Starter for Ten (novel)
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| Starter for Ten | |
 Front cover |
|
| Author | David Nicholls |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | University Challenge |
| Publication date | 2003 |
| Published in English |
2003 |
| Pages | 480 |
| ISBN | 0340734876 |
| Preceded by | None (debut novel) |
| Followed by | The Understudy |
Starter for Ten by David Nicholls is a novel first published in 2003 about the character, Brian Jackson and his first year of university (1985–6), his attempts to get on the Granada Television quiz show University Challenge, and his tentative attempts at romance with Alice Harbinson, another member of the University Challenge team. The title is taken from an opening question to a round on the quiz show worth ten points, known as the teams' 'starter for ten.' Because this reference might be lost on American readers, it was originally released as A Question of Attraction when it was published in the United States.
It was adapted as a film in 2006 - see Starter for Ten (film).
Contents |
[edit] Characters
- Brian Jackson
- Rebecca Epstein - The Marxist, Jewish law student with whom Brian has an intermittent relationship. She lives in the same residence hall as Alice and offers advice and encouragement to Brian.
- Alice Harbinson - The rich love interest of the narrator who has an unexplained scar on her lip. While wealthy, both she and her parents attempt to be socially conscious.
- Patrick - Tory Captain of the University Challenge team who provokes a fight with Spencer. He, like Brian, has a crush on Alice.
[edit] Minor Characters
- Tone and Spencer - Brian's working class friends. Tone gets a job as a salesman and, like Brian's father, is twisted by the need to make commission. Spencer runs into trouble while working and taking unemployment support, and visits Brian and causes a fight at the school.
- Mr. and Mrs. Harbinson - Alice's vegetarian and nudist parents, who barely tolerate Brian's visit to their palatial cottage in the country during the holidays.
- Lucy Chang - The fourth member of the team, a medical student, who has a crush on Brian and serves as a force of moderation on the team. She is an international student from the United States.
- Des and Mum - Brian's Mother and her lover, Uncle Des, whom she plans to marry.
- Neil - An actor who played Richard III and who went about on crutches to get into character for a part; he eventually becomes involved with Alice.
- Marcus and Josh - Brian's housemates who brew their own beer.
[edit] Themes
[edit] Class
One of the major themes in Starter for Ten is social class. Brian Jackson is a working class teenager from a one-parent family. His mother works in the chain-store Woolworths. On attending the prestigious University of Bristol, Brian is aware that his state school background and working class roots make him stand out. In an interview in the Guardian, the novel's writer David Nicholls expands on this theme. [1]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- I was a bit of a prat, by the book's author, Guardian, 31st October 2006
