What do you think?
Rate this book
Freddy and Fredericka
Mark Helprin’s legions of devoted readers cherish his timeless novels and short stories, which are uplifting in their conviction of the goodness and resilience of the human spirit. Freddy and Fredericka—a brilliantly refashioned fairy tale and a magnificently funny farce—only seems like a radical departure of form, for behind the laughter, Helprin speaks of leaps of faith and second chances, courage and the primacy of love. Helprin’s latest work, an extraordinarily funny allegory about a most peculiar British royal family, is immensely mocking of contemporary monarchy and yet deeply sympathetic to the individuals caught in its lonely absurdities.
553 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Mark Helprin
40 books1,518 followersMark Helprin belongs to no literary school, movement, tendency, or trend. As many have observed and as Time Magazine has phrased it, “He lights his own way.” His three collections of short stories (A Dove of the East and Other Stories, Ellis Island and Other Stories, and The Pacific and Other Stories), six novels (Refiner's Fire, Winter's Tale, A Soldier of the Great War, Memoir From Antproof Case, Freddy and Fredericka and, In Sunlight and In Shadow), and three children's books (Swan Lake, A City in Winter, and The Veil of Snows, all illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg), speak eloquently for themselves and are remarkable throughout for the sustained beauty and power of their language.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews
November 12, 2008
I loved it. I love Mark Helprin.
It took a while for me to see the plot developing as the setup took a good couple hundred pages, but once you get through the setup -- which is hilarious if you just roll with it -- you get to the good stuff. My favorite thing about Helprin's books is the way he does all this crazy wordsmithing and then out of nowhere condenses it all into a paragraph of precise truth. Those moments leave me in tears. I loved it.
(My thing is precision in language. As a linguist it's kind of my deal, and that's what I love about Helprin.)
I laughed out loud at some of his crazy antics in Britain before F&F were sent to America, but when they get to America the Helprin comes out and it's amazing. In the end it read like a love letter to my country, and after what the last two years of presidential campaigning have done to us, it made me happy to remember what is great about us.
Freddy, on America: "I was born to be a king, and you were born not to have one. America does not need and cannot have a king, for it is majestic in itself as perhaps no country has ever been.... Its greatest majesty, its gift to the world, is that it has carried out God's will to make each man a king, subservient only to Him."
Of Fredericka: "Of late she had discovered that when others prayed to God to save the king, her husband said his own prayer, that God would favour that which was right. So it was, when she stayed in a high room and looked out at Lochnagar as it brightened in the sun, that she prayed for the right."
I loved it.
It took a while for me to see the plot developing as the setup took a good couple hundred pages, but once you get through the setup -- which is hilarious if you just roll with it -- you get to the good stuff. My favorite thing about Helprin's books is the way he does all this crazy wordsmithing and then out of nowhere condenses it all into a paragraph of precise truth. Those moments leave me in tears. I loved it.
(My thing is precision in language. As a linguist it's kind of my deal, and that's what I love about Helprin.)
I laughed out loud at some of his crazy antics in Britain before F&F were sent to America, but when they get to America the Helprin comes out and it's amazing. In the end it read like a love letter to my country, and after what the last two years of presidential campaigning have done to us, it made me happy to remember what is great about us.
Freddy, on America: "I was born to be a king, and you were born not to have one. America does not need and cannot have a king, for it is majestic in itself as perhaps no country has ever been.... Its greatest majesty, its gift to the world, is that it has carried out God's will to make each man a king, subservient only to Him."
Of Fredericka: "Of late she had discovered that when others prayed to God to save the king, her husband said his own prayer, that God would favour that which was right. So it was, when she stayed in a high room and looked out at Lochnagar as it brightened in the sun, that she prayed for the right."
I loved it.
December 14, 2023
One of the best and funniest books I have ever read in my life. I recommend this book to all my friends. It's about a British Royal Family that the reader can't help but identify it with the present royal family during the life of Princess Diana. The queen and the British people despair at the Prince and Princess of Wales ever being fit to reign. This despair requires the the queen to send for Mr. Neil, the 10,000 year old guardian of the monarchy who is then presently working in an Italian sex toy factory. Mr. Neil decides to send the royal couple on a quest to prove their mettle. Neil think the quest should be to an uncivilized and barbarous land so he sends them to New Jersey and the goal of their quest is to re-take the colonies. Those of you old enough may remember an old Peter Sellers movie with a similar plot, "The Mouse That Roared". This is nothing like that movie but this would be a great book to make into a movie. I laughed out loud so much while reading this book that my wife had to read it to see what was so funny. She found out and then we had fun trying to cast the possible movie. However, do not think this is some lightweight comedic novelty. It is not. By the time you reach the end you discover that this very amusing and entertaining book had a very endearing and warm message making it more than a worthwhile read. Give yourself a treat and read this book.
July 28, 2007
I don't know if it's just me, but novels seem to be necessarily depressing. They're always dark and brooding. They always seem to capture the very worst side of humanity. When someone can write something that's bright and cheerful and make it interesting I'm always impressed.
This book is laugh out loud funny. I found myself guffawing on various modes of public transportation while reading this. It's really impressive that he can write physical slapstick humor and have it be funny. Halprin has a lot of dexterity with his prose. He moves in and out of rich descriptions, well timed punchlines, great dialogue and even a few serious moments all with grace. Despite the over the top wackiness of the plot, there is a resonant chord of truth in the emotions of the characters as they interact with their situations that give this novel both its humor and its weightiness.
This book is laugh out loud funny. I found myself guffawing on various modes of public transportation while reading this. It's really impressive that he can write physical slapstick humor and have it be funny. Halprin has a lot of dexterity with his prose. He moves in and out of rich descriptions, well timed punchlines, great dialogue and even a few serious moments all with grace. Despite the over the top wackiness of the plot, there is a resonant chord of truth in the emotions of the characters as they interact with their situations that give this novel both its humor and its weightiness.
January 15, 2024
Reading this was a painful experience; I had a sore stomach and a stitch in my side from laughing so hard, not to mention vision blurred by tears of laughter running down my face. In addition, my partner of nearly 38 years, who is not known for his robust sense of humor, was looking at me strangely as I read, and I found myself attempting to stifle my laughter which resulted in very uncomfortable (and unattractive, I'm sure) snorting through my nose. Yes, a painful experience and worth every minute!
It’s a tour de force of British humor combining deadpan literary satire exemplified by Jonathan Swift and Evelyn Waugh with the broad, visual and linguistic comedy I’m most familiar with through films and television, but which translates effectively to the printed page. The British are very, very good at both! There is at least one good laugh on nearly every page.
There are also serious themes in this delightfully entertaining story, themes of life, death, and faith, of duty and responsibility, of love of family and of country. The Charles and Diana-like characters would ordinarily be too old to make this a coming-of-age story, but, emerging from their bubble of privileged royal and aristocratic status and thrust into the “wilderness” of America, they do indeed come of age achieving insight, understanding, and acceptance of themselves as individuals, of each other, and of the world of humanity of every stripe. In the end, no irony intended, it's very beautiful.
I recommend David Eppenstein’s excellent review which is more comprehensive than mine. Thank you, David!
It’s a tour de force of British humor combining deadpan literary satire exemplified by Jonathan Swift and Evelyn Waugh with the broad, visual and linguistic comedy I’m most familiar with through films and television, but which translates effectively to the printed page. The British are very, very good at both! There is at least one good laugh on nearly every page.
There are also serious themes in this delightfully entertaining story, themes of life, death, and faith, of duty and responsibility, of love of family and of country. The Charles and Diana-like characters would ordinarily be too old to make this a coming-of-age story, but, emerging from their bubble of privileged royal and aristocratic status and thrust into the “wilderness” of America, they do indeed come of age achieving insight, understanding, and acceptance of themselves as individuals, of each other, and of the world of humanity of every stripe. In the end, no irony intended, it's very beautiful.
I recommend David Eppenstein’s excellent review which is more comprehensive than mine. Thank you, David!
January 12, 2009
I am a great fan of Mark Halperin. I loved "Winters Tale" which was a lyrical, often beautiful fantasy, and "Soldier of the Great War" which I found a moving evocation of love, life and war. So it is with real regret that I have to report that this latest book is nothing but childish balderdash.
Yes I know it comes festooned with praise but someone has to say that the emperor has no clothes. How utterly sad to see a talented writer waste his considerable gifts on this.
The humor is below 3rd grade level, to the extent that we are invited to chuckle about a character called Pha-Kew and a dog called Taxi. I also found the book in very poor taste. The characters are obviously based on Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In view of her tragic end, mocking her alleged brainlessness and devotion to fashion seems perculiarly unamusing.
To be effecttive, satire has to be based on some element of truth. I'm not sure what is being mocked here -- Britain or America or both -- but after 500 increasingly tiresome pages I ended the book wondering what it was all about and why the author wrote it.
The royal pair are parachuted into New Jersey wearing something called 'hracneets' -- bikini-like garments. Just the word itself tells you all you need to know. If you find this kind of stuff funny, then Pha-Kew!
Yes I know it comes festooned with praise but someone has to say that the emperor has no clothes. How utterly sad to see a talented writer waste his considerable gifts on this.
The humor is below 3rd grade level, to the extent that we are invited to chuckle about a character called Pha-Kew and a dog called Taxi. I also found the book in very poor taste. The characters are obviously based on Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In view of her tragic end, mocking her alleged brainlessness and devotion to fashion seems perculiarly unamusing.
To be effecttive, satire has to be based on some element of truth. I'm not sure what is being mocked here -- Britain or America or both -- but after 500 increasingly tiresome pages I ended the book wondering what it was all about and why the author wrote it.
The royal pair are parachuted into New Jersey wearing something called 'hracneets' -- bikini-like garments. Just the word itself tells you all you need to know. If you find this kind of stuff funny, then Pha-Kew!
April 16, 2008
Beautifully written and absolutely hilarious. While about the British Royal family in an alternative world pretty much our own, it also is a beautiful love story and a thoughtful reflection on America, power, and class. The title characters are the Prince and Princess of Wales, who, due to some horrible publicity, are sent on a quest to America. Its been a long time since I laughed out loud this many times at a book - think Wodehouse and Tom Sharpe. And it is an intelligent laughter, slapstick at times, but not coarse. And what is more I grew to love the characters and Helprin's exquisite and intelligent writing.
December 5, 2012
I read Winter's Tale a few years ago, and thought it was beautifully if over- written, with a much too threadbare plot to hold up its many pages. Still, I liked it enough to pick up Freddy and Fredericka, which I began to read on a whim. Boy am I glad I did.
My copy of the book claims in two places that "This is one of the quickest 500-page books you'll ever read!" It's a compliment, I guess, and it's more or less right - but Helprin still writes beautifully, and I wasn't skipping through it to get to the "good" parts like *cough*A Dance with Dragons*cough*, but the plot this time around is well planned and the pace is adrenaline-junkie fast in most places. Oh, it's also completely and totally insane.
The story concerns Freddy and Fredericka, basically a better version of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in a better version of our world, who are failing to prove themselves worthy of the throne and as such are paradropped into America with nothing but fur bikinis and the aforementioned parachutes. What follows is a madcap journey across a country that's better for F&F than Jolly Ol' England. They learn what their privilege means, how Other people live, and how to love each other (which makes for one of the most interesting, honest, beautiful, happy(!) love stories I've read in a long while). I also have to mention briefly my favorite supporting character, Dewey Knott, a presidential candidate who desires to be honest and do right by America but who has lost the ability to do any of it after years in Washington. Dewey's storyline is a brilliant satire of American politics which ends with perhaps the best solution I've yet read for how to fix them. Helprin is one of the few contemporary satirists who understands that the purpose of satire is to provide those solutions, not just throw peanuts from the gallery.
And by the end, I, a curmudgeonly American who watched his countrymen fawning over Will and Kate with shame because I (like Freddy by the end) believe that America is the land where every man is, or should be, a king, even I awakened for a moment to the possibility that there could be a way for the English monarchy to be worthwhile.
My copy of the book claims in two places that "This is one of the quickest 500-page books you'll ever read!" It's a compliment, I guess, and it's more or less right - but Helprin still writes beautifully, and I wasn't skipping through it to get to the "good" parts like *cough*A Dance with Dragons*cough*, but the plot this time around is well planned and the pace is adrenaline-junkie fast in most places. Oh, it's also completely and totally insane.
The story concerns Freddy and Fredericka, basically a better version of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in a better version of our world, who are failing to prove themselves worthy of the throne and as such are paradropped into America with nothing but fur bikinis and the aforementioned parachutes. What follows is a madcap journey across a country that's better for F&F than Jolly Ol' England. They learn what their privilege means, how Other people live, and how to love each other (which makes for one of the most interesting, honest, beautiful, happy(!) love stories I've read in a long while). I also have to mention briefly my favorite supporting character, Dewey Knott, a presidential candidate who desires to be honest and do right by America but who has lost the ability to do any of it after years in Washington. Dewey's storyline is a brilliant satire of American politics which ends with perhaps the best solution I've yet read for how to fix them. Helprin is one of the few contemporary satirists who understands that the purpose of satire is to provide those solutions, not just throw peanuts from the gallery.
And by the end, I, a curmudgeonly American who watched his countrymen fawning over Will and Kate with shame because I (like Freddy by the end) believe that America is the land where every man is, or should be, a king, even I awakened for a moment to the possibility that there could be a way for the English monarchy to be worthwhile.
August 24, 2013
Woooo, doggy, this one was a dense one.
A spoof on the British royal family, Freddy and Fredericka tell the story of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the title characters. They are next in line for the throne, and hopelessly ill-equipped for the weighty responsibilities, traditions, customs, and gravity that come with this position. At least vapid, materialistic, uneducated Fredericka is unready; Freddy has a deep awareness of his destiny, but his over-educated dialog, arcane sense of humor, intellectual snobbery, and complete obliviousness alienate him from the subjects who need to love him if he is to rule.
What's a royal family to do? Abdandon the Prince and Princess to reconquer a savage colony and become worthy of their throne and destiny. And so they are dropped from an airplane over New Jersey, almost naked but for their parachutes, and told not to return until they have earned the right to rule.
It's a bizarre and absurd book, yet incredibly funny. Freddy and Fredericka are hopelessly flawed, deeply human, and therefore incredibly lovable and endearing. If you are an anglophile, a British historian, a lover of all things English, you should read this book. Time and time again, it returns to the themes of destiny, the heritage of history, the bloodlines of families, and the beauty of England. It put into words the love for England that I have always had difficulty articulating. All in all, I think it was a masterpiece.
A spoof on the British royal family, Freddy and Fredericka tell the story of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the title characters. They are next in line for the throne, and hopelessly ill-equipped for the weighty responsibilities, traditions, customs, and gravity that come with this position. At least vapid, materialistic, uneducated Fredericka is unready; Freddy has a deep awareness of his destiny, but his over-educated dialog, arcane sense of humor, intellectual snobbery, and complete obliviousness alienate him from the subjects who need to love him if he is to rule.
What's a royal family to do? Abdandon the Prince and Princess to reconquer a savage colony and become worthy of their throne and destiny. And so they are dropped from an airplane over New Jersey, almost naked but for their parachutes, and told not to return until they have earned the right to rule.
It's a bizarre and absurd book, yet incredibly funny. Freddy and Fredericka are hopelessly flawed, deeply human, and therefore incredibly lovable and endearing. If you are an anglophile, a British historian, a lover of all things English, you should read this book. Time and time again, it returns to the themes of destiny, the heritage of history, the bloodlines of families, and the beauty of England. It put into words the love for England that I have always had difficulty articulating. All in all, I think it was a masterpiece.
December 13, 2012
Let to me begin by saying I was a big fan of Mark Helprin. Years ago I relished the beautiful imagery of A Winter’s Tale. More recently I found Memoir from Antproof Case to be one of the most hilarious books I’d ever read. So no one could have been more surprised than I was to find that I really disliked Freddy and Fredericka.
The premise is this: the Prince and Princess of Wales are found by Parliament to be unfit to ascend to the throne. They are given one last chance to prove their merit. A secret mission has been devised for them, whereby they are parachuted into the United States, with no money (although Freddy has hidden some on his person), and only wearing what could be described as furry undergarments. With no outside help, they are to bring the colony back to England.
Throughout the book, which is filled with nonsensical, zany, slapstick humor, the couple manage to rise from nothing, find renewed love for each other, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Towards the end of the book, the couple meets a Presidential candidate, and with Freddy’s help, this candidate is able to rise from statistical oblivion to having a sure shot at the Presidency. The speeches, which Freddy writes, evolve from zany, slapstick truth-telling, to a more serious address to the American people about the merits of self-sufficiency and the Constitution, versus using your votes to obtain goodies from the government – which is, of course, where we find American politics today.
I found it interesting that many Helprin fans dislike his conservative politics but still loved the book. I was the opposite. I may agree with his politics, but the storyline was too farfetched and silly even for me.
The premise is this: the Prince and Princess of Wales are found by Parliament to be unfit to ascend to the throne. They are given one last chance to prove their merit. A secret mission has been devised for them, whereby they are parachuted into the United States, with no money (although Freddy has hidden some on his person), and only wearing what could be described as furry undergarments. With no outside help, they are to bring the colony back to England.
Throughout the book, which is filled with nonsensical, zany, slapstick humor, the couple manage to rise from nothing, find renewed love for each other, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Towards the end of the book, the couple meets a Presidential candidate, and with Freddy’s help, this candidate is able to rise from statistical oblivion to having a sure shot at the Presidency. The speeches, which Freddy writes, evolve from zany, slapstick truth-telling, to a more serious address to the American people about the merits of self-sufficiency and the Constitution, versus using your votes to obtain goodies from the government – which is, of course, where we find American politics today.
I found it interesting that many Helprin fans dislike his conservative politics but still loved the book. I was the opposite. I may agree with his politics, but the storyline was too farfetched and silly even for me.
November 15, 2022
What even WAS THIS?! I am still . . . I don't know . . . amused? Frustrated? Both? This bizarre satire of the royal family (specifically, Charles and Diana) and how they are proving their right to rule by traveling across America with an eye to reclaiming it for Britain . . . I mean WHAT. Freddy is a lunatic or a nincompoop. Fredericka is a narcissist who doesn't understand puns but does possess strange and complex bits of knowledge somewhere under all that blond hair . . .
So weird.
If you do give this a shot, definitely try the audiobook. It's narrated by Robert Ian McKenzie, who also narrates the Scotland Street novels by Alexander McCall Smith, and at times there is a strong resemblance between the two works.
So weird.
If you do give this a shot, definitely try the audiobook. It's narrated by Robert Ian McKenzie, who also narrates the Scotland Street novels by Alexander McCall Smith, and at times there is a strong resemblance between the two works.
August 31, 2020
“Where shall Freddy be sent?” asked the queen, as if inquiring after a diplomatic posting for a wayward viscount. She was so calm. It made Freddy livid.
“He must be sent”, was the answer, “to find a New Caernarvon in the most savage, strange, and unconquerable region of the earth. There he will either subject it to his rule or fail in his quest. It cannot be an easy place … It must be inhabited by fierce, clever, and industrious creatures — monsters. … In fact, it is that land, the most unconquerable, savage land on earth.”
…
“You have found such a place, Mr Nell?” the queen asked.
“The very place.”
…
“Oh, get out with it,” said Freddy, breaking discipline and taking what he wanted from the dessert table. “If I’m going to go there, I should know where it is, shouldn’t I? What is it called?”
“It is called, Your Royal Highness,” Mr Nell said quietly, using the noble form of address for Freddy for the first time, “New Jersey.”
C A U T I O N
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING READING THIS BOOK PREPARE TO LAUGH OUT LOUD.
It took me a while to get into this book. I have been reading some pretty serious history lately and this book is anything but serious. It took a while to switch gears, but I persevered and I am glad I did. It is a very entertaining read, but it does border on silly. But who can’t use a little silly this year.
It was the writing that sucked me in originally. This guy can write. There were many instances where I would re-read a paragraph just for the pleasure of reading. The dialogue will have you smiling when you are not laughing.
Eventually I did get into the story. It involves a couple who are literally dropped naked into the New World — a sort of Adam and Eve story in reverse. In fact later in the book they refer to themselves as Adam and Eve. As they pursue their quest, which is never quite clear, they learn about themselves and each other. They develop both as individuals and a strong relationship with each other. The book has love, personal development, relationship bonding, adventure, and some fabulous dialogue. There is even a death-defying moment where you will feel the heat of the moment.
There are some philosophical sections here. A few are:
On the qualities of Kings and Leaders:
In modern times, with sin and death magnified and the king’s armies so immense and battles so bloody that not hundreds but millions of men die in his name, the king must be medieval. He must be pious and devout. He must be holy, bookish, and restrained. He must be naturally full of sorrow, If he is any other way, the monarchy will fall.
On the conflict between “the pigs and the soul brothers”:
the object of the pigs is to provoke the soul brothers until they reveal what the pigs believe is their true criminal nature.
On presidential politics:
The model of a president has been that of a man who comes to you like a salesman, and promises things. I think the model of a president should be a man who comes before you and says, “This is what I have seen, this is what I believe, this is how I live, and this is what I love.” Surely you would know such a man better for this than you would know a man possessed of a list crowded with numbers and littered with prostituted oaths.
There are many interesting characters that will be met along the way. Some will have a lot of fun with the names used here for people (Apehand) and places (MooCock). There is quite a bit of fun with a character named Dewey Knott.
This book will go on my “Top Shelf Fiction” list and I have already looked for other books by this author.
I have said many times, as have others, GoodReads is such a rich source for finding books which you might not be familiar. This is another one of those books. I would like to thank my GR friend David Eppenstein for recommending this book. He states that it is “One of the best and funniest books I have ever read in my life”. I won’t argue with that. You may see David’s review Here.
May 22, 2010
I love this book.
Have you ever seen Blackadder? I don't just mean the first season; I mean the seasons that make you realize Mr. Bean can be really sexy with some facial hair. For me, there are two very board and very general types of comedy (okay, there are really lots of comedy genres, but I'm talking very board stokes here). There is mean with the chance it might be funny (Letterman), and there is biting but funny and nice/touching (Blackadder, any British comedy, really). For instance, there is a harshness to Blackadder; he isn't a very nice person. There is, however, an essence of truth in some of his wit. Additionally, Blackadder can be very, very moving - the end of the Blackadder IV.
F&F is like that.
Helprin starts with a send up of the modern British royal family. Any idiot will be able to tell that the title characters are Charles and Diana; there is Queen Elizabeth II and the carriage driver (H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh). In the first section of the book, Helprin pokes fun at the royal family and the press. Yet as the book progresses, the characters, like those in Blackadder become more than just objects of satire. In some ways, it feels as if Helprin is trying to give a happy ending to the Charles and Diana saga. (The book was published years after Diana's death).
At first, Helprin comes off more sympathetic to Freddy (a.k.a. Charles), but Fredericka, starting around part two, comes into her own as well. In some ways, F&F is like The Queen. At firs the movie seems unsympathetic to the royals, but then it shifts.
Additionally to a satire on the royal family, Helprin also goes after American politics and culture. Despite being published five years ago, the politic satire is still apt (though Clinton fans might be a little annoyed).
The book is a riot of laughter and wit, very British in style, among other things it brings to mind is Monty Python (I can see John Cleese as Freddy). There is, however, wonderful, beautiful, and at times touching passages.
For instance:
Or:
And it's not just beauty that mixes with the humor. Like all good humor, there is a healthy dose of real life in the book. In the opening section, for instance, Freddy lists the menu of a picnic. It is filled with wonderful, expensive food. The young boy, however, who is going to share in this repast wishes to know if there are any fried Mars bars and haggis; he is disappointed when there is not any. (In fact, my one disappointment with the book is the fact that Helprin didn't bookend the Scottish dessert with a similar American delicacy like a fried Oreo, a fried Twinkie, or a fried baloney sandwich).
This is the first time I've read a book and agreed 100% with all the little quotes on the cover, back, and "buy me" pages.
I love this book!
Have you ever seen Blackadder? I don't just mean the first season; I mean the seasons that make you realize Mr. Bean can be really sexy with some facial hair. For me, there are two very board and very general types of comedy (okay, there are really lots of comedy genres, but I'm talking very board stokes here). There is mean with the chance it might be funny (Letterman), and there is biting but funny and nice/touching (Blackadder, any British comedy, really). For instance, there is a harshness to Blackadder; he isn't a very nice person. There is, however, an essence of truth in some of his wit. Additionally, Blackadder can be very, very moving - the end of the Blackadder IV.
F&F is like that.
Helprin starts with a send up of the modern British royal family. Any idiot will be able to tell that the title characters are Charles and Diana; there is Queen Elizabeth II and the carriage driver (H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh). In the first section of the book, Helprin pokes fun at the royal family and the press. Yet as the book progresses, the characters, like those in Blackadder become more than just objects of satire. In some ways, it feels as if Helprin is trying to give a happy ending to the Charles and Diana saga. (The book was published years after Diana's death).
At first, Helprin comes off more sympathetic to Freddy (a.k.a. Charles), but Fredericka, starting around part two, comes into her own as well. In some ways, F&F is like The Queen. At firs the movie seems unsympathetic to the royals, but then it shifts.
Additionally to a satire on the royal family, Helprin also goes after American politics and culture. Despite being published five years ago, the politic satire is still apt (though Clinton fans might be a little annoyed).
The book is a riot of laughter and wit, very British in style, among other things it brings to mind is Monty Python (I can see John Cleese as Freddy). There is, however, wonderful, beautiful, and at times touching passages.
For instance:
He [Freddy:] knew instantaneously that deep in the heart of American civilization was its music, and that deep in the heart of its music was the miracle of the open road. (181)
Or:
When Freddy took Fredericka in his arms and they waltzed slowly across the room, time stopped within the sheltering vault of this music. Their slow turning built around them a chamber in which they found themselves beneath an imagined deep blue dome in which was embedded a cloth of gently shining stars. And that was of little moment compared with the disheveled, heat curled fall of Fredericka's hair, her wise and tender expression, and the great trust that had arisen between them. (343)
And it's not just beauty that mixes with the humor. Like all good humor, there is a healthy dose of real life in the book. In the opening section, for instance, Freddy lists the menu of a picnic. It is filled with wonderful, expensive food. The young boy, however, who is going to share in this repast wishes to know if there are any fried Mars bars and haggis; he is disappointed when there is not any. (In fact, my one disappointment with the book is the fact that Helprin didn't bookend the Scottish dessert with a similar American delicacy like a fried Oreo, a fried Twinkie, or a fried baloney sandwich).
This is the first time I've read a book and agreed 100% with all the little quotes on the cover, back, and "buy me" pages.
I love this book!
September 12, 2011
I tried to read both Winter's Tale and the Ant-Proof book but neither book interested me in the least. My husband loves them, and he reads about one novel every other year (when Christopher Buckley writes one, generally) so that about sums Helprin up for me.
However, a friend gave me this for my birthday and I gave it a try. First, I love books about noble struggles, books that combine modern conundrums with ancient solutions, books about finding true love. The opening scene in which Freddy has to make a hawk fly for him or he will face trouble getting the throne that is no only his by birth, but his because he has worked hard to be the kind of man who ought to be king. This scene is brilliant, as Helprin weaves in the story of a native boy, the complicated history of the bird, and the farcical part of Freddy's life that is the one fault in his otherwise deserving heart. What that fault essentially is is actually a little hard to put my finger on because this is where Helprin gets pretty ridiculous and if you can't just swallow the farce, I wouldn't blame you for just putting the book down. But I read on, through the dropping of the heir and his princess onto the "colony" he has been sent to reconquer from a helicopter into New Jersey dressed in a few strips of animal hide and nothing else.
As these sometime adversaries, sometime sit-com-funny couple travel across American to rediscover what it means to be a king, why we ever had kings in the first place, how American style self-goverment has both crippled and enlarged human possibilities, there were plenty of places where I felt like quitting again because Helprin can really let himself go to the ridiculous. But then, I skip all the descriptions of hunting parliamentary procedure in Trollope, too.
The move around the country, settling here and settling there: Washington, Chicago, a small town in Nebraska, a fire tower in New Mexico, San Francisco and have ludicrous adventures which Helprin uses to satirize the meaning of modern art, medieval feast performance restaurants, dentistry, and most of all, the hilarity and emptiness of politics as practiced by politicians, as opposed to the true yearning for self-expression and pure government Freddy has found among the Americans he meets.
I loved this book, and it is one I plan to read again.
However, a friend gave me this for my birthday and I gave it a try. First, I love books about noble struggles, books that combine modern conundrums with ancient solutions, books about finding true love. The opening scene in which Freddy has to make a hawk fly for him or he will face trouble getting the throne that is no only his by birth, but his because he has worked hard to be the kind of man who ought to be king. This scene is brilliant, as Helprin weaves in the story of a native boy, the complicated history of the bird, and the farcical part of Freddy's life that is the one fault in his otherwise deserving heart. What that fault essentially is is actually a little hard to put my finger on because this is where Helprin gets pretty ridiculous and if you can't just swallow the farce, I wouldn't blame you for just putting the book down. But I read on, through the dropping of the heir and his princess onto the "colony" he has been sent to reconquer from a helicopter into New Jersey dressed in a few strips of animal hide and nothing else.
As these sometime adversaries, sometime sit-com-funny couple travel across American to rediscover what it means to be a king, why we ever had kings in the first place, how American style self-goverment has both crippled and enlarged human possibilities, there were plenty of places where I felt like quitting again because Helprin can really let himself go to the ridiculous. But then, I skip all the descriptions of hunting parliamentary procedure in Trollope, too.
The move around the country, settling here and settling there: Washington, Chicago, a small town in Nebraska, a fire tower in New Mexico, San Francisco and have ludicrous adventures which Helprin uses to satirize the meaning of modern art, medieval feast performance restaurants, dentistry, and most of all, the hilarity and emptiness of politics as practiced by politicians, as opposed to the true yearning for self-expression and pure government Freddy has found among the Americans he meets.
I loved this book, and it is one I plan to read again.
December 30, 2007
Mark Helprin's books would be better if he would cut out some of the wordy, repetitive sections. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It's about the Prince and Princess of Wales (a thinly disguised Charles and Diana), who, determined as unfit to rule, are sent to America to prove themselves by reconquering the colonies. America is in the midst of a political election between the indecisive Dewey Knott (get it?) and the incumbent Self, a demagogue of an all-too-familiar sort. The ineptitude of each opponent is weighed against the humble dedication of the Prince of Wales, bringing to light one of the fallacies of our system--that the best person to lead the country is rarely the one who claws his way to the top. Helprin's poetic capturing of the landscapes of America and the essence of its people are his forte. In the end, the novel is not merely an indictment of our flaws, but a tribute to our uniqueness. A land where everyone is entitled to become royalty has little need of a king.
March 2, 2009
I was already a devoted fan of Mark Helprin when this novel was released, so when I saw it on the shelves I bought it immediately. I expected I would encounter a tale sweeping in scope, full of deeply human characters, and all spun forth in the rich, dazzling prose that is Helprin's inimitable style. And while all these hallmarks are indeed present, Helprin has decided to turn them on their collective ear, and the result is something delightfully unexpected.
To explain, and by way of summary, the titular characters are the Prince and Princess of Wales, sent anonymously to America after a series of embarrassing mishaps to re-conquer the wayward colonies for the Crown. Taking this improbable set-up and running full-speed with it, Helprin leads his heroes, and the reader, down as bizarre a journey of self-discovery as any author since Cervantes. And while Helprin's quixotic humor is quite at home in all his works, here it is given the spotlight. The wide cast of characters larger than life, almost to the point of caricature. Dialogue flows like an improv comedy show; ludicrously improbable coincidences abound. One could argue that Helprin is intentionally parodying his own, more serious style. And yet the book remains light and fun; the reader in invited to take part in the hilarity, and condescension is nowhere to be found.
Despite its playfulness, this is still a Helprin novel, and there are still very serious themes to be found. Though the couple's circumstances are quite outlandish, they are still forced into painful self-evaluation. The stranger their lives become, the more strongly they must hold on to each other. Freddy's journey is meant to prepare him to be King of England; it is in learning to love his wife with all his heart that he is finally transformed into that role.
At its heart, Freddy and Fredericka is indeed what all Helprin’s books are: a love story. The absurdly stylized context simply serves to throw the emotional underscoring into sharper relief. And so, in the final analysis, I'll chalk up one more fantastic effort from one of the greatest authors of our time.
To explain, and by way of summary, the titular characters are the Prince and Princess of Wales, sent anonymously to America after a series of embarrassing mishaps to re-conquer the wayward colonies for the Crown. Taking this improbable set-up and running full-speed with it, Helprin leads his heroes, and the reader, down as bizarre a journey of self-discovery as any author since Cervantes. And while Helprin's quixotic humor is quite at home in all his works, here it is given the spotlight. The wide cast of characters larger than life, almost to the point of caricature. Dialogue flows like an improv comedy show; ludicrously improbable coincidences abound. One could argue that Helprin is intentionally parodying his own, more serious style. And yet the book remains light and fun; the reader in invited to take part in the hilarity, and condescension is nowhere to be found.
Despite its playfulness, this is still a Helprin novel, and there are still very serious themes to be found. Though the couple's circumstances are quite outlandish, they are still forced into painful self-evaluation. The stranger their lives become, the more strongly they must hold on to each other. Freddy's journey is meant to prepare him to be King of England; it is in learning to love his wife with all his heart that he is finally transformed into that role.
At its heart, Freddy and Fredericka is indeed what all Helprin’s books are: a love story. The absurdly stylized context simply serves to throw the emotional underscoring into sharper relief. And so, in the final analysis, I'll chalk up one more fantastic effort from one of the greatest authors of our time.
January 28, 2008
Ok, I did not read the whole book. Around page 125 I called it quits. Funny, yes, but not enough to endure 500+ pages with the knowledge in the back of my mind that Helprin wrote speeches for Bob Dole. Plus, everything I know about the British royals came from the film The Queen, so I lack the background to fully appreciate the subject matter here. I'll eat crow at bookgroup next month when others report how well they liked it. Onward...
February 9, 2011
One of the worst books I have ever read. Author tries to be funny on every page and fails hopelessly. After they went to America I had to put the book away for several months as the whole sequencing would even embarrass a b movie producer.
May 16, 2021
Powerful, moving, hilarious. A must read.
October 31, 2010
The unlikely premise of this glorious romp is that the Prince and Princess of Wales are behaving so fecklessly as royals that they are parachuted without resources into the USA, to undergo trial by fire and retake the colonies for the crown! The pair begin as alternate versions, caricatures, of Charles and Diana, but their journey transfigures them into bigger, bolder and deeper characters. They follow a picaresque series of increasingly funny adventures as they cross the continent, finding new resilience, reviving their love and piloting a buffoon towards the presidency.
It is, in the book's own words, "a love song to this country" (ie. the US), and though it revels in ridiculing the royals, it is equally a hymn to their sense of duty, and also a heartfelt and often moving romance, in which our heroes fall in love not only with each other but with life itself. All this is accomplished in Helprin's characteristically luminous prose, enough to make aspiring writers gnaw off their own arm in envy.
But most of all it is a generous, clear-sighted, big-hearted comedy. Helprin's humour is shamelessly contrived: for instance, he is not above naming Fredericka's dog "Pha Kew", merely to engineer a scene in which Freddy chases it through a wedding party, repeatedly shouting its name; a gag from which Helprin is still getting mileage two chapters later. Page after page of riotous dialogue flows again and again from the flimsiest of misunderstandings; and the reader does not merely forgive these transparent devices, but wills them along, eager for the next.
It is not quite, to my mind, Helprin's best book (look to Winter's Tale or A Soldier Of The Great War), but it is certainly his funniest. Since it frequently reduced this reviewer to dizzy fits of laughter and left him gasping for breath, it fully merits its 5 stars.
It is, in the book's own words, "a love song to this country" (ie. the US), and though it revels in ridiculing the royals, it is equally a hymn to their sense of duty, and also a heartfelt and often moving romance, in which our heroes fall in love not only with each other but with life itself. All this is accomplished in Helprin's characteristically luminous prose, enough to make aspiring writers gnaw off their own arm in envy.
But most of all it is a generous, clear-sighted, big-hearted comedy. Helprin's humour is shamelessly contrived: for instance, he is not above naming Fredericka's dog "Pha Kew", merely to engineer a scene in which Freddy chases it through a wedding party, repeatedly shouting its name; a gag from which Helprin is still getting mileage two chapters later. Page after page of riotous dialogue flows again and again from the flimsiest of misunderstandings; and the reader does not merely forgive these transparent devices, but wills them along, eager for the next.
It is not quite, to my mind, Helprin's best book (look to Winter's Tale or A Soldier Of The Great War), but it is certainly his funniest. Since it frequently reduced this reviewer to dizzy fits of laughter and left him gasping for breath, it fully merits its 5 stars.
January 8, 2011
Yes, this book got off to a slow start. Yes, this book has some painfully slapstick comedy and ludicrous linguistic manoeuvrings. Yes, some parts of it dragged.
But at the heart of Freddy and Fredericka is a deep love of the British monarchy despite (or because of) its absurdities and a deep love of the United States despite (or because of) its fantastical scope. I laughed out loud many times, causing my family anxiety about my mental health when I tried to explain the scenarios that caused my mirth. Ultimately this was a wildly moving and utterly absurd book.
(On a side note: I haven't read many books that feature members of the contemporary British royal family as protagonists--just this and The Queen and I--but, based on my small sample size, it seems that authors try to create peace, understanding and, in this case, a loving bond between Charles & Diana. Is it because we really wanted a happy ending and a fairy tale love for the miserable couple?)
But at the heart of Freddy and Fredericka is a deep love of the British monarchy despite (or because of) its absurdities and a deep love of the United States despite (or because of) its fantastical scope. I laughed out loud many times, causing my family anxiety about my mental health when I tried to explain the scenarios that caused my mirth. Ultimately this was a wildly moving and utterly absurd book.
(On a side note: I haven't read many books that feature members of the contemporary British royal family as protagonists--just this and The Queen and I--but, based on my small sample size, it seems that authors try to create peace, understanding and, in this case, a loving bond between Charles & Diana. Is it because we really wanted a happy ending and a fairy tale love for the miserable couple?)
June 15, 2013
There are times, many, many times, when Freddy and Fredericka seems near collapse from the weight of its own silliness and slapstick humor. On occasion I had to turn to dense nonfiction as a palate cleanser. I can't say the plot, which involves a Merlin-like character sending Freddy and Fredericka, two British royals vaguely modeled on Charles and Diana, to America in order to reclaim it for the Empire, so that Freddy might earn his place in the royal succession, held my interest. Yet at the end, when the King's loyal falconer says of him, "he will have carried, its weight far heavier than any gear a soldier has ever carried, his reputation as a madman and an idiot," I was moved. And when a young boy and a falcon of ancient lineage, who happen to share the same name, reprise the novel's opening scene, I felt strangely ennobled and pumped my rating from two stars to three.
November 1, 2016
I expected to give just 4 stars to this book, because up until now 5 stars has been restricted to the blockbusters by JRR Tolkein and J.K. Rowling.
But I can't find anything at all negative about it. I laughed, I cried. I stood in awe of one of the finest word-crafters of English.
In short, the story is about the Prince and Princess of Wales, who, because of continuing scandals, have been exiled to the U.S. to live on just their wits. It's a story of transformation and love, and is also an insightful look into the world of the royal family.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys British humour, the English monarchy, or just loves the English Language.
But I can't find anything at all negative about it. I laughed, I cried. I stood in awe of one of the finest word-crafters of English.
In short, the story is about the Prince and Princess of Wales, who, because of continuing scandals, have been exiled to the U.S. to live on just their wits. It's a story of transformation and love, and is also an insightful look into the world of the royal family.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys British humour, the English monarchy, or just loves the English Language.
January 6, 2010
I had a really difficult time getting into this book. I don't know, I think the author's sense of humor just didn't do it for me. By the time things started picking up in the story line, I was so annoyed that it had taken that long to get to that point, I had started reading another book and really wasn't interested in returning to Freddy and Fredericka. Maybe I'll try it again another time, skipping the long first several chapters.
February 7, 2024
So close to 5 stars. As I re-read more Mark Helprin, I think I will find him more heavy-handed than I remembered - but I think the emphasis on humor (though THAT was perhaps too heavy handed) lightens that and allows his political, religious and philosophical views to flow more naturally and subtly. This is a really funny and beautiful book. It is both a love song and a mockery of the U.S. and of England. The main characters are sometimes intolerable in their lack of self-awareness, but that becomes less painful lol.
December 25, 2019
A wonderful satire. Laughed all the way.
November 6, 2007
Note: This is the audiobook version of this book, read by Robert Ian MacKenzie, which is a monumental 26 hours long.
I absolutely adore some of Helprin's work. Winter's Tale is one of my very favorite books ever, and some of the stories in The Pacific are magnificent. The trouble with F&F is the length.
What I love are Helprin's vivid descriptions, his exquisite language, his cutting commentary on modern culture, and his gorgeous range of vocabulary.
What makes me crazy is the plodding, tiresome pace of the first half of this book. The story doesn't find its pace until just before the midpoint of the novel...and honestly I would've put it down if there hadn't been a lurking desire to know what happened next.
The trouble is the lack of emotional investment in the characters for the first almost-half of the book.
And yet. Helprin is a brilliant OBSERVER of humanity and this book is ultimately a journey from shallow narcissism to a much deeper awareness of what it means to be a good person and what it means to live as a member of a community of people, rich and poor, all over the world.
It's a common theme in his writing, and the prince and princess of Wales conceit is an interesting venue for it. But I wonder who his audience is this time. So much of the intended humor of this book falls flat for me -- not because the idea isn't funny but because the satire drags on for far, far too long. Half a dozen scenes could've been cut entirely and the book made better for it.
The second half of the novel, however, is a solidly good read. And I wonder where Helprin's editor was because a few tweaks and tightenings of the pacing would have made this a fantastic book.
Still, the journey as a whole is worth it. I'd have preferred a paper copy, so I could have read faster than the narrator read and skimmed the bits that dragged. I'm NOT a fan of extended miscommunication-humor, as Helprin is, so those scenes were all a chore for me, but I see that at least some of them were vital to the satire.
The one really lovely thing about the audiobook version is the interview with Helprin at the end, where he tells stories of his youth riding trains and adventuring, and of being in the inner circle of British royalty and famous actors as a child in London. (He grew up half in New York and half in Europe.) Fascinating stuff and I would adore it if he were to write an autobiography. He seems to have lived an amazing life.
Anyway, the second half was very good, the interview rocked, and the first half was a chore. I think that averages out to 3 stars on this scale...or, in other words, one to get from the library rather than to buy, but still one to remember fondly for quite a lot of stunningly beautiful scenes.
I absolutely adore some of Helprin's work. Winter's Tale is one of my very favorite books ever, and some of the stories in The Pacific are magnificent. The trouble with F&F is the length.
What I love are Helprin's vivid descriptions, his exquisite language, his cutting commentary on modern culture, and his gorgeous range of vocabulary.
What makes me crazy is the plodding, tiresome pace of the first half of this book. The story doesn't find its pace until just before the midpoint of the novel...and honestly I would've put it down if there hadn't been a lurking desire to know what happened next.
The trouble is the lack of emotional investment in the characters for the first almost-half of the book.
And yet. Helprin is a brilliant OBSERVER of humanity and this book is ultimately a journey from shallow narcissism to a much deeper awareness of what it means to be a good person and what it means to live as a member of a community of people, rich and poor, all over the world.
It's a common theme in his writing, and the prince and princess of Wales conceit is an interesting venue for it. But I wonder who his audience is this time. So much of the intended humor of this book falls flat for me -- not because the idea isn't funny but because the satire drags on for far, far too long. Half a dozen scenes could've been cut entirely and the book made better for it.
The second half of the novel, however, is a solidly good read. And I wonder where Helprin's editor was because a few tweaks and tightenings of the pacing would have made this a fantastic book.
Still, the journey as a whole is worth it. I'd have preferred a paper copy, so I could have read faster than the narrator read and skimmed the bits that dragged. I'm NOT a fan of extended miscommunication-humor, as Helprin is, so those scenes were all a chore for me, but I see that at least some of them were vital to the satire.
The one really lovely thing about the audiobook version is the interview with Helprin at the end, where he tells stories of his youth riding trains and adventuring, and of being in the inner circle of British royalty and famous actors as a child in London. (He grew up half in New York and half in Europe.) Fascinating stuff and I would adore it if he were to write an autobiography. He seems to have lived an amazing life.
Anyway, the second half was very good, the interview rocked, and the first half was a chore. I think that averages out to 3 stars on this scale...or, in other words, one to get from the library rather than to buy, but still one to remember fondly for quite a lot of stunningly beautiful scenes.
August 19, 2011
I got this book from a booklist at the library, one of those "if you like this, you might like this" sort of things. I can't find what the "this" was that led me to the book, but I quite indeed like this book and I'm thankful for the list for steering me to it.
In an alternate present, the Prince of Wales (Freddy, son of Phillipa, not Charles, son of Elizabeth) is sent by the mysterious Mr. Neil to travel incognito with his glamorous wife to conquer the United States of America. The book skewers everything: the British press, the American press, the monarchy, the parliamentary system, the constitutional form of government, political campaigns, etc. etc. etc.
It's also quite generous with its use of words. The "sending of Freddy to conquer the USA" is first breached on page 170, all that comes before is establishing background. Halprin is clearly not worried about electronic age readers attention spans as he often takes more than five pages to set up a hilarious scene, which results in the reader working for the laughter, but many funny moments. There are also several touching scenes, one of which brought tears to my eyes, which was unfortunate as I was riding the Max train at the time.
For a busy person who only has time now and again to dip into this book, I would say, don't bother. But if you have the time to put into it, this is a very rewarding read. Perhaps it will do for your next vacation, no?
In an alternate present, the Prince of Wales (Freddy, son of Phillipa, not Charles, son of Elizabeth) is sent by the mysterious Mr. Neil to travel incognito with his glamorous wife to conquer the United States of America. The book skewers everything: the British press, the American press, the monarchy, the parliamentary system, the constitutional form of government, political campaigns, etc. etc. etc.
It's also quite generous with its use of words. The "sending of Freddy to conquer the USA" is first breached on page 170, all that comes before is establishing background. Halprin is clearly not worried about electronic age readers attention spans as he often takes more than five pages to set up a hilarious scene, which results in the reader working for the laughter, but many funny moments. There are also several touching scenes, one of which brought tears to my eyes, which was unfortunate as I was riding the Max train at the time.
For a busy person who only has time now and again to dip into this book, I would say, don't bother. But if you have the time to put into it, this is a very rewarding read. Perhaps it will do for your next vacation, no?
August 1, 2012
This is probably the most comical book of Helprin's with a number of laugh-out-loud moments in it. But it's not just a comedy. There are a whole collection of beautifully written and inspiring passages. Reaching the ending, I can't help leaving the book convinced more than ever that I've been cheated by my modern education. The reason the two main characters become the heroes that they do is because they are educated (and then proceed to educate themselves further) in a wide swath of history, literature, philosophy, culture and theology.
Freddy and Fredericka are able to have the discussions that they do, and they are able to do the things that they do because of what they know and have learned about the world around them. The adventures that they have in this book are necessary. But these adventures are also application - application of the large and glowing sense of the world around them that their being raised in the arts & humanities gives them. Freddy is initially more educated (or at least appears to be) than Fredericka, but she is able to apply things like her childhood Shakespeare reading in ways that he never could.
They have so much trouble with the modern world because the America they find themselves in has lost what they still have. This is what makes the story so interesting.
And this is just one of many fascinating ideas that the book leaves you pondering.
Freddy and Fredericka are able to have the discussions that they do, and they are able to do the things that they do because of what they know and have learned about the world around them. The adventures that they have in this book are necessary. But these adventures are also application - application of the large and glowing sense of the world around them that their being raised in the arts & humanities gives them. Freddy is initially more educated (or at least appears to be) than Fredericka, but she is able to apply things like her childhood Shakespeare reading in ways that he never could.
They have so much trouble with the modern world because the America they find themselves in has lost what they still have. This is what makes the story so interesting.
And this is just one of many fascinating ideas that the book leaves you pondering.
August 26, 2009
Bizarre, silly, and hilarious, Helprin's "Freddy and Fredericka," put simply, works. Part Odyssey, part vaudeville, the unlikely tale of the Prince and Princess of Wales on their journey to conquer America deftly lampoons politics, society, and culture while simultaneously being a form of love letter to them all. Notable for its skillful blending of artful, at times touching, description of the American expanse and of concepts as abstract as love and attraction and duty with off-the-wall humor divided been low- and high-brow, the book is a complex venture that proves an enjoyable read, particularly on summer beaches.
Largely devoid of the repetition plaguing "Antproof Case," the tale does drag from time to time as the protagonists' journey pauses and the narrative drinks in the landscape. This near-poetic description can be valued for itself, but at times feels disjointed when placed next to the absurdity of much of the plot of most of the characters.
"Freddy" is nonetheless a masterpiece--a comedic and literary effort as destined to satisfy the reader as its heroes are to evolve during the course of the peregrinations.
--WBO 8/26/09
Largely devoid of the repetition plaguing "Antproof Case," the tale does drag from time to time as the protagonists' journey pauses and the narrative drinks in the landscape. This near-poetic description can be valued for itself, but at times feels disjointed when placed next to the absurdity of much of the plot of most of the characters.
"Freddy" is nonetheless a masterpiece--a comedic and literary effort as destined to satisfy the reader as its heroes are to evolve during the course of the peregrinations.
--WBO 8/26/09
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
“As penance for departure from the royal ideal and instruction therein, Frederick and Fredericka, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are forced to travel through America, penniless and incognito, with the object of reacquiring the deviant former colonies for the British Crown.”
When my husband and I recently decided to each read a book that the other recommended, this is what I picked for him. Although I’ve listened to it in its entirety at least twice (beginning in 2006?), and have revisited favorite parts many times, this was my first physical read. Some parts were more fun this time, because of clever spellings, and a faster pace, but I did miss the impeccable voice, accent, and timing of Robert Ian Mackenzie’s narration.
There are some scenes and lines in F&F that make me laugh out loud (something I rarely do while reading), and others are stunningly beautiful. This book, at its heart, a fairytale about love. Love for spouse, love for country, love for America, all with failures and foibles, but worthy nonetheless.
When my husband and I recently decided to each read a book that the other recommended, this is what I picked for him. Although I’ve listened to it in its entirety at least twice (beginning in 2006?), and have revisited favorite parts many times, this was my first physical read. Some parts were more fun this time, because of clever spellings, and a faster pace, but I did miss the impeccable voice, accent, and timing of Robert Ian Mackenzie’s narration.
There are some scenes and lines in F&F that make me laugh out loud (something I rarely do while reading), and others are stunningly beautiful. This book, at its heart, a fairytale about love. Love for spouse, love for country, love for America, all with failures and foibles, but worthy nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews