The Cockroach

By: Ian McEwan

Narrated by: Bill Nighy

A brilliant, of-the-moment political satire like no other: here is Ian McEwan's Brexit-era take on Kafka's Metamorphosis, centered on a cockroach transformed into the prime minister of England.

That morning, Jim Sams, clever but by no means profound, woke from uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a giant creature.

Jim Sams has undergone a metamorphosis. In his previous life he was ignored or loathed, but in his new incarnation he is the most powerful man in Britain - and it is his mission to carry out the will of the people. Nothing must get in his way; not the opposition, nor the dissenters within his own party. Not even the rules of parliamentary democracy.

In this bitingly funny Kafkaesque satire, Ian McEwan engages with scabrous humor a very recognizable political world and turns it on its head.

©2019 Ian McEwan (P)2019 Penguin Books

Humorous anti-Brexit satire

This cleverly written spoof on British politics perfectly skewers politicians and recent bad policies. Non-Brits won't understand every jibe by author McEwan but the point is clear. Performed by the fantastic Bill Nighy, a comic genius who knows how to play for laughs.

An excellent parody on life during Brexit

I thoroughly recommend this book and you don’t have to have read Metamorphosis to appreciate its wit and wisdom . McEwan at his best.

This is a book which had to be written, whose time has (unfortunately) come. , Welcome to the world of anti-clockwise economics and the politics of dung.

this book is a fantasti!!!😱 funny and terrifying!

this book is a combination of funny and terrifying... fantastic story. narration very well interpreted. very realistic!!! 🤣😱

Still biting and hilarious!

As the effects of Brexit continue to sink in, and Trump takes power again, this incisive satire continues to hit close to the bone. The narration by Bill Nighy is perfect.

too real for humor

not my favorite book by Ian McEwan. I guess my ability to find humor with the current administration

Smug

what to say other than what I've already written? Smug. And not particularly clever. Glad it was free to listen to and as short as it was.