Anyone for Edmund?

Simon Edge was born in Chester and read philosophy at Cambridge University.He was editor of the pioneering London paper Capital Gay before becoming a gossip columnist on the Evening Standard and then a feature writer and critic on the Daily Express. He has an MA in Creative Writing from City University, London, where he also taught literary criticism.He is the author of six novels, all published by Lightning: The Hopkins Conundrum, The Hurtle of Hell, A Right Royal Face-Off, Anyone for Edmund?, The End of the World is Flat and In the Beginning. He has been described as ‘Britain’s leading exponent of Horatian satire’.He lives in Suffolk.

‘I loved this smart and divinely wry book, with its perfect marriage of archaeology, patron sainthood, and 10 Downing Street dirt. Has there ever been a more delightfully cynical political hack than Mark Price, or a more narratively rewarding neurotic prime minister than Marina Spencer? Long live them both! What a terrific eye and ear is at work here!’ Elinor Lipman‘Anyone for Edmund? is gripping, funny and richly entertaining. This is not only a compelling read, but also a story grounded in real history and the genuine questions of national identity that are still thrown up by the legacies of medieval patron saints – and St Edmund in particular. While this book is fiction, at the heart of it is a truth every historian knows: the past is very much alive’ Dr Francis Young, author of Edmund: In Search of England’s Lost King‘Fantastically witty, and utterly unique. Who knew that a story about a royal saint, a bunch of archaeologists and the shenanigans of modern politicians, played out against the rich tapestry of medieval history, could be so entertaining? I laughed my head off. A perfect balm for our troubled times’ Maha Khan Phillips‘This is such a gem: clever, funny and written with great heart and warmth’ Nikki Marmery‘Edge’s sharp-edged political comedy is guaranteed to have you laughing out loud as the discovery of St Edmund’s remains underneath a tennis court sets off a farcical chain of events’ The i Paper‘This historical and politically prescient comedy will have you chuckling long after the last page. Gripping, entertaining and intriguing, it is part political satire and part historical excavation with a contemporary twist. Beautifully written and well crafted, [it’s] at once hilarious and painfully believable...’The Lady‘Rich in history and bunk’ Saga Magazine‘This clever comedy pokes fun at the cutthroat atmosphere of contemporary political life, which it juxtaposes with the life-and-death manoeuverings of medieval rivals. Highly entertaining, Anyone for Edmund? delivers a dose of history with flawless comedic timing and pacing’ Foreword Reviews‘The perfect pick-me-up. Funny and uplifting’ Waitrose Weekend‘A wonderful blend of what you know to be pure fiction and what you suspect has been written with ‘insider knowledge’...This is a world that readers will find familiar, yet which is dextrously eviscerated by this talented novelist. The humour and irony are presented with great subtlety… A hugely enjoyable page-turner written with parodic panache, Anyone for Edmund? is a satirical comment on the modern world that is sure to entertain’ Yorkshire Times‘Brilliant – very funny’ Lesley Dolphin, BBC Radio Suffolk‘This mix of satire, mystery and a few supernatural goings-on makes an entertaining and intriguing read’ Suffolk Magazine‘Beguiling and utterly original’ Suffolk Norfolk Life‘Simon Edge has come up with another clever blending of history and modern day, with nice touches of wry humour’ Richard Bryson, Bury & West Suffolk magazine‘Simon Edge is one of the best wits in British political satire. All his books are an outstanding character study. He is a skilful storyteller who reimagines the past and the present. The plot is intelligent, intricate and will keep you gripped’ Chez Maximka‘Edge has created brilliant characters that resonate, wrapped them in a setting of high politics and all it entails, then thrown in a bit of a religious experience… This book truly deserves devouring in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down’  33 South Textworks *****‘The book made me laugh out loud, it made me grimace at the workings of government, it took me back to Bury, and it has some great one-liners’ Northern Reader‘A pin-sharp satire that highlights how history is continually rewritten, re-evaluated, and used to varying ends, Anyone for Edmund? is such a good book – I read most of it over the course of one afternoon’   Dr Alice Violett‘The worlds of history and politics clash in spectacular fashion. A hilariously absurd story that left me laughing out loud. What a blast of a read!' Books and Me *****‘A hilarious and inventive, fast-paced story with great characterisation. Ridiculous and believable! I loved it’ More About Books‘I really enjoyed this political romp: humorous, a great narrative arc, some supernatural elements and great characters. I kind of view it as the same vein as In the Thick of It – I kept wanting Malcolm Tucker to come round a corner. It’s that sort of humour and satire. I loved it. Buy this book!’ Books by Bindu‘A fast-paced, edgy and clever novel, and with its surprising supernatural feel it’s completely different to other contemporaries. I loved the whole concept of this book, with a bit of history, intrigue, wry humour and political machinations, wonderfully imaginative characters and some very on-trend topics’ Chicks, Rogues and Scandals‘Funny and informative…I enjoyed the dynamic between Mark and his boss and I particularly enjoyed the first-person chapters [in St Edmund’s voice]. His commentary on modern life contrasts effectively with the rest of the book and adds to the humour’ Jera’s Jamboree‘A fast-paced story that kept me engaged throughout and a really fun political satire, too. If you enjoy British humour or if you’re a fan of medieval history, then you will love this book’ Lecari’s LiveJournal 2.0‘Lots of interesting history and I loved the characters: quirky, witty people who are super well-developed. Overall, this book was intriguing and I’d definitely recommend it’ Jessica Belmont‘Very funny, a bit silly and a lot entertaining – a snapshot of post-Brexit Britain that doesn’t sound too horrifying, just a bit nuts’ Rambling Mads‘I really enjoyed this book! St. Edmund is both a subject of the story as well as a driving force in it’  Bees and Books‘Love history? Love comedy? Love seeing what happens when a little white lie grows out of control? You’ll love Anyone For Edmund?. The most fascinating thing about this book is the interweaving of history, both modern and ancient with the perspectives of  saint, sinner and common man’ Puzzle Paws