Odyssey guide (1)

Features

An essential guide to The Odyssey

Beautiful coffee table books

Reading lists

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Where to start reading poetry (again)

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The best novels based on mythology from around the world

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Extracts

Damian Bradfield and Stephen Fry: The internet has changed us

Every Funny Thing They’ve Ever Written

Fry & Laurie

'One of the finest, funniest duos in British comedy history' HUFFINGTON POST 
 
Before they became Hollywood stars and national treasures, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie were simply two young writers trying to make each other laugh. Fortunately for the rest of us, they wrote it all down. 
 
For the first time, every project they wrote together is collected in one definitive volume. From their earliest collaborations to the complete scripts of A Bit of Fry &amp; Laurie, alongside rare and previously unpublished material, Fry &amp; Laurie: Every Funny Thing They've Ever Written brings together the gloriously inventive, endlessly quotable work of one of Britain's most beloved comic partnerships. 
 
Here are brilliant comic set-pieces, impossible misunderstandings, linguistic gymnastics, inspired absurdity and the kind of wit that somehow manages to be both joyfully silly and devastatingly clever. Whether you're rediscovering old favourites or meeting them for the first time, Fry &amp; Laurie is a chance to visit writing that made generations laugh — and to discover why it still does.

One of the finest, funniest duos in British comedy history

One of the best sketch shows . . . sharp writing and a delight for words and wordplay

Arguably the most sophisticated comedy double act in Britain. And also perhaps, the most loved

Before they became Hollywood stars and national treasures, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie were simply two young writers trying to make each other laugh. Fortunately for the rest of us, they wrote it all down. 
 
For the first time, every project they wrote together is collected in one definitive volume. From their earliest collaborations to the complete scripts of A Bit of Fry &amp; Laurie, alongside rare and previously unpublished material, FRY &amp; LAURIE: EVERY FUNNY THING THEY'VE EVER WRITTEN brings together the gloriously inventive, endlessly quotable work of one of Britain's most beloved comic partnerships. 
 
Here are brilliant comic set-pieces, impossible misunderstandings, linguistic gymnastics, inspired absurdity and the kind of wit that somehow manages to be both joyfully silly and devastatingly clever. Whether you're rediscovering old favourites or meeting them for the first time, FRY &amp; LAURIE is a chance to visit writing that made generations laugh — and to discover why it still does. 
 
Soupy Twists!

Stephen Fry (Author) 
Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director who rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie. He is the Sunday Times bestselling author of four novels, three volumes of autobiography and a hugely successful series of Greek myth retellings. 
 
Hugh Laurie (Author) 
Hugh Laurie studied at Cambridge University, where he was introduced to future comedy partner Stephen Fry by a mutual friend. He went on to star in Blackadder, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster and House. His enormously successful first novel, The Gun Seller, was published in 1996 and he has since written the screenplay for a film version.

'One of the best sketch shows . . . sharp writing and a delight for words and wordplay' ROLLING STONE 
 
Across four brilliant series of great satire, comic genius and hilarious use of language, A Bit of Fry & Laurie cemented Stephen and Hugh as a double act and paved the way for their future stardom. 
 
This is the definitive compendium of everything the pair have written together, including early and never-before-published sketches, all threaded through with TV stills and early photography of the duo.

Odyssey

WHEN GODS TURN VENGEFUL, ONLY THE BRAVE CAN DEFY FATE AND FIND THEIR WAY HOME 
Discover Stephen Fry's epic re-telling of the Odyssey for the 21st century 
'Relatable and full of humour . . . Odyssey brings [the] four-book sequence satisfyingly to a close' GUARDIAN 
'Outstandingly entertaining quartet of books . . . Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales' OBSERVER 
'Odyssey completes his Greek Myths series in marvellous fashion. . . Fry, a born storyteller, succeeds again in making the ancient stories accessible' IRISH INDEPENDENT 
-- 
After the fall of Troy, wily Odysseus, King of Ithaca, sails for home and his steadfast queen Penelope. 
However, the angry gods curse him to wander the seas for ten long years. Tormented by giants and monsters, tempted by witches and goddesses, Odysseus battles to draw ever closer to home. 
Awaiting him is Penelope, defying reports of his death. But this queen endures her own tormentors – an army of young suitors eager to claim her hand and the throne . . . 
-- 
Praise for Stephen Fry's Greek Myths series: 
 
'Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased' The Times 
 
'Brilliant . . . all hail Stephen Fry' Daily Mail 
 
'A head-spinning marathon of legends' Guardian 
 
'A rollicking good read' Independent 
 
'An Olympian feat. The gods seem to be smiling on Fry - his myths are definitely a hit' Evening Standard 
 
Sunday Times bestseller, October 2024

Odyssey completes his Greek Myths series in marvellous fashion. . . Fry, a born storyteller, succeeds again in making the ancient stories accessible, gently modernising the language and dotting his journey with explanatory and often amusing footnotes

Relatable and full of humour . . . Odyssey brings [the] four-book sequence satisfyingly to a close

Outstandingly entertaining quartet of books . . . Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales. As with his previous titles, he combines scholarly research with a lightness of touch, and his wry sense of humour and natural gift for storytelling make for a highly engaging read

The familiar narrative bounds along in a chatty style, coloured with mildly revisionist insights into the characters

Accessible storytelling and Fry brings warmth, exuberance and humour. Hard to beat

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Liar, The Hippopotamus, Making History and The Stars' Tennis Balls - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos, Heroes, Troy and Odyssey, his retellings of the Greek myths, are all Sunday Times bestsellers.

Troy has fallen. After 10 years of war, the Greeks make their way back to their own lands – but what homes now await them? Agamemnon must return to his wife Clytemnestra, who has been nursing her rage since he sacrificed their daughter to the gods for a favourable wind. Her revenge will know no bounds. 
 
Meanwhile, Odysseus has angered the god Poseidon and he is cursed to wander the seas, facing angry monsters and possessive demi-gods as he attempts to return to Ithaca and his patient, clever wife Penelope.

The stunningly iIllustrated story

Mythos

Step into Stephen Fry’s richly colourful world of magic, mayhem, monsters and maniacal gods in MYTHOS: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY . . . 
 
No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek gods and goddesses. 
 
In Stephen Fry's vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld. We shiver in fear when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments and watch with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds. 
 
Mythos: The Illustrated Story captures these extraordinary myths for our modern age in striking colour - in all their dazzling and deeply human relevance.

No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek gods and goddesses. 
 
In Stephen Fry's vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld. We shiver in fear when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments and watch with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds. 
 
Mythos Illustrated captures these extraordinary myths for our modern age in stunning colour - in all their dazzling and deeply human relevance.

The Greek myths are amongst the greatest stories ever told, passed down through millennia and inspiring writers and artists from Shakespeare to Walt Disney. 
 
They are embedded deeply in the traditions, tales and cultural DNA of the West. These beautiful illustrations will mesmerise and enthral you: you'll fall in love with Zeus, marvel at the birth of Athena, wince at Cronus and Gaia's revenge on Ouranos, weep with King Midas and hunt with the ferocious Artemis. 
 
Spellbinding, informative and moving, Stephen Fry's Mythos: The Illustrated Story perfectly captures these stories for the modern age - in all their rich and deeply human relevance.

Discover the life and ties of Stephen Fry

Fry's Ties

Discover the tales behind the ties in Stephen Fry's witty companion to our most distinguished accessory 
 
'A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life' Oscar Wilde 
 
'What do ties matter, Jeeves, at a time like this?' 'There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter' P.G. Wodehouse 
 ________ 
 
 Every single one of Stephen Fry's ties - whether floral, fluorescent, football themed; striped or spotty, outrageous or simply debonair - tells an intimate tale about a moment in Stephen's life. 
 
 Inspired by Stephen's hugely popular Instagram posts, this book will feature beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations and photographs to celebrate his expansive collection of man's greatest clothing companion: The Tie, in all its sophisticated glory. 
 
 Distinctively funny and offering witty asides, facts and personal stories, this book will make the perfect gift for anyone who has ever worn a tie.

What do ties matter, Jeeves, at a time like this?' 'There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter'

A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society

Fry's Ties ponders, speculates and celebrates the humble (and sometimes very fancy) tie. 
 
Stephen Fry's love of ties began with the striking silk affairs inherited from a grandfather, and grew as he accumulated neckties, bow ties and cravats from jumble sales, village fêtes, charity and curiosity shops. Matters turned more serious when he could afford to buy them brand spanking new . . . 
 
Yet each tie tells a story - rich and interesting tales about the social fads, fancies and fluctuations of human history and culture. From the shifting fortunes of the British high street, from the patriotic outfitters of the First World War to European tastemakers and Hollywood royalty, ties from Lacroix and Liberty, Brooks Brothers, Moss Bros and countless others have all played a part in our social fabric. 
 
A captivating blend of memoir and history, Fry's Ties reveals the fascinating, surprising and sometimes moving stories behind one hundred of Stephen's favourite neck adornments. It is the perfect accoutrement for anyone who loves a tie, has occasion to wear one or simply wants to know what precisely all the fuss is about.

By the time he was fifteen, Stephen Fry owned more than forty ties. Inherited initially from a grandfather, matters turned more serious when he could afford to buy them brand spanking new. 
 
Stephen's collection now numbers well into the hundreds. And each tie - whether floral, fluorescent, football themed; striped or spotty, outrageous or simply debonair - tells a story. A tale of the garment itself - the shops, makers and designers - as well as of Stephen, his reasons for choosing it, whether an occasion or just a whim. 
 
Inspired by Stephen's hugely popular Instagram posts, this book will feature beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations and photographs to celebrate his expansive collection of man's greatest asset: the Tie, in all its sophisticated glory.

Our Greatest Story Retold

Troy

AN EPIC BATTLE THAT LASTED TEN YEARS. A LEGENDARY STORY THAT HAS SURVIVED THOUSANDS. 
 
'An inimitable retelling of the siege of Troy . . . Fry's narrative, artfully humorous and rich in detail, breathes life and contemporary relevance into these ancient tales' OBSERVER 
 
'Stephen Fry has done it again. Well written and super storytelling' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 ________ 
 
 'Troy. The most marvellous kingdom in all the world. The Jewel of the Aegean. Glittering Ilion, the city that rose and fell not once but twice . . .' 
 
When Helen, the beautiful Greek queen, is kidnapped by the Trojan prince Paris, the most legendary war of all time begins. 
 
Watch in awe as a thousand ships are launched against the great city of Troy. 
 
Feel the fury of the battleground as the Trojans stand resolutely against Greek might for an entire decade. 
 
And witness the epic climax - the wooden horse, delivered to the city of Troy in a masterclass of deception by the Greeks . . . 
 
In Stephen Fry's exceptional retelling of our greatest story, TROY will transport you to the depths of ancient Greece and beyond. 
 ________ 
 
 'A fun romp through the world's greatest story. Fry's knowledge of the world - ancient and modern - bursts through' Daily Telegraph 
 
'An excellent retelling . . . told with compassion and wit' 5***** Reader Review 
 
'Hugely successful, graceful' The Times 
 
'If you want to read about TROY, this book is a must over any other' 5***** Reader Review 
 
'Fluent, crisp, nuanced, begins with a bang' The Times Literary Supplement 
 
'The characters . . . are brilliantly brought to life' 5***** Reader Review 
 
 PRAISE FOR STEPHEN FRY'S GREEK SERIES: 
 
 'A romp through the lives of ancient Greek gods. Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased' Times 
 
 'A head-spinning marathon of legends' Guardian 
 
 'An Olympian feat. The gods seem to be smiling on Fry - his myths are definitely a hit' Evening Standard 
 
 'An odyssey through Greek mythology. Brilliant . . . all hail Stephen Fry' Daily Mail 
 
 'A rollicking good read' Independent

An amiable meander through the historic sources . . . Fry's light and graceful tone helps to ease the unfamiliar reader through the complicated genealogies

An inimitable retelling of the siege of Troy . . . Fry's narrative, artfully humorous and rich in detail, breathes life and contemporary relevance into these ancient tales

Fry's lively writing certainly conveys his lifelong passion for Greek myths . . . It's a rollicking good read

Perfect for the 21st Century. Ebullient, funny, Fry retells the Greek myths with elegance

Lively, humorous and intimate, this retelling has real charm

A wondrous new immersion in ancient stories we only thought we knew. Brilliant, funny, erudite, inventive, surprising and enthralling

Tragedy and passion abound as Fry retells the epic siege of Troy

Stephen Fry takes the reader into the heart of a story both mythical and grounded in history

This pacy, witty retelling is beautifully illustrated, with an epilogue explaining the myths and historical reality of Troy

Astonishing . . . an excellent read

Curl up on your sofa as Stephen brings to life the legendary . . . passionate and powerful story of Troy

Fry is a genial guide to Greek mythology

Fry's knowledge of the world - ancient and modern - bursts through at the seams . . . The reader will find themselves on a fun romp through the world's greatest story

Fry really brings the tale to life, adding his own wry humour to the mix . . . Well worth a read

A story thousands of years old, only Fry could rewrite this so captivating as ever

Fry takes us from the founding myth of Troy, through its most famous inhabitants and the infamous war, to the razing of the city by the vengeful and victorious Achaeans

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He is also the bestselling author of four novels - The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Liar - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos and Heroes, his retelling of the Greek myths, are both Sunday Times bestsellers.

The story of Troy speaks to all of us - the kidnapping of Helen, a queen celebrated for her beauty, sees the Greeks launch a thousand ships against the city of Troy, to which they will lay siege for ten whole years. It is a terrible war with casualties on all sides as well as strained relations between allies, whose consequences become tragedies. 
 
In Troy you will find heroism and hatred, love and loss, revenge and regret, desire and despair. It is these human passions, written bloodily in the sands of a distant shore, that still speak to us today.

The Hippopotamus

Ted Wallace is a sour, old, cantankerous beast, a womanising and whisky-sodden bounder of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. 
 
 Fired from his newspaper, months behind on his alimony payments and disgusted with a world that undervalues him, Ted seeks a few months' repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the country mansion of his old friend Lord Logan. 
 
 But strange things have been going on at Swafford. Miracles. Healings. Phenomena beyond the comprehension of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted. 
 
 'Clever...witty...not what it seems' The Times 
 
 'My goodness what fruity language Fry uses! You can feel his enjoyment, and also the huge force of his desire to please you, as you read this' Daily Mail

My goodness what fruity language Fry uses! You can feel his enjoyment, and also the huge force of his desire to please you, as you read this

Fresh, filthy, funny and fizzing with ideas

One of the funniest people writing on either side of the Atlantic ... like a combination of Evelyn Waugh and Kingsley Amis but funnier than either

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI, and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Liar - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos and Heroes, his retelling of the Greek myths, are both Sunday Times bestsellers.

The outrageously funny second novel, and now major motion picture, from British actor, comedian, author, presenter, journalist and national treasure, Stephen Fry. 
 
Ted Wallace is an old, sour, womanising, cantankerous, whisky-sodden beast of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. Fired from his newspaper, months behind on his alimony payments and disgusted with a world that undervalues him, Ted seeks a few months' repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the country mansion of his old friend Lord Logan. 
 
But strange things have been going on at Swafford. Miracles. Healings. Phenomena beyond the comprehension of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted. 
 
Praise for The Hippopotamus: 
 
 'My goodness what fruity language Fry uses! You can feel his enjoyment, and also the huge force of his desire to please you, as you read this' Daily Mail 
 
'Deliciously wicked!' New York Times 
 
'Fresh, filthy, funny and fizzing with ideas' Evening Standard

The Stars' Tennis Balls

Ned Maddstone has the world at his feet. Handsome, charming, popular and talented, his life is progressing smoothly, effortlessly, happily. 
 
 But an unfortunate confrontation with a boy in his school results in a prank that goes badly wrong and suddenly he's incarcerated - without chance of release. So begins a year-long process of torment and hopelessness, which will destroy his very identity, until almost nothing remains of him but this unquenchable desire for revenge. 
 
 'Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks you listen. When he writes, you read' Literary Review 
 
 'Keeps you simultaneously gripped and chuckling throughout' Later

A gruesome romp through the canon of human wickedness

Fry isn't just a good writer as comedians go - he's a great writer by the standards of any British contemporary... gleaming and wit-fuelled... It keeps you simultaneously gripped and chuckling throughout.

A Count of Monte Cristo for the dot.com generation... Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks you listen. When he writes, you read.

Stylish... written up with zest and humour... a page-turner and full of fun

A thrilling novel inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo from British actor, comedian, author, presenter, journalist and national treasure, Stephen Fry. 
_______ 
 
Ned Maddstone has the world at his feet. He is handsome, talented and about to go to Cambridge, after which he is expected to follow his father into politics. But an unfortunate confrontation with a boy in his school results in a prank that goes badly wrong and suddenly he's incarcerated - without chance of release. 
 
So begins a year long process of torment and hopelessness, which will destroy his very identity, until almost nothing remains of him but this unquenchable desire for revenge... 
 
Praise for The Stars' Tennis Balls: 
 
 'Fry adds a talent for terror and suspense-writing to his quiverful of skills ' Daily Telegraph 
 
 'Whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it - that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks, you listen. When he writes, you read' Literary Review 
 
 'A great writer by the standards of any British contemporary' Sunday Times

Making History

Michael Young is a brilliant young history student whose life is changed when he meets Leo Zuckerman, an ageing physicist with a theory that can change worlds. 
 
 Together they realise that they have the power to alter history and eradicate a great evil. But tinkering with timelines is more dangerous than they can imagine and nothing - past, present or future - will ever be the same again. 
 
 'The tensions and resolutions are intrinsically comic, made still more enjoyable by [Fry's] sinuous invention and cleverness at caricature' Spectator 
 
 'Sprightly and entertaining' Telegraph

His best novel yet ... an extravagant, deeply questioning work of science fiction

A sci-fi comedy that is also a time-travel thriller, constantly topical and always surprising... packed with the author's personal enthusiasm and hatreds, the former red-hot and the latter icy-black

A powerful imaginative pull that keeps the pages turning while the tea goes cold and the cat gets the goldfish

A mind-bending, time travelling comedy from British actor, comedian, author, presenter, journalist and national treasure, Stephen Fry. 
 _______ 
 
 Michael Young is a brilliant young history student whose life is changed when he meets Leo Zuckerman, an ageing physicist with a theory that can change worlds. 
 
Together they realise that they have the power to alter history and eradicate a great evil. But tinkering with timelines is more dangerous than they can imagine and nothing - past, present or future - will ever be the same again. 
 
 Making History is funny, moving, romantic and told with Stephen Fry's characteristic skill and brilliance. 
 
 Praise for Making History: 
 
 'His best novel yet... an extravagant, deeply questioning work of science fiction' GQ 
 
 'Making History has the imaginative pull that keeps the pages turning while the tea gets cold and the cat gets the goldfish' The Independent 
 
 'Stephen Fry at his twinkling best' Sunday Times

The Liar

Adrian Healey is magnificently unprepared for the long littleness of life; unprepared too for the afternoon in Salzburg when he will witness the savage murder of a Hungarian violinist; unprepared to learn about the Mendax device; unprepared for more murders and wholly unprepared for the truth. 
 
 Stephen Fry's breathtakingly outrageous debut novel, by turns eccentric, shocking, brilliantly comic and achingly romantic. 
 
'Hilarious' Literary Review 
 
'Sublime' Cosmopolitan

The Liar is hilarious - page after page of the most outrageous and often filthy jokes, delicious conceits, instant, brilliant ripostes that would only occur to ordinary mortals after days of teeth-grinding lunacy

Brilliantly entertaining and consistently outrageous

The brilliant and outrageous debut novel from British actor, comedian, author, presenter, journalist and national treasure, Stephen Fry. 
 
Adrian Healey is magnificently unprepared for the long littleness of life; unprepared too for the afternoon in Salzburg when he will witness the savage murder of a Hungarian violinist; unprepared to learn about the Mendax device; unprepared for more murders and wholly unprepared for the truth. 
 
 
Praise for The Liar: 
 
 'A quite brilliant first novel' Sunday Times 
 
 'Sublime' Cosmopolitan 
 
 'The Liar is hilarious - page after page of the most outrageous and often filthy jokes, delicious conceits, instant, brilliant ripostes that would only occur to ordinary mortals after days of teeth-grinding lunacy' Literary Review

The BBC TV soundtracks

A Bit of Fry & Laurie

In this classic TV soundtrack, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie explore a seemingly inexhaustible list of subjects with a delicious turn of phrase and elaborate wordplay. 
 
 The hilarity includes regular acts such as not so super spy Tony Mercheson and his boss Control, yuppies, John and Peter and the Critics. 
 
 With four brilliant series of great satire, comic genius and hilarious use of language, the show cemented Fry &amp; Laurie as a double act and paved the way for their future stardom. 
 
A Bit Of Fry &amp; Laurie originally broadcast on BBC 1 and BBC 2 between 1987 and 1995. 
 
Please note that this audio originated as TV soundtracks and contains occasional visual jokes 
Minor edits have been made to the original broadcast for ease of listening. 
Contains strong language

In this classic TV soundtrack, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie explore a seemingly inexhaustible list of subjects with a delicious turn of phrase and elaborate wordplay. 
 
 The hilarity includes regular acts such as not so super spy Tony Mercheson and his boss Control, yuppies, John and Peter and the Critics. 
 
 With four brilliant series of great satire, comic genius and hilarious use of language, the show cemented Fry &amp; Laurie as a double act and paved the way for their future stardom. 
 
 A Bit Of Fry &amp; Laurie originally broadcast on BBC 1 and BBC 2 between 1987 and 1995. 
 
Please note that this audio originated as TV soundtracks and contains occasional visual jokes 
Minor edits have been made to the original broadcast for ease of listening. 
Contains strong language

Unlocking the Poet Within

The Ode Less Travelled

A guide to writing poetry

Fry's extraordinary book is an idiots' guide to the writing of poetry, a primer, a tutorial with funny turns, an earnest textbook... You can't but marvel at Fry's easy familiarity with the rictameter and the rondeau redoublé and applaud the energy of his evangelistic zeal

With his usual wit and occasional obscenity, he takes us through an array of metrical forms and poetic structures, talking to us like a cajoling hearty teacher

Intelligent and informative, a worthy enterprise well executed

A smart, sane and entertaining return to basics

Full of the warmth and wit we have come to expect from one of our foremost national treasures.

If you can speak and read English, you can write poetry. 
 
The trick is knowing where to start. Stephen Fry, who has long written poems, and indeed has written long poems, for his own private pleasure, invites you to discover the incomparable delights of metre, rhyme and verse forms. 
 
Whether you want to write a Petrarchan sonnet for your lover's birthday, an epithalamion for your sister's wedding or a villanelle excoriating the government's housing policy, The Ode Less Travelled will give you the tools and the confidence to do so. 
 
Brimful of enjoyable exercises, witty insights and simple step-by-step advice, The Ode Less Travelled guides the reader towards mastery and confidence in the Mother of the Arts.

Moab Is My Washpot

One of the most poignant, funny, intelligent, frank and horribly addictive books you're likely to read all year

A remarkable, perhaps even unique, exercise in autobiography ... that aroma of authenticity that is the point of all great autobiographies: of which his, I rather think, is one

Stephen Fry is one of the great originals ... This autobiography of his first twenty years is a pleasure to read, mixing outrageous acts with sensible opinions in bewildering confusion ... That so much outward charm, self-awareness and intellect should exist alongside behaviour that threatened to ruin the lives of innocent victims, noble parents and Fry himself, gives the book a tragic grandeur and lifts it to classic status

He writes superbly about his family, about his homosexuality, about the agonies of childhood ... some of his bursts of simile take the breath away ... his most satisfying and appealing book so far

This is one of the most extraordinary and affecting biographies I have read . . . Stephen is . . . painfully honest when trying to grapple with his ever-present demons, and often, as you might expect, very funny

The writing is rhapsodic, intoxicated and very touching

[A] wonderful, self-lacerating autobiography

He has produced a remarkable autobiography . . . It makes gripping, sometimes unbearably sad, sometimes confusing reading . . . exhilarating, humane, zany, literary

No one can make you feel quite like Stephen Fry can . . . Funny and tormentedly frank

Hugely enjoyable . . . compulsively readable . . . Fry is excellent on the details of memory, too, and always able to embellish them with effortless erudition . . . this engaging, engrossing read is as honest a portrait of a young liar as one could hope to read

He is bubbly, funny and charming, and he gives his fans plenty of material if they want to speculate on why he is both so gifted and so wayward

The jokes . . . transcend the complexes of the joker, turning the Stephenesque into a national as well as a family treasure

Not so much an autobiography, more a way of life; discursive, funny, sometimes almost unbelievably sad, opinionated, nostalgic and very infectious

So charming and so acute that one cannot help forgiving him

______________________________ 
The original bestselling autobiography by comedian, novelist and national treasure Stephen Fry. 
 
Few people serve time in prison before studying at Cambridge. You might be surprised to know that Stephen Fry is one of them. 
 
Moab is My Washpot, the remarkable story of Stephen Fry's tumultuous early life, is by turns funny, shocking, tender, delicious, sad, lyrical, bruisingly frank and addictively readable. 
 
It's the story of a boy sent to a boarding school 200 miles from home at the age of seven, who survives beatings, misery, love, ecstasy, carnal violation, expulsion, imprisonment, criminal conviction, probation and catastrophe to emerge, at eighteen, ready to try and face the world in which he had always felt a stranger. 
 
Fry writes with the wit and warmth which have become his hallmark, but with shocking candour too. For anyone seeking to understand one of Britain's greatest cultural treasures, this book is utterly essential reading.

The myths of the Ancient Greek heroes retold

Heroes

IMAGINE SANDALS ON YOUR FEET, A SWORD IN YOUR HAND, HOT SUN BEATING DOWN ON YOUR BRONZE HELMET. ENTER THE WORLD OF STEPHEN FRY'S SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, HEROES 
 
'An odyssey through Greek mythology. Brilliant . . . all hail Stephen Fry' Daily Mail 
___________ 
 
Few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heart-stirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils, or outwitted scheming vengeful gods, quite as stylishly and triumphantly as Greek heroes. 
 
In this companion to his bestselling Mythos, Stephen Fry brilliantly retells these dramatic, funny, tragic and timeless tales. 
 
Join Jason aboard the Argo as he quests for the Golden Fleece. See Atalanta - who was raised by bears - outrun any man before being tricked with golden apples. Witness wily Oedipus solve the riddle of the Sphinx and discover how Bellerophon captures the winged horse Pegasus to help him slay the monster Chimera. 
 
Filled with white-knuckle chases and battles, impossible puzzles and riddles, acts of base cowardice and real bravery, not to mention murders and selfless sacrifices, Heroes is the story of what we mortals are truly capable of - at our worst and our very best. 
 
Order TROY now, Stephen Fry's bewitching retelling of the most legendary story ever told 
 
'A romp through the lives of ancient Greek gods. Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased' Times 
 
'Assured and engaging. The pace is lively, the jokes are genuinely funny' Guardian 
 
'An Olympian feat. The gods seem to be smiling on Fry - his myths are definitely a hit' Evening Standard 
 
'Just as delightful and difficult to put down as the first. Heroes makes the stories relatable without skimping on the gory details, or sacrificing the truths of the myth. It's rich, it's funny and you'll feel like you've learned a lot' Herald 
 
Praise for Mythos: 
 
'Ebullient and funny' Times 
 
'Entertaining and edifying' Daily Telegraph 
 
'A rollicking good read' Independent 
 
'The Greek gods of the past become relatable as pop culture, modern literature and music are woven throughout. Joyfully informal yet full of the literary legacy' Guardian

This is a spirited retelling of stories that Fry clearly knows and loves

Assured and engaging. The pace is lively, the jokes are genuinely funny, and Fry once again proves himself a master of great learning worn lightly

Here, indeed, be monsters, myriad adventures and machinating gods. Fry is a personable and passionate narrator

Just as delightful and difficult to put down as the first. Heroes makes the stories relatable without skimping on the gory details, or sacrificing the truths of the myth. It's rich, it's funny and you'll feel like you've learned a lot

Fry brilliantly retells the dramatic, funny, tragic and timeless tales of these heroic men and women in all their grit and glory. Filled with white-knuckle chases and twisted labyrinths, impossible puzzles and blood-curdling monsters

Just as delightful and difficult to put down as the first. It makes stories relatable without skimping on the gory details

Rich, funny and you'll feel like you've learned a lot along the way

Tales of fatal flaws, perilous journeys and shining acts of heroism are told with gusto and young and old will be engrossed. The audiobook is an absolute gem too, read by the author who has a winning way of bringing these epic tales to life

Joyfully informal yet full of the literary legacy. The Greek gods of the past become relatable

The best thing he's written since his superb first novel . . . entertaining and edifying

Perfect for the 21st Century. Ebullient, funny, Fry retells the Greek myths with elegance

A wondrous new immersion in ancient stories we only thought we knew. Brilliant, funny, erudite, inventive, surprising and enthralling

Fry makes the stories relatable without skimping on the wonderful gory details, or sacrificing the traditional truths of the myth

Stephen Fry has created a magnificent book. Humorous, but with serious stories told with wit and erudition. This is a book that will delight readers of all ages. Fry's writing is never less than delightful

Fry is a natural storyteller and his lively retellings make for an entertaining read

The comedian and polymath retells age-old Greek myths in dramatic, modernised style

One of the nation's favourite intellectuals retells the epic myths of the Greek heroes in his own unique and very enjoyable way

Fry exhibits enormous erudition and enthusiasm

Few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heart-stirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils, or outwitted scheming vengeful gods, quite as stylishly and triumphantly as Greek heroes. 
 
In this companion to his bestselling Mythos, Stephen Fry brilliantly retells these dramatic, funny, tragic and timeless tales. Join Jason aboard the Argo as he quests for the Golden Fleece. See Atalanta - who was raised by bears - outrun any man before being tricked with golden apples. Witness wily Oedipus solve the riddle of the Sphinx and discover how Bellerophon captures the winged horse Pegasus to help him slay the monster Chimera. 
 
Heroes is the story of what we mortals are truly capable of - at our worst and our very best.

The Fry Chronicles

Penguin Picks

Spanning 1979-1987, The Fry Chronicles charts Stephen Fry's arrival at Cambridge up to his thirtieth birthday. 
 
 'Heartbreaking, a delight, a lovely, comfy book' The Times 
 
 'Perfect prose and excruciating honesty. A grand reminiscence of college and theatre and comedyland in the 1980s, with tone-perfect anecdotes and genuine readerly excitement. What Fry does, essentially, is tell us who he really is. Above all else, a thoughtful book. And namedroppy too, and funny, and marbled with melancholy' Observer 
 
 'Arguably the greatest living Englishman' Independent on Sunday 
 
 'Extremely enjoyable' Sunday Times 
 
 'Fry's linguistic facility remains one of the Wildean wonders of the new media age. The patron saint of British intelligence' Daily Telegraph 
 
Welcome to Stephen Fry's The Fry Chronicles, one of the boldest, bravest, most revealing and heartfelt accounts of a man's formative years that you will ever have the exquisite pleasure of reading. 
 
 
Stephen Fry's film, stage, radio and television credits are so numerous and wide-ranging that there is not space here to do them justice. It is enough to say that he has written, produced, directed, acted in or presented productions as varied as Wilde, the TV series Blackadder and Jeeves and Wooster, the sketch show A Bit of Fry &amp; Laurie, the panel game QI, the radio series Fry's English Delight and documentaries on subjects as varied as manic depression, disappearing animals and the United States of America. He's also the bestselling author of four novels - The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Liar - as well as a volume of autobiography, Moab is My Washpot, and sundry works of non-fiction.

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. More recently he presented Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, his groundbreaking documentary on bipolar disorder, to huge critical acclaim. His legions of fans tune in to watch him host the popular quiz show QI each week.

Spanning 1979-1987, The Fry Chronicles charts Stephen's arrival at Cambridge up to his thirtieth birthday. 
 
'Heartbreaking, a delight, a lovely, comfy book' The Times 
 
'Perfect prose and excruciating honesty. A grand reminiscence of college and theatre and comedyland in the 1980s, with tone-perfect anecdotes and genuine readerly excitement. What Fry does, essentially, is tell us who he really is. Above all else, a thoughtful book. And namedroppy too, and funny, and marbled with melancholy' Observer 
 
'Arguably the greatest living Englishman' Independent on Sunday 
 
'Extremely enjoyable' Sunday Times 
 
'Fry's linguistic facility remains one of the Wildean wonders of the new media age. The patron saint of British intelligence' Daily Telegraph

More Fool Me

Stephen Fry invites readers to take a glimpse at his life story in the unputdownable More Fool Me. 
 
'Oh dear I am an arse. I expect there'll be what I believe is called an "intervention" soon. I keep picturing it. All my friends bearing down on me and me denying everything until my pockets are emptied. Oh the shame' 
 
In his early thirties, Stephen Fry - writer, comedian, star of stage and screen - had, as they say, 'made it'. Much loved in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Blackadder and Jeeves and Wooster, author of a critically acclaimed and bestselling first novel, The Liar, with a glamorous and glittering cast of friends, he had more work than was perhaps good for him. 
 
What could possibly go wrong? 
 
Then, as the 80s drew to a close, he discovered a most enjoyable way to burn the candle at both ends, and took to excess like a duck to breadcrumbs. Writing and recording by day, and haunting a never ending series of celebrity parties, drinking dens, and poker games by night, in a ludicrous and impressive act of bravado, he fooled all those except the very closest to him, some of whom were most enjoyably engaged in the same dance. 
 
He was - to all intents and purposes - a high functioning addict. Blazing brightly and partying wildly as the 80s turned to the 90s, AIDS became an epidemic and politics turned really nasty, he was so busy, so distracted by the high life, that he could hardly see the inevitable, headlong tumble that must surely follow . . . 
 
Containing raw, electric extracts from his diaries of the time, More Fool Me is a brilliant, eloquent account by a man driven to create and to entertain - revealing a side to him he has long kept hidden.

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He hosted over 180 episodes of QI, and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings.

Stephen Fry invites readers to take a glimpse at his life story in the unputdownable More Fool Me. 
 
It is a heady tale of the late Eighties and early Nineties, in which Stephen - ever more driven to create, perform and entertain - burned bright and partied hard with a host of famous and infamous friends, regardless of the consequences. 
 
This electric and extraordinary book reveals a new side to Mr Fry.

Paperweight: Volume 1

Huge, crammed, wise, hilarious and utterly captivating

A joyous collaboration of winging humour and sarcasm

As well as being the bestselling author of four novels, The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus, and The Liar, and the first volume of his autobiography, Moab is My Washpot, Fry has played Peter in Peter's Friends, Wilde in the film Wilde, Jeeves in the television series Jeeves &amp; Wooster and (a closely guarded show-business secret, this) Laurie in the television series Fry &amp; Laurie.

A hilarious collection of the many articles written by Stephen Fry for magazines, newspapers and radio. It 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 Daily Telegraph.

Paperweight: Volume 2

Paperweight

A delightful compendium of writings that perfectly express the wit and wisdom of Stephen Fry.

Stephen Fry was born in Hampstead in 1957 and, following a troubled adolescence, went on to study English Literature at Queen's College, Cambridge. As well as being the bestselling author of four novels, The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus, and The Liar, and two volumes of his autobiography, Fry played Peter in Peter's Friends, Wilde in the film Wilde, Jeeves in the television series Jeeves &amp; Wooster and (a closely guarded show-business secret, this) Laurie in the television series Fry &amp; Laurie. More recently, he presented Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, his groundbreaking documentary on bipolar disorder, to huge critical acclaim. And his legions of fans tune in to watch him host the popular quiz show QI each week.

A hilarious collection of the many articles written by Stephen Fry for magazines, newspapers and radio. It 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 Daily Telegraph. 
 
Perfect to dip into but just as enjoyable to read cover to cover, this book, perhaps more than any other, shows the breadth of Fry's interests and the depth of his insight. He remains a hilarious writer on whatever topic he puts his mind to.

Stephen Fry On The Phone The Complete Radio 4 Series

Stephen Fry traces the evolution of the mobile phone, from hefty executive bricks that required a separate briefcase to carry the battery, to the smartphones available today. There are more mobile phones in the world than there are people on the planet: Stephen Fry talks to the backroom boys who made it all possible and hears how the technology succeeded in ways that the geeks had not necessarily intended. For example, the engineers who designed the early texting facilities didn’t imagine that anyone might want to reply. (Just in case, they added a short list of possible pre-set answers: yes, no and maybe). They also thought taxifones and fax machines for your car would be winners. In the early nineties, Nokia, then famous for toilet paper and rubber boots, was on the brink of collapse; until the new CEO made a bold decision to focus solely on mobile phonesThanks to Margaret Thatcher opening up the airwaves, Britain became a world leader in mobile phone technology. And today, 85% of the silicon chips inside all mobiles are designed by just one Cambridge-based company.Series produced by Anna Buckley.

Stephen Fry

The Greek myths are told to you here by the ever-soothing voice of Stephen Fry, who takes you from Zeus to Athena with his typical humour. The Greek gods of the past become relatable as pop culture, modern literature and music are woven throughout. It is joyfully informal yet full of the literary legacy threaded through so much of the tapestry of contemporary Greece

Wit and erudition are impressively evident . . . Read by Fry with his accustomed ebullient showmanship [he] gives the legends modern resonance by telling them with a contemporary colloquial twist'

Mythos is the best thing he's written since his superb first novel . . . it is entertaining and edifying - one cannot really ask for more than that

Fry reimagines the Greek myths with wit, warmth and humanity, bringing them into the modern age. A welcome addition to any bookshelf

Mythos is Stephen's vivid retelling of the Greek myths. Bringing to life the Gods, monsters and mortals of Ancient Greece, he reimagines their astonishing stories for the modern world.

Perfect for the 21st Century. Ebullient, funny, Fry retells the Greek myths with elegance

A wondrous new immersion in ancient stories we only thought weknew. Page to page, Mythos is brilliant, funny, erudite, inventive, surprising and enthralling

[Fry] exhibits prodigious learning, a great facility with words, and enormous erudition and enthusiasm

Lively, humorous and intimate, this retelling has real charm

Fry takes us from Zeus to Athena with humour. The Greek gods of the past become relatable as pop culture, modern literature and music are woven throughout. Joyfully informal yet full of the literary legacy

Fresh revivals of the myths of ancient Greece. In his own imitable style, Fry takes an erudite look at the doings of gods, goddesses, kings, queens and ordinary mortals

I quite like Mythos, Stephen Fry's book on the Greek myths - he makes them amusing. I like people that illuminate the past with humour

Mythos has the gripping nature that one would hope for from a modern blockbuster. Filled with a sharp and delightful sense of humour, Stephen Fry's many witticisms making it an even more enjoyable read. I would recommend it for so many reasons

Brilliant . . . Stephen Fry's writing style makes it appealing to all. There's something for everyone

Reimagines the lives of ancient Greek gods and goddesses through a humorous lens, using casual language and making valuable comparisons to modern characters or events. It's also just really, really funny

The Greek Myths Retold

The Greek myths are amongst the best stories ever told, passed down through millennia and inspiring writers and artists as varied as Shakespeare, Michelangelo, James Joyce and Walt Disney. 
 
They are embedded deeply in the traditions, tales and cultural DNA of the West. You'll fall in love with Zeus, marvel at the birth of Athena, wince at Cronus and Gaia's revenge on Ouranos, weep with King Midas and hunt with the beautiful and ferocious Artemis. 
 
Spellbinding, informative and moving, Stephen Fry's Mythos perfectly captures these stories for the modern age - in all their rich and deeply human relevance.

Stephen Fry

Books by Stephen Fry

Series by Stephen Fry

BBC TV Soundtracks13 Books

Stephen Fry’s Greek Myths4 Books

Articles featuring Stephen Fry

An essential guide to The Odyssey

Beautiful coffee table books

Where to start reading poetry (again)

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

Damian Bradfield and Stephen Fry: The internet has changed us

See inside: Mythos

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