Spud - Exit, Pursued by a Bear

After an unexpected and diabolical farewell breakfast conversation with his father, Spud Milton returns to boarding school for his 1993 Matric year, his last as a schoolboy. Armed with a prefects’ tie and a raging libido, Spud soon discovers that being a large(ish) fish in a small pond has its fair share of challenges. He finds himself embroiled in fighting for his own room, directing a house play where both lead actors refuse to learn their lines, and assisting in Vern Blackadder’s dramatic return from the dead with nothing more than a drip cord and a pair of oven gloves. Amidst mounting pressure in the classroom and on the cricket field, Spud prepares to face down the most feared and dreaded challenge of them all – finding a date for the Matric dance. In this hilarious final instalment of the Spud series John van de Ruit brings to a close his savagely funny blow by blow account of the agonies of growing up. The embarrassments, the thrills, the defeats, and the sheer -absurdity of daily life are wittily recorded in Spud’s unique voice as he prepares to make his own exit, pursued by a bear.

John van de Ruit is an actor, playwright and author who was educated at Michaelhouse and received a master’s degree in Drama and Performance Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His debut novel Spud, released in September 2005, is a publishing phenomenon in South Africa, smashing all local fiction records. The sequel, Spud – the Madness Continues (2007) received rave reviews and both books have since been published round the globe. The penultimate book in the series, Spud – Learning to Fly was released in June 2009. The Spud series has sold over half a million copies in South Africa alone. A feature film of John’s first novel, Spud, was released in Southern Africa in December 2010 starring John Cleese and Troye Sivan. The film debuted at number one at the South African box office and is being distributed internationally. A film of Spud – the Madness Continues is due for release in 2013.

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