle of successive relations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Performed with wit and enthusiasm by a lively cast of British actors. -- The Boston Sunday Globe, December 6, 1999

The play is the thing this year. There have been a number of well-made, full-cast productions to hit the market in 1999, and some of the best are by L.A. Theatre Works. The company recently acquired the right to release British playwright Alan Ayckbourn's bitingly humourous trilogy "The Norman Conquests." Each play, TABLE MANNERS, LIVING TOGETHER and ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN is performed with wit and enthusiasm by a lively cast of British actors. -- Los Angeles Times --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From AudioFile

This full-length stage play is the first part of a comic trilogy set in the English suburbs, collectively titled THE NORMAN CONQUESTS. The Norman of the title, nicely played by Martin Jarvis, is what youth now call a "player," a "dawg"--a seducer of other men's wives, who here pursues his sister-in-law (Rosalind Ayres). Though this full-cast reading, taped before a live audience, is pleasant enough, it fails to engage. Some necessary spark never ignites to make us care much about the characters. Y.R. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (January 22, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802131344
• ISBN-13: 978-0802131348
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,162 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The scripts for all three fantastic plays., January 1, 2001

By 

MLPlayfair (Ravenna, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Norman Conquests: Table Manners; Living Together; Round and Round in the Garden (An Evergreen book) (Paperback)

In the late 1970s PBS presented a hilarious trilogy of plays called "The Norman Conquests." I've been trying ever since to find them again. And here they are! This volume contains the scripts for all three of these amazing plays. Their premise: Norman is a real charmer who seduces (not necessarily sexually) everybody he meets. Each of the three plays takes place on a different stage. It's the same story and the same six characters, but seen from what happens only in each room in each play. It's an amazing accomplishment for a writer. This book carries an introduction by Ayckbourn that explains how he did it. And he says the plays are meant to be seen in any order. But I prefer the order given here: "Table Manners" (in the dining room), "Living Together" (the sitting room) and "Round and Round the Garden." If you haven't experienced it, the videos are available now (finally!), as well. The production (the same I saw on PBS) stars Tom Conti as an unforgettable Norman.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Acute social observation. Highly comical., April 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Norman Conquests: Table Manners; Living Together; Round and Round in the Garden (An Evergreen book) (Paperback)

Terrific work (again!) from this major British playwright showing a disasterous family weekend where a would be Casanova sets his sights on his sister in law and the whole family ultimately become involved. Although written and set in the mid 1970s it remains just as funny (if not more so) now. All of the characters are classics and there are a feast of one liners. It really needs a stage production to be done justice though.

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughing out loud, August 19, 2011

By 

Mack10zie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Norman Conquests: Table Manners; Living Together; Round and Round in the Garden (An Evergreen book) (Paperback)

Wonderfully written. Classic British humor. Ayckbourn's character development is "spot on!" I was literally laughing out loud on the subway reading this trilogy of plays. Highly recommend.