Splash! is a satire of the Press and politics in modern London and is the debut novel of Stephen Glover, co-founder of The Independent.
'I thoroughly enjoyed Splash! It's a delicious confection of excellent plotting, an inventively bonkers cast of characters, subtle insights into the world of newspapers and a satisfying ending which invokes the great Evelyn Waugh's masterpiece, Scoop. A fine comedy of manners by a writer who knows the media inside out' BEL MOONEY
Sam Blunt is a drunken, broken-down tabloid reporter, working for a once-mighty newspaper struggling to come to terms with the digital age.
With the assistance of Benedict, an earnest though clever wet-behind-the-ears young intern on the paper, Sam grapples to uncover the story of the century which reveals the political corruption and cynicism at the heart of a rotten Establishment.
As they try to nail the story amid a series of capers, Sam and Benedict are frustrated by the self-serving proprietor of the Daily Bugle, various self-appointed do-gooders who want to rein in the Press, and Trevor Yapp, the malign and untrustworthy editor of Bugle Online.
Splash! is a satire of the Press and politics in a modern London peopled by a Chinese billionaire would-be press proprietor, a worldly bishop, neglected immigrants, a corrupt and plaintive Prime Minister, and journalists who are often most interested in doing one another down.
Yet however self-serving newspapers may sometimes be, Sam and Benedict are ultimately on the side of the angels as they battle to write their triumphant story.
Utterly brilliant and irresistible
I would recommend it to anyone without reservation . . . very funny
A proper novel - something that journalists don't always manage to write. Society hostesses, billionaires, bishops, a newspaper baron, MPs, journalists noble and scurrilous: modern London life is there, fully realised
Potentially Splash! could do more for restoring public confidence in newspapers than sanctimonious leader articles from big publishers . . . Splash! might also remind owners and editors [of newspapers] of the public good they can do when at their best - The Independent
Written in Waugh's style, Splash! imitates his practice of giving characters expressively comic names . . . Glover clearly enjoyed writing it and I enjoyed reading it . . . Glover's novel is an apologia for tabloid journalism and a celebration of its role in exposing corruption among the elite - New Statesman
Both a terrific romp through the indiscretions, dodgy deals and Establishment stitch-ups of our times, and an invaluable reminder of just how vital the Press is in holding power to account - Daily Mail
Veteran insider's sharp, timely satire on the newspaper business - Daily Mail
Splash! has the pace and wit of Tom Sharpe at his Porterhouse best and the mournfulness of Michael Frayn's Towards the End of the Morning . . . captures the thrill of the newsroom - Standpoint