Filth

A darkly humorous tale of corruption and conscience

Irvine Welsh author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:5th Aug '99

Should be back in stock very soon

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Filth cover

In Filth, Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson seeks escape in Amsterdam but faces unexpected challenges, including a murder investigation that complicates his plans.

In Filth, Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson is ready to unwind as the festive season approaches, planning a week of indulgence in Amsterdam filled with sex and drugs. However, his attempts to escape reality are complicated by a series of personal crises, including a missing wife and a worsening cocaine addiction. As he navigates through a chaotic mix of extramarital affairs and deteriorating health, the last thing he needs is to get involved in a murder investigation. Yet, the allure of overtime and the possibility of promotion tempt him to dive deeper into the murky waters of crime and corruption.

As Bruce descends further into a world of sleaze and moral decay, he faces unexpected challenges that force him to confront his own ethical boundaries. The narrative takes a darkly humorous turn as Bruce's conscience manifests in the most bizarre form, leading to a battle between his desires and the nagging voice of reason. This internal conflict adds a layer of complexity to his character, making him one of the most memorable protagonists in contemporary fiction.

Filth is a bold exploration of the human condition, highlighting the absurdity of life through Bruce's misadventures. The novel combines elements of dark comedy with a critique of power dynamics and personal failures, making it a compelling read that resonates with those who appreciate a story that is both disturbing and laugh-out-loud funny.

Welsh firing on all cylinders... The best thing he has done since Trainspotting * Sunday Times *
It is surely a remarkable cultural moment when a reviewer is offered cash in a bar for an advance copy of a literary novel... Filth is a masterpiece...squarely in the classic line of classic scottish writing * Independent *
Things are going well for Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson. Promotion is in the offing, he's got all the booze and drugs he needs, and his various plots aimed at friends and colleagues seem to be working out. Robertson, compulsive and repulsive by turns, has only two problems. One is a case of racially-motivated murder on his patch. The other is that there's a nasty tapeworm in his gut and it seems intent on having its say... A brutally sustained achievement * Evening Standard *
We're used to tough cops with non-PC attitudes, but Welsh trumps the lot with his evil-scheming, ball-scratching, foul-mouthed hero-with-haemorrhoids... Welsh's jet-black comedy at once entertains and appals... Gloriously grotesque * Esquire *
A snarling epic of a book...ugly, devastatingly funny, unremittingly nasty and pulls no punches... Don't dare miss it * Scotsman *

ISBN: 9780099591115

Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 24mm

Weight: 286g

416 pages