Fool

Written by Christopher Moore
Review by Doug Kemp

Set in a bizarre Britain of the 12^th century, Fool is a retelling, of sorts, of Shakespeare’s King Lear. It is a madcap, bawdy Blackadder-like scatological comedy. Narrated by the story’s hero, Pocket, who is Lear’s eponymous Fool, it relates how Lear was betrayed by his disloyal daughters Goneril and Regan and the subsequent intrigue, bloodshed and general zaniness. Moore brings in all sorts of references from other Shakespearian plays, such as the three witches from Macbeth, and the characters speak an odd mix of contemporary slang and dramatic dialogue. It is just one daft thing after another – you have to be in the mood for extreme silliness, otherwise it will leave you cold. Quite definitely not to be taken seriously and probably not a good idea for maiden aunts or, indeed, cultured uncles.