Booklog 34/2024: Terry Pratchett: Monstrous Regiment – Discworld #31 – Audiobook

[jacey]

Audiobook narrated by Katherine Parkinson. (Footnotes read by Bill Nighy)

Blame it on the folksongs - about the handsome cabin boy (who is really a girl) and  the little drummer boy (also a girl) and all those girls who dress 'in man's array' and 'list for a soldier' to follow their sweethearts. Pratchett knows his folksongs. I've always liked this book. This is my first time hearing it read.

Polly Perks,who works as a barmaid in her dad's hostelry in the small but aggressive country of Borogravia, is worried about her brother, Paul, who took the king's shilling (or an I.O.U for the same amount) and joined the army. There's only one way Polly's going to find him and that's by cutting off her ringlets, borrowing Paul's trousers and enlisting herself. It all goes quite well once she realises that a rolled up pair of socks is essential; in the trouser department. (And sometimes the socks do the talking.) Polly - sorry - Oliver and his/her fellow recruits (several likely lads, an Igor, a vampire and a rocky troll) are in it up to their untrained necks when it appears that despite all reports to the contrary, Borogravia is losing the war against Ankh Morpork. Losing badly.

ThisA satire on war, sexism, speciesism, and fake news/propaganda is possibly even more relevant now than when it was written. I loved most of this. The story is excellent and the characters fascinating. The only downside for me was Ms Parkinson's interpretation of Sam Vimes (who only has a bit-part in this book). His voice has lost its world-weary edge and he sounds like an uncultured thug, despite already being a duke. Sure, Vimes wasn't born an aristocrat, but I've never thought he should sound like an East End gang boss.

 

 

 

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Comments

[watervole]

Like you, I love the folksong influences. I guess you probably already know where Polly's name comes from, but just in case - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Polly_Oliver

Definitely one of Pratchett's better books.

[jacey]

It's the folkie in me that really likes this one.

[cmcmck]

I find this one very clever!

[jacey]

I love the way Terry used folksongs. He really knew his stuff.