Keith Waterhouse Boeken

Orphaned at an early age, Jane Eyre leads a lonely life until she finds work as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Mr Rochester and sees a ghostly woman who roams the halls by night.

Set in a faded Brighton hotel lounge, the story unfolds around Mr. Black and Mr. White as they navigate a web of mistaken identities during a secretive weekend. Their attempts to conceal the truth lead to a comedic chaos where no one knows who anyone else is. In the second act, the male characters reflect on the events, suggesting that if their roles had been reversed, the confusion could have been avoided. The play features a dynamic interplay between two men and two women, exploring themes of identity and misunderstanding.

The story unfolds in two parts, showcasing a family's contrasting experiences during a wedding and a funeral. The comedic narrative begins with the joyous preparations for a wedding, followed by the somber return from Uncle Arthur's funeral six months later. Uncle Arthur, a beloved character, serves as the connecting thread between these events, highlighting themes of love, loss, and family dynamics. The cast features a balanced mix of seven women and seven men, adding to the comedic ensemble.

Gambler, journalist, fervent alcoholic and four-times married Jeffrey Bernard writes the "Low Life" column for the Spectator magazine chronicling Soho life as well as offering a very personal philosophy on vodka, women and race-courses. From this, Keith Waterhouse has brilliantly constructed a play (the title being the euphemism used by the Spectator when Bernard is incapable of writing his column) which is set in the saloon bar of Bernard's favourite Soho pub, the Coach and Horses. Having passed out in the lavatory, Bernard awakes in the early hours of the morning to find himself alone and in the dark. Unable to contact the landlord, he is resigned to spending the rest of the night with a bottle of vodka and an endless chain of cigarettes, narrating a story of hilarious anecdotes and witty reminiscences which are enacted by two actors and two actresses who bring to life the various characters who populate Jeff 's world. Starring Peter O'Toole, later succeeded by Tom Conti then James Bolam, the play enjoyed a hugely successful run at the Apollo Theatre, London.

Focusing on the essence of lunch, Keith Waterhouse humorously delineates what it should not be, emphasizing its social and cultural significance. He dismisses formal meals with bank managers or events tied to specific occasions like funerals and office gatherings, highlighting that true lunch should be a relaxed and enjoyable experience, free from dietary restrictions or time constraints. This witty exploration invites readers to reconsider their own lunch traditions and the joy of sharing a meal.

June Pepper finds there is more to life than death in this touching, sensitive and funny exploration of bereavement from the creator of Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell and Billy Liar.

As Billy's job at the undertakers becomes increasingly boring, his lies become increasingly outrageous, which starts to get him in serious trouble. Full of hilarious characters and touching moments, Keith Waterhouse's adaptation of his own novel remains a modern classic.

'There is a Happy Land' tells of the events of a few weeks in the life of a small boy on a north county council estate and the rhubarb fields, quarries and Cleark of Works' yard that are his playground. Unlike most boys portrayed in fiction he is not an ultrasensitive soul but an ordinary boy, occasionally cowardly, sometimes a liar, tough in his own eyes and often insecure in his dealings with others. In his evocation of the jingles, games, fantasies and nightmares of childhood, Waterhouse brings his tribe of street urchins so vividly to life that the book has taken on the status of a much-loved classic.

55" overall. 37.50" stainless unsharpened blade with blood groove. Brown wood handle with brass guard and pommel. Black leather scabbard.