The novel follows two initially separate narratives set in the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe. Recently separated – at the age of 33 – conjoined twins Blair Albert and Gordon-Marie "Bunny" Heath struggle to cope with life in a post-globalisation and fully privatised London. Meanwhile, Ludmila Derev, an impoverished young woman living in the war-torn Southern Caucasus, leaves her mountain home to meet up with her boyfriend in the region's major town and send money back to her family. However, things start to go wrong and she ends up with her picture on a Russian Brides website. Slowly her life and those of the twins are drawn together.
Quotesedit
"Blair Albert and Gordon-Marie Heath were omphalopagus: conjoined anteriorly at the trunk. They shared certain organs, but not the heart."
"While Blair possessed the twins' physical power – forza – their cunning resided in Gordon, making him dominant in most situations, despite being the weaker twin."
After being sent to Eastern Europe by Blair's American boss, Truman, Blair gives the twins sachets of "solipsidrine" whenever they need some confidence. Bunny however thinks the drug has a major problem:
"Listen: the qualities removed by your so-called cocktail are there for a purpose, Blair. They're the little voices that stop us raping and pillaging. It might suit your Yank mate to do away with them, but we're civilised people, from an ancient, civilised country."
Later Bunny again talks of the drug:
"Do you know what this drug does? Do you know its single active quality? The suspension of conscience, Blair. Do you hear?"
Political parallelsedit
The twins are named Blair Albert Heath and Gordon-Marie "Bunny" Heath – something many commentators have taken as a reference to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.[1][2] Their father is Ted Heath – a possible reference to Edward Heath.[3]
Blair is employed by a company called "Global Liberty Solutions" run by an American, Truman (the surname of an American president, Harry Truman), to go to a foreign country and sort out a problem. He is given a drug, which suspends the "conscience", to get him through difficult situations. His arrival in the country leads to the shooting of the majority of Blair's hosts, and the rape of the family's daughter.
Critical receptionedit
Ludmila's Broken English received mixed reviews from critics. Andrew Reimer of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote; "This weird and wonderfully outrageous novel is filled to the brim with insights..."[4]Publishers Weekly wrote that "he succeeds in shocking his audience with this maddeningly entertaining encore."[5]Kirkus wrote; "Some of the material might have generated laughs as a five-minute Saturday Night Life “wild and crazy guys” sketch, but it quickly wears thin as a novel."[6] Sophie Harrison of The New York Times opined; "It is a very sad thing to report, but this novel, unlike its predecessor, does not work."[7]
^"LUDMILA'S BROKEN ENGLISH". Kirkus. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
^Harrison, Sophie (21 May 2006). "Loserstan". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
External linksedit
– discussing
March 14, 2024
ludmila, broken, english, second, novel, booker, prize, winner, pierre, published, march, 2006, first, editionauthordbc, pierrecountryunited, kingdomlanguageenglishgenreblack, comedypublisherfaber, faberpublication, date2, march, 2006media, typeprintpages318is. Ludmila s Broken English is the second novel by Booker Prize winner DBC Pierre It was published in March 2006 Ludmila s Broken EnglishFirst editionAuthorDBC PierreCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishGenreBlack comedyPublisherFaber amp FaberPublication date2 March 2006Media typePrintPages318ISBN0 571 21518 1OCLC62532920 Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Quotes 3 Political parallels 4 Critical reception 5 References 6 External linksPlot introduction editThe novel follows two initially separate narratives set in the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe Recently separated at the age of 33 conjoined twins Blair Albert and Gordon Marie Bunny Heath struggle to cope with life in a post globalisation and fully privatised London Meanwhile Ludmila Derev an impoverished young woman living in the war torn Southern Caucasus leaves her mountain home to meet up with her boyfriend in the region s major town and send money back to her family However things start to go wrong and she ends up with her picture on a Russian Brides website Slowly her life and those of the twins are drawn together Quotes edit Blair Albert and Gordon Marie Heath were omphalopagus conjoined anteriorly at the trunk They shared certain organs but not the heart While Blair possessed the twins physical power forza their cunning resided in Gordon making him dominant in most situations despite being the weaker twin After being sent to Eastern Europe by Blair s American boss Truman Blair gives the twins sachets of solipsidrine whenever they need some confidence Bunny however thinks the drug has a major problem Listen the qualities removed by your so called cocktail are there for a purpose Blair They re the little voices that stop us raping and pillaging It might suit your Yank mate to do away with them but we re civilised people from an ancient civilised country Later Bunny again talks of the drug Do you know what this drug does Do you know its single active quality The suspension of conscience Blair Do you hear Political parallels editThe twins are named Blair Albert Heath and Gordon Marie Bunny Heath something many commentators have taken as a reference to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown 1 2 Their father is Ted Heath a possible reference to Edward Heath 3 Blair is employed by a company called Global Liberty Solutions run by an American Truman the surname of an American president Harry Truman to go to a foreign country and sort out a problem He is given a drug which suspends the conscience to get him through difficult situations His arrival in the country leads to the shooting of the majority of Blair s hosts and the rape of the family s daughter Critical reception editLudmila s Broken English received mixed reviews from critics Andrew Reimer of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote This weird and wonderfully outrageous novel is filled to the brim with insights 4 Publishers Weekly wrote that he succeeds in shocking his audience with this maddeningly entertaining encore 5 Kirkus wrote Some of the material might have generated laughs as a five minute Saturday Night Life wild and crazy guys sketch but it quickly wears thin as a novel 6 Sophie Harrison of The New York Times opined It is a very sad thing to report but this novel unlike its predecessor does not work 7 References edit British Council Independent The Compulsive Reader Archived 2011 07 25 at the Wayback Machine Reimer Andrew 28 February 2006 Ludmila s Broken English The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 27 August 2022 Ludmila s Broken English Publishers Weekly LUDMILA S BROKEN ENGLISH Kirkus 20 May 2010 Retrieved 27 August 2022 Harrison Sophie 21 May 2006 Loserstan The New York Times Retrieved 27 August 2022 External links editShort interview with DBC Pierre discussing Ludmila s Broken English Faber and Faber Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ludmila 27s Broken English amp oldid 1213637416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
