{"product_id":"the-stars-tennis-balls","title":"The Stars' Tennis Balls","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"We are merely the stars tennis balls  struck and --bandied\/Which way please them.\" ----The Duchess of Malfi --by John Webster  Everything about Stephen Frys new novel  including the title  will be a surprise  perhaps even a shock. The only thing that can be guaranteed is that it will be his next earth-movingly funny bestseller. And we are still pretty confidently saying it will not be about earthworm migration patterns in East Devon.  This is the story of Ned Maddenstone  a nice young man who is about to find out just what hell it is to be one of the stars tennis balls. For Ned  1978 seems a blissful year: handsome  popular  responsible and a fine cricketer  life is progressing smoothly for him  if not effortlessly. When he meets Portia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. What if her left-wing parents despise his Tory MP father? Doesnt that just make them star-crossed lovers? And surely  in the end  wont the Fendemans be won over by their happiness? But  of course  one persons happiness is anothers jealous spite. And spite is about to change Neds life forever. A promise made to a dying teacher and a vile trick played by fellow pupils rocket Ned from cricket captain to solitary confinement  from head boy to political prisoner. Twenty years later  Ned returns to London a very different man from the boy seized outside a Knightsbridge language college. A man implacably focused on revenge. Revenge is a dish he plans to savour and serve to those who conspired against him  and to those who forgot him.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44948569129013,"sku":"ByrdShop_0091801516","price":59.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780091801519_fac52a20-feed-4fa7-a33c-c1feeeeefc91.jpg?v=1770337554","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-stars-tennis-balls","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}