The English Harem

by Anthony Mc Carten (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2003

  $4.33

  A hilarious and provocative story of love, menus and IslamTo spice up the tedium of her work on a supermarket checkout, 20-year-old Tracy Pringle lets her imagination run riot. As she hands the change to Princess Leia or Omar Shariff, her life seems quite exotic. But far greater excitement is in store. Sacked for her compulsive daydreaming, she finds a new job as a waitress at the Taste of Persia - despite the reservations of the restaurant's proprietor, Samaan 'Sam' Sahar. This new world surpasses even Tracy's well-stocked imagination, and she soon finds herself falling headlong into dinner plates, Islam, and a rather tricky domestic arrangement. But as word of this English harem spreads, so too does prejudice and fear.'The English Harem dares to speak of English multiculturalism in the satirical tongue that most native writers keep mute' Observer'Anthony McCarten's sparkling new novel manages to deal with big issues - cultural differences, religion, marriage - in a funny and often moving way' Sunday Tribune, Dublin

• Used

  Paperback
  2002

  $3.26

  Hilarious, provoking, vivid story of food, love, menus and IslamThe English Harem is the story of Tracy Pringle who begins the book daydreaming at the checkout till of Sainsbury's. Sacked suddenly for watching an old lady shop lift she tries her luck as a waitress at a Persian restaurant. Her father thinks she's turned to prostitution and Sam, the restaurant owner is bewildered by the arrival of the unsuitably dressed Miss Pringle at his establishment. But Sam has problems of his own, reconciling his vegetarianism with his family's tradition of working in the butcher trade in Iran. The longer Tracy works the more involved she gets with Sam, his two wives and the complicated menu...McCarten shows the same flair for dialogue and a brilliant sense of place (a scene where Tracy and Sam try and use the lift in her council block is priceless). With the setting being London this has possibly more commercial potential in the UK.