Paperweight (Hardcover)

by Stephen Fry (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A collection of the many articles that Stephen Fry has written for magazines, newspapers and radio. The volume includes selected wireless essays of Donald Trefusis, the ageing professor of philology brought to life in Fry's novel "The Liar" and the best of Fry's weekly column for the "Telegraph".

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd (September 14, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0434274089
• ISBN-13: 978-0434274086
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #854,120 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bit of Fry and a lot of laughter, November 20, 2001

By	F. G. Hamer "MadManxMan" (Isle of Man) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Paperweight is actually a collection of many different articles written by Stephen Fry over the years for a variety of publications. Most of these 'essays' are only between one and three pages long, but Fry fits as many laughs into each one as you would normally get in a whole book. Fry's view points are exuberantly refreshing on so many issues, yet at the same time he seems to be telling you something you knew all along, but had never been able to quite put into words. If you like originality and new twists (with gentle splashes of the surreal and deft, quirky touches) then Paperweight is for you.

Paperweight is an excellent introduction to Stephen Fry if you've never come across his writing before. It can be taken in small, highly digestible doses, whereas his novels need to be swallowed in one go to appreciate his arcane sense of the outrageous. This 'essay' format offers the best of this hugely entertaining all-rounder. In the book's introduction, Fry says that he used to get many desperate requests from readers for copies of articles he'd written. You'll understand why, if you read the book. In fact, the introduction is one of the highlights of Paperweight, being cripplingly ironic, immodestly modest and more witty than a witty person at a national wit contest. In fact, put simply, Fry=Wit=Laughter

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fry takes to heart the bacon of his years, August 4, 1997

By A Customer

Mr. Fry's 'Paperweight' is indeed just that: a heavy-ish object which may be utilised to confine smaller, unbound bits of paper. It has the requistite bulk, a pleasing shape, and an interesting cover, featuring Mr. Fry himself.

And yet it is so much more. It is a collection, a bringing together, a collection, a consolidation and, if you will, a _collection_ of Mr. Fry's written dabblings before he sprang to our attention with the utterly printed and thoroughly bound first novel, 'The Liar'. 'Paperweight' is a book containing, among other things, Mr. Fry's radio broadcasts in the guise of the inimitable Professor Trefusis (in printed form, to avoid undue technical difficulties), his articles for such venerable journalistic mouthpieces as the Observer, the Tatler, the Listener, Home & Garden, the Beano, Punch, Nature, Judy, the Mineralogical Record, KMT, the British Journal of Sexual Sociopathy, the Journal of Roman Studies, Woman's Day, the Sun, and, of course, the Welsh edition of the Manchester Guardian [nb: the preceeding list may not be entirely within the bounds of accuracy - Ed.]. A short drama is contained within, as are a number of essays on a variety of mind-improving subjects, book reviews, political essays (written, one should remember, while Britain was in the iron grip of the Iron Lady) and, as mentioned elsewhere, the Trefusis broadcasts, a name which will be quite familiar to readers of Mr. Fry's later work, 'The Liar'. Here Mr. Fry's range and style, his versatility, and his breadth, depth and length are all invidiously displayed. It is a book to savour, of which one should breathe the bouquet, drink deeply, and sit back to observe the salubrious effects. This book must be possessed by all admirers of Mr. Fry, for it is his Rosetta Stone, his Treaty of Versailles, his Pre-nuptial Agreement Betwixt Consenting Adults.

What else may one say? What, indeed. Badger, annoy, and trouble your bookseller until he agrees to stock it. Then purchase. Take it to your home. Unwrap the plain brown paper. Enjoy. Quite simple, really.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I did just as he suggested!, January 20, 2001

By	Lisa Elliott (Australia) - See all my reviews

As Mr Fry advises the readers of 'Paperweight', I have not attempted to read this book in one sitting. I believe he says something about being able to have too much of a good thing. Whilst I don't agree with his reasoning, (I don't believe one can ever have enough of Mr Fry), I did see his point so I have been enjoying A Little Bit of Fry every night before I am taken away to the Land of Nod by the Sleep Fairy. This book is thoroughly entertaining. I do so love the way Mr Fry looks at the world and the silly creatures who inhabit it. If only the newspaper and radio station owners of Australia would employ people with half Mr Fry's intelligence, wit and talent, our country would be a much better place (and breakfast radio wouldn't be such an assault upon one's yet fully awaken sensibilities). Congratulations Mr Fry! Another wonderful read. Please keep them coming.