Spud (novel)

Last updated
Spud
SpudCover.jpg
First (South African) edition
AuthorJohn van de Ruit
Original titleSpud
TranslatorJohn van de Ruit
Cover artistFarell Grehan
LanguageEnglish
SubjectBoarding school life
GenreNovel
Publisher Penguin
Publication date
2005
Publication placeSouth Africa
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages389pp
ISBN 978-0-14-302484-2
OCLC 87375897
Followed bySpud - The madness continues
Spud - Learning to Fly
Spud - Exit, Pursued by a Bear 

Spud is a 2005 novel by South African author, actor, playwright and producer, John van de Ruit. A comedic sometimes sad yet straight forward novel that captures the humor of life in boarding school, through the diary of John 'Spud' Milton. The book is written in the style of a diary. The story begins on the morning of Spud's first day at a private boarding school, following his year and experiences with the often eccentric characters found in the school environment. The diary also follows Spud's family life.

Contents

A sequel, titled Spud: The Madness Continues, was released in mid-2007. It details Spud's second year of boarding school and trip to England paid by Wombat, his crazy grandmother.

In June 2009, the third book in the Spud series was released. Titled Spud: Learning to Fly. This book details Spud's third year at a school based on Michaelhouse, where he is now back at school and Pike returns for Post-Matric years and is a prefect. Pike being made a prefect means the Crazy Eight are vulnerable and cannot do anything without getting in trouble.

The fourth book in the series, detailing Spud's Matric year, was released August 2012, under the title "Spud: Exit, Pursued by a Bear." [1]

The fifth and final book in the series was released in November 2024, under the title "Spud: The Reunion."

After commercial success in South Africa (it won the 2006 Booksellers award), the United States saw a release of this book 2007. It is now available in North America.

Characters

Crazy Eight

The Crazy Eight consists of the eight boys in Spud's year and house at school.

Girls

Other Students

Teachers

Family

Film adaptation

A film adaptation, directed by Donovan Marsh, was released in South Africa on 3 December 2010.

The film stars South African-born Australian actor Troye Sivan as Spud and with John Cleese as The Guv. The film was a massive success in South Africa, topping the box office, despite the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 at the same time. The film was later nominated for six South African Film and Television Awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Actor in a Feature Film (Troye Sivan). [2]

Following the success of the first film, production of a sequel, Spud: The Madness Continues, was confirmed in May 2012, for a July 2012 shoot. It was released in 2013. In 2014, a third film, Spud 3: Learning to Fly, was released on 28 November.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Bash Street Kids</i> British comic strip series

The Bash Street Kids is a comic strip in the British comic magazine The Beano. It also appeared briefly in The Wizard as series of prose stories in 1955. The strip, created by Leo Baxendale as When the Bell Rings!, first appeared in issue 604. It became The Bash Street Kids in 1956 and has become a regular feature, appearing in every issue. From 1962, until his death in 2023, David Sutherland drew over 3000 strips in his time as illustrator.

<i>The Five Find-Outers</i> Series of childrens books by Enid Blyton

The Five Find-Outers and Dog, also known as The Five Find-Outers, is a series of children's mystery books written by Enid Blyton. The first was published in 1943 and the last in 1961. Set in the fictitious village of Peterswood based on Bourne End, close to Marlow, Buckinghamshire, the children Fatty, who is the leader of the team, Larry, Pip, Daisy, Bets and Buster, Fatty's dog, encounter a mystery almost every school holiday, always solving the puzzle before Mr Goon, the unpleasant village policeman, much to his annoyance.

<i>Mind Your Language</i> British TV sitcom (1977–1985)

Mind Your Language is a British sitcom that premiered on ITV in 1977. It was produced by London Weekend Television and directed by Stuart Allen. Three series were made by London Weekend Television between 1977 and 1979, and it was briefly revived in 1985 with six of the original cast members.

The Kids from Room 402 is an animated series produced by CinéGroupe and Saban Entertainment that premiered on October 9, 1999 on the Fox Family Channel in the United States, and on August 29, 2000 on Teletoon in Canada. It consists of 52 half-hour episodes, the last of which aired in 2000, with reruns airing until 2005. The series was also seen in Latin America and Europe on Fox Kids, with the latter region still airing the series after the Fox Kids channels were purchased by Disney and changed their name to Jetix; remaining on their schedule until the Jetix channels were once again rebranded as Disney XD.

<i>Le Petit Nicolas</i> Childrens book series by René Goscinny

Le Petit Nicolas is a series of French children's books created by René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé; its first installment was originally published on 29 March 1959. The books depict an idealized version of childhood in 1950s France.

<i>The Pothunters</i> 1902 novel by P. G. Wodehouse

The Pothunters is a novel by P. G. Wodehouse published on 18 September 1902 by Adam & Charles Black. It was Wodehouse's first published novel, and the first of several school stories, this one set at the fictional public school of St. Austin's. It was originally published as a serial in the British magazine Public School Magazine from January to March 1902. An American edition was issued from imported sheets.

<i>A Prefects Uncle</i> 1903 novel by P. G. Wodehouse

A Prefect's Uncle is an early novel by author P. G. Wodehouse, one of his school stories for children. It was first published on 11 September 1903 by A & C Black. An American edition was issued by Macmillan from imported sheets in October 1903.

<i>The Head of Kays</i> 1905 novel by P. G. Wodehouse

The Head of Kay's is a novel by English author P. G. Wodehouse. The novel was published on 5 October 1905 by A & C Black. The Head of Kay's was first published as a serial in The Captain from October 1904 to March 1905.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John van de Ruit</span>

John Howard van de Ruit is a South African novelist, actor, playwright and producer. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998. He was born in Durban and educated at Michaelhouse, where he stayed in Founders House and from where he matriculated in 1993. He then went on to complete a master's degree in Drama and Performance at the then University of Natal.

<i>Please Sir!</i> British TV sitcom (ITV, 1968–1972)

Please Sir! is a British television sitcom created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey and featuring actors John Alderton, Deryck Guyler, Penny Spencer, Joan Sanderson, Noel Howlett, Erik Chitty and Richard Davies. Produced by London Weekend Television for ITV, the series ran for 55 episodes between 1968 and 1972.

Macdonald Hall is the name of a series of young adult novels by author Gordon Korman. The series was formerly named Bruno and Boots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rustenburg School for Girls</span> School in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Rustenburg Girls' High School and Rustenburg Girls' Junior School are two separate public schools with a shared history, originating in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa. Rustenburg was founded in 1894 and divided into separate junior and high schools in 1932.

<i>Spud</i> (film) 2010 South African film

Spud is a 2010 South African comedy-drama film written and directed by Donovan Marsh, based on the novel of the same name by John van de Ruit. The film stars Troye Sivan as the title character, alongside John Cleese, Jason Cope and Tanit Phoenix. It was released in South Africa on 3 December 2010.

<i>Billionaire Boy</i> Childrens novel by David Walliams

Billionaire Boy is a children's fiction book written by David Walliams and illustrated by Tony Ross. It was published on 28 October 2010 by HarperCollins. The story follows Joe Spud, who is the richest boy in the country and has everything he could ever want, but wishes to have a friend and learns a lesson on what it's like to be a normal boy. The book was adapted for BBC Television, broadcast on 1 January 2016.

<i>Spud 2: The Madness Continues</i> 2013 South African comedy film

Spud 2: The Madness Continues is a 2013 South African comedy film written and directed by Donovan Marsh and starring Troye Sivan and John Cleese. It is the sequel to the 2010 film Spud.

<i>Spud 3: Learning to Fly</i> 2014 South African film

Spud 3: Learning to Fly is a 2014 South African comedy film written by John van de Ruit, directed by John Barker and starring Troye Sivan, John Cleese and Caspar Lee. It is the second sequel to the 2010 film Spud following Spud 2: The Madness Continues (2013). It is based on van de Ruit's novel Spud - Learning to Fly.

References

  1. "John van de Ruit Unveils the New Title in His Spud Series: Exit, Pursued by a Bear". Penguin SA @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  2. "2011 SAFTAs: All The Winners". TVSA. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.