High Society (novel)

Last updated

High Society
Highsociety.jpg
First edition
Author Ben Elton
LanguageEnglish
Genre Novel
Publisher Bantam Press
Publication date
7 November 2002
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback)
ISBN 0-552-99995-4 (hardback edition)
OCLC 52057873
Preceded by Dead Famous (2001)  
Followed by Past Mortem (2004)  

High Society (2002) is a darkly comic novel by English author Ben Elton. The story focuses on Peter Paget, a Labour Party MP, and his mission to legalise all recreational drugs in the United Kingdom. [1] [2] [3] [4] The abridged audiobook was read by Rik Mayall. [5]

Contents

Plot summary

It also follows several other characters:

Influence

Udta Punjab is a 2016 Bollywood film, based on drug abuse. Directed and written by Abhishek Chaubey, the film has been alleged to be inspired from the novel. Similarities between the film and the novel such as names and professions of the drug abusing protagonists of High Society and Udta Punjab (both are musical artist named Tommy), the circumstances of the meeting between Tommy and the female characters Jessie/Bauria (played by Alia Bhatt in the film), Jessie/Bauria's back story (both run away from home after their dreams of becoming sports stars are quashed), and several other specific instances, such as the tattoo Tommy (in both stories) has inked. The makers of the film however have denied any inspiration from the novel. [6] [7]

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References

  1. Hutton, Will (3 November 2002). "Chasing the dragon". The Observer. theguardian.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. Elton, Ben (2003). High Society. Black Swan. ISBN   0552999954.
  3. "High Society". goodreads.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. "High Society". waterstones.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  5. https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/High-Society-Audiobook/B004EMERJA [ bare URL ]
  6. Udta Punjab in plagiarism row; was script copied from Ben Elton's novel High Society?
  7. ‘Udta Punjab’ versus ‘High Society’: Inspiration or a striking coincidence?