The Serpent of Venice

A Novel

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Euan Morton

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Christopher Moore channels William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe in this satiric Venetian gothic featuring the irresistibly mischievous Pocket, the eponymous hero of Fool.

Venice, a really long time ago: Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from Britain who also happens to be a favorite of the Doge: The rascal-Fool Pocket. This trio of cunning plotters have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising a spirited evening. Their invitation is, of course, bogus. These scoundrels have something far less amusing planned for the man who has consistently foiled their quest for power and wealth. But this Fool is no fool.…

Once again, Christopher Moore delivers a rousing literary satire: A dramedy mash-up rich with delights, including (but not limited to): Foul plots; counterplots; true love; jealousy; murder; betrayal; revenge; codpieces; a pound of flesh; occasional debauchery; and water (lots of water). Not to mention a cast Shakespeare himself would be proud of: Shylock; Iago; Othello; a bunch of other guys whose names end in o; a trio of comely wenches; the brilliant Fool; his large sidekick, Drool; Jeff, the pet monkey; a lovesick sea serpent; and a ghost (yes, there’s always a bloody ghost).

Wickedly witty and outrageously inventive, The Serpent of Venice pays cheeky homage to the Bard and illuminates the absurdity of the human condition as only Christopher Moore can.

©2014 Christopher Moore (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

I need more Pocket!

2 for 3 and one to go, I am in love with Christopher Moore's Fool!

Phenomenal as always

So much fun and funny. Highly recommend. If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one.

WARNING: May cause debilitating bouts of laughter

Any additional comments?

This book in conjunction with this narrator has to be one of the funniest books I have ever listened too. It has to be said that it is drenched in British slang and tripple X rated language. If you can handle these two things without reaching for the smelling salt I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes dark satiric humor.

One of the best performances I've ever heard

Where does The Serpent of Venice rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Probably the best audiobook I've ever listened to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Pocket, because he's so smart and funny. I also liked Othello.

Which character – as performed by Euan Morton – was your favorite?

Every single one. Euan Morton is probably the best narrator out there.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

I am not a Shakespeare fan but I have seen many of his plays (hubby works in the theatre business). So I may not be an expert and yet, if The Serpent of Venice had been written by the Bard, I would be his biggest fan. It made me laugh out loud at characters we all know and love: Othello, Casio, Iago and Desdemona; Portia and Shylock; and many other supporting characters. Pocket, a fool not based on any Elizabethan play, is not as foolish as you'd think and his plots and adventures are simply hilarious. I don't know if I'd had liked it as much had I read the book, but the audiobook version, performed by Euan Morton (I don't use the verb narrated or read, I use performed because it is a masterful performance) had me laughing out loud even in the heaviest traffic. Plus, there is a monkey called Jeff. How can you not love it? I've enjoyed other books by Christopher Moore, but this audiobook is simply fantastic and I widely recommend it to everybody with a sense of humor.

Hilarious

Totally engaging. Couldn’t wait to walk or get in the car to listen to more.

One of my favorites!

This book is so entertaining and delightful. I adore Pocket and all the facets of his personality. Christopher Moore blends so many classic tales and adds his style of humor, it really is a wonderful read. And Euan Morton has such style when narrating, I have purchased other books just to hear his voice.

Incredibly clever and funny...if you're well read

If not, still clever and funny, you just don't get a lot of the jokes.

Excellent narrator. Would recommend highly.

I am in love with Euan Morton

Thou Scottish Adonis, though pretty poet, my narrator! How I adore thee.
Excellent book full of brilliant characters. The ending resulotion is weak but forgiven. This is a hilarious sequel that sated my appetite for more after gobbling down Fool.

perfect for an audio book

This book was great as written, but the voices made it even funnier. Highly recommend this one as an audiobook!

Hi-larious!

Great listen for a morning commute. You can't help walking into the office with a smirk. The language was thoroughly enjoyable and the story was bonkers. Highly recommend it!