High Society

Ben Elton

Average Rating 9/10 (1 Review)

The war on drugs has been lost. The simple fact is that the whole world is rapidly becoming one vast criminal network. From pop stars and royal princes to crack whores and street kids, from the Groucho Club toilets to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, we are all partners in crime.

High Society is a story about Britain today, a criminal nation in which everybody is either breaking the law or knows people who do. It takes the reader on a hilarious, heartbreaking and terrifying journey through the kaleidoscope world that the law has created and from which the law.

Review by Nigel (190103) Rating (9/10)

Review by Nigel
Rating 9/10
Ben Elton at his soapbox best. Everyone in the political spectrum, from the Prime Minister to the Press, is given no quarter, as the drug debate is well and truly aired in High Society.

The story revolves around Peter Paget MP, who is presenting a private members bill to legalise drugs... all drugs, from pot to crack. Inter-woven with this story we have several others, most notably that of Rock Star Tommy Hanson, that are all linked by drugs. All these stories illustrate the affects drugs have on people and society, from the poor to the rich. At times the novel is very very grime, while at others it is hilariously funny, a now common trait of Ben Elton's work.

I'm not sure if this novel reflects Mr Elton's personal stance or he is using a current 'hot' topic and fanning the flames with some extreme theories, but from one side of the argument, that of decriminalising drugs, there are some interesting points. One must always remember the other side though and it would be interesting to see a novel from that point of view from Mr Elton... a sequel? I suspect, however, he simply has a rare gift for systematically analysing any given situation, looking at logical extremes and presenting an argument... belief or not.

Love him or hate him I think everyone should read this book. It is very good in its own right but it also has a message that shouldn't be ignored... and no, I don't mean legalise all drugs.
Nigel (19th January 2003)