A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov

Famed for his ground-breaking comparethemeerkat.com & comparethemarket.com commercials, Aleksandr Orlov has found time in his busy schedule to write “A Simples Life:My life and times” (don’t tell anyone but I suggested it to him as you will soon discover)!

I have to say I haven’t smiled and laughed (reading a book) so much for quite some time, the vocabulary used is in keeping with the public image we have all come to love and admire! This isn’t a “simples” book – the time and effort that has gone into creating a humorous and graphically intensive story is clear for all to see – did I say it was funny?!

“Ours is a simples life. What could possibles go wrong?”

It’s been some time since a furry animal has captured the hearts and mind of a nation through advertising; I would go as far to suggest that Aleksandr has become pivotal to the company’s undeniable success, and on the strength of this book I don’t see that ending anytime soon.

Tipped to be the Christmas bestseller, Aleksandr will be laughing all the way to the bank! “A Simples Life:My life and times” is inoffensive, child friendly and one the adults will love. Parents will have as much fun reading this to their children at night as will the children listening to their embarrassing parents attempting meerkat Russian! Free delivery from The Book Depository.

The book is filled with sumptuous images charting the Orlov family history including the very first cravat made from a scrap of sail, Vitaly’s “It’s a fur wound” and various painted portraits. The book is ingenious in every way and with each turn of the page you’ll enjoy the richness of the images and the inventive storytelling. I digress …..

A couple of years ago, Aleksandr called me on the meerkat phone, knowing full well I would be in Sydney, to meet up with him and his family for a reunion at Taronga Zoo in Australia – As you can see from the picture,  a great time was had by all.

While eating delicious juicy grubs, fresh from the tins (and a handful of beetle bits but don’t tell anyone) Aleksandr began to tell me his life story – I remember telling him that it would make a great book one day; I guess I was right.

The tale begins with family patriarch Kefentse Orlov, a heroic meerkat who, along with his trusty “sidekat” Seri, braved the desert and rough seas to find food for his family during the great famine. Fortunately, Kefentse kept a journal of his sea voyage and his entry on day 91 was cause for concern:-

“I am think I have scurvy. My teeth feel wobbly and everything looks yellow. Need fresh grubs”

After many months at sea, they finally make land. It is a long way from the Kalahari Desert; they are in Russia. If they had given up it would have been understandables! (Aleksandr takes me to one side and tells me that they were aiming for Bermuda but took a wrong turn somewheres).  Eventuals more meerkats turned up on shore; following footprints and making the wrong turn they landed in Russia. The meerkats were reunited – simples!

Inevitables but both Kefentse and Seri passed away and their offspring produced offspring; the meerkat family grew. The mongooses were big problem, led by five foot tall Mongis Khan. The Orlov family now look to Aleksandr’s great granddaddy “Vitaly” to lead them to victory.

“The only ‘ointment in the flies’ was the neighbouring tribe of Mongooses. They were always sneak into meerkat burrows late in night and make thieves of themselves.”

So there we have it, that’s about as much of the Orlov history I am going to tells, Aleksandr swores me to secrecy at Taronga Zoo and only allowed me to mention the first part of the wonderful history – you’ll have to read it for yourselves; meerkats depend on the royalties (Beetle Bugs don’t come cheap you know)!!

Wonderful and Charming! A sure fire hit this Christmas and a cracking stocking filler!

Published by Ebury Press, “A Simples Life” is available at Amazon &  The Book Depository.