Accompanied by an aging bulldog, a PhD student hits the road in search of a unifying theory of British culture. Harold's chance encounters link fourteen short stories that are compelling, humorous, and sometimes tragic.
It is difficult for a researcher to observe without becoming involved. Thus Harold finds himself inveigled on to the set of a Bonatti porn movie and manipulated by the cynical producer of a humiliation TV series. Having undertaken some roading for a confrontational all-girl band, Harold finds himself in the sights of a Muslim brotherhood and a British army officer. As a temporary night watchman in a rundown community centre, he is privy to the dubious plans of the 'Real Women's Institute' to wreak revenge on local troublemakers. No more calendar tits, these vigilantes mean business.
In a shopping mall reduced to ruins by rioters, a homeless musician tells a woeful tale of harassment by a cyber-stalker. Bizarrely, an ex-Detective Inspector who has gone native in a shed next to houseful of anarchists comes to his aid. Far from urban chaos, on the terrace of a picturesque country pub, an artist's silent judgment presides over a local tale about the wrecked lives of a Polish fruit picker and the village whore.
The year of research is coming to an end. What will Harold take with him as he retraces his steps to academe?
Accompanied by an aging bulldog, a PhD student hits the road in search of a unifying theory of British culture. Harold's chance encounters link fourteen short stories that are compelling, humorous, and sometimes tragic.
It is difficult for a researcher to observe without becoming involved. Thus Harold finds himself inveigled on to the set of a Bonatti porn movie and manipulated by the cynical producer of a humiliation TV series. Having undertaken some roading for a confrontational all-girl band, Harold finds himself in the sights of a Muslim brotherhood and a British army officer. As a temporary night watchman in a rundown community centre, he is privy to the dubious plans of the 'Real Women's Institute' to wreak revenge on local troublemakers. No more calendar tits, these vigilantes mean business.
In a shopping mall reduced to ruins by rioters, a homeless musician tells a woeful tale of harassment by a cyber-stalker. Bizarrely, an ex-Detective Inspector who has gone native in a shed next to houseful of anarchists comes to his aid. Far from urban chaos, on the terrace of a picturesque country pub, an artist's silent judgment presides over a local tale about the wrecked lives of a Polish fruit picker and the village whore.
The year of research is coming to an end. What will Harold take with him as he retraces his steps to academe?