The First Casualty

The joke, I've decided, is on me - now squirming with embarrassment at having thought I'd get a measured and insightful novel about WWI from Ben Elton. Not that I haven't enjoyed his books in the past, but now its obvious to see that he's far better writing about modern day matters - notably the environment and the cult of celebrity - than events almost 90 years ago. `The First Casualty' starts off faintly ridiculous, and gets sillier... our police inspector hero sickened by the horrors of war, but managing to find the resolve to jump over the top with gay abandon - suffering from nothing more serious than fatigue and wet clothes.
Ridiculous as it was, I'm ashamed to say I was pretty much engrossed with this daft story right up to the dimwitted conclusion. I'll be taking this back to the library later today, I should probably do so with a bag over my head.

Absolute tripe (2/4 people found this helpful)

This is badly written, horribly implausible, trite, cliche ridden, historically innacurate rubbish. If only no stars were possible, or even minus-stars. What I am staggered by is the number of very positive reviews. What sort of stuff is the British public reading. This pretentious nonsense is an insult to the English language and should bring shame on the publishers. "What's in a name?" If one is a so-called 'celebrity' it seems no matter how awful the book, publication is almost mandatory.

The First Casualty (1/1 people found this helpful)

I read too many books to be able to review them all, and wasn't going to review this book until I read some of the other comments! I now feel compelled to defend Ben Elton as an author - I have read and enjoyed all his books and find him an intelligent, witty writer. Of course people are entitled to their opinions, but some are downright rude! The First Casualty is a departure indeed for Mr Elton and I think it worked pretty well. Yes, there are shades of Blackadder, but so what? My only criticism is that some of the dialogue seemed a little stilted, particularly when the soldiers were discussing the war, but other than that it was a good entertaining read. I have read Birdsong and can safely say that I much preferred The First Casualty.

Dreadful (2/4 people found this helpful)

Poorly written (think teenage schoolboy), with shallow, undeveloped characters drifting their way through a weak plot. It was obvious throughout that Ben Elton co-wrote Blackadder and, like other reviewers here, images from the Goes Forth series kept coming to mind, leaving me wondering exactly how limited Mr E's stock of WWI characters are. I found myself laughing out loud at one or two parts that were supposed to be entirely serious, and not really caring about whodunnit or why. Shame, really - I like Ben Elton. Just not this book.

I never liked Ben Elton (0/0 people found this helpful)

I never liked Ben Elton........when he first appeared on our screens back in the late 70's early 80's, together with comedians like Alexi Sayle, they drove me round the bend. Some 18 years later I was nagged into reading Stark, Ben Elton's first novel. I absolutely loved it. I then revisited some old videos of Ben's T.V. performances. I started to think that either Ben Elton had been so ahead of his time when he first came to us, or I was behind my time. It would appear that the latter is true. I have since read every Ben Elton book as it becomes available and loved every one of them. The First Casualty is just a superbly written book which draws you into the plot. Just simply unputdownable......If you do one thing in your life you must read this book......My only problem is that Ben Elton can't write books fast enough.

The First Casualty

Ben Elton

Reader Reviews:

Entertaining twaddle (0/0 people found this helpful)

Absolute tripe (2/4 people found this helpful)