Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Ella Minnow Pea

Mark Dunn

This is a very clever, funny, modern fable about an island's celebration of a famous son. In this instance - Nevin Nollop - the creator of the pangram The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog. When the ceramic letters on the monument built in his honour begin to drop off - the powers that be see this as a message from the grave and, as a result, take drastic measures. Don't be put off by the quirky language - it's well worth the perseverance.

Extract

Nollopville Monday,

24th July

Dear Cousin Ella,

New era! Posh-and-pooh! This latest development hasn't inaugurated a new era. It's only shoved us far deeper into the dungeon of Island Medievalism. We shall be wearing burlap and flour sack tomorrow, and lucubrating by candlelight because even light bulbs seem doomed now to join the official list of technological non-essentials. And now this regulation! I am bezide myself!

Parallels
  • Mr Pye by Mervyn Peake
  • A Fool's Alphabet by Sebastian Faulks