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Earthly Powers (Vintage Classics) [Paperback]

Anthony Burgess (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 6 May 2004 | Series: Vintage Classics

'Crowded, crammed, bursting with manic erudition, garlicky puns, omnilingual jokes... which meshes the real and personalised history of the twentieth century'

Martin Amis

Kenneth Toomey is an eminent novelist of dubious talent; Don Carlo Campanati is a man of God, a shrewd manipulator who rises through the Vatican to become the architect of church revolution and a candidate for sainthood. These two men are linked not only by family ties but by a common understanding of mankind's frailties. In this epic masterpiece, Anthony Burgess plumbs the depths of the essence of power and the lengths men will go for it.

(20030723)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 656 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage Classics; New Ed edition (6 May 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099468646
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099468646
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 4 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 42,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Anthony Burgess Page
Anthony Burgess
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Product Description

Review

Burgess is the great postmodern storehouse of British writing-an important experimentalist; an encyclopaedic amasser, but also a maker of form; a playful comic, with a dark gloom (Malcolm Bradbury )

Enormous imagination and vitality - a huge book in every way (Sunday Times )

A hellfire tract thrown down by a novelist at the peak of his powers (The Times )

In all ways, a remarkable book (Paul Theroux )

Wildly funny-a masterpiece (A. S. Byatt Daily Mail )

Book Description

Rollicking, panoramic epic of 20th century by the author of 'A Clockwork Orange' (20030723)
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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An offbeat masterwork 9 Sep 2005
By Jonners
Format:Paperback
A lot of mythologising surrounds this novel; when it was first published, the critics snarled and disdained it, and in large part didn't understand it, which is forgiveable, because it is a huge, complex monster of a book. The plot (which is far from being the central point of the book) follows the richly colourful and sympathetic inner life of an ancient, eccentric author against the backdrop of twentieth-century history: this is merely a stage against which to set his relationship with an Italian priest of great character and complexity, destined to become Pope. This relationship is in itself a mere frame for an analysis of the nature of good and evil, and faith and free will, in an astonishingly subtle and labyrinthine way. The whole thrust of the book is to propose an idea, only revealed near the end, which is so philosophically shocking that the reader has to have some way of rejecting it, should they so wish. Suddenly the rest of the book is thrown into crystal relief - the vast complexity of the narrative is a web of deliberate errors of fact, logic and conclusion to allow this escape: the nature of human memory and thought itself is thrown into question. Beyond that, I leave you to argue it out amongst yourselves. This is a truly great book by one of Britain's most important C20 writers.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Epic Masterpiece 19 Dec 2001
By Francisco Pita Caravana Santos Silva
Format:Paperback
I can't believe this isn't full of reviews, this book is one of the best books I've ever read. Anthony Burgess is one of the most inventive, original authors, making you believe everything because he entwines fiction with reality. This is a huge book, a review of the 20th century, deep, and extremly inteligent. By the end of the book Toomey (the main character) is a part of your life, I was so sad to let him go...
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Wide-ranging and wonderful journey 12 May 2005
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is a wonderful journey through the life and adventures of Kenneth Toomey, the world-wearing and endearing protagonist. I was gripped the whole way through, although I enjoyed the highly comic scenes in the first half of the novel best. As the story progresses, the tale becomes darker, but it's still a masterpiece. The ending is very strong indeed (and that after one of the best first lines to a novel I've ever read!), with the glorious last quarter twist taking your breath away.

Worth a thousand "The Line of Beauty" books in how to write an epic saga. I can definitely recommend it!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime writing, big themes, great characters
This is a joy to read, so don't be put off by the novel's length -- it is a sweeping tale spanning several decades, from the Great War to the hippy era. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brian Hollywood
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book
Excellent quality and service delivery. Re reading all the old classics which I had lent out - and with the excellent quality and delivery I get from Amazon, I can now renew my... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrsc Duncan
4.0 out of 5 stars Burgess close to his best
Huge, baggy, meandering (at times), but never less than wonderfully readable. I love Burgess, and this is probably the best place to start (although I actually prefer The Napoleon... Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. J. McGowan
5.0 out of 5 stars First rate
Probably my favourite novel of the last century. I would enourage everyone who enjoys literature at its best to read it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, very scary, very entertaining
Your narrator an English octogenarian writer forced into religious isolation by his homosexuality, this story is told over 81 chapters and takes you through both world wars,... Read more
Published 11 months ago by I. Brzozowski
5.0 out of 5 stars Only Burgess Can Write Like This.
This great beast of a book is a journey in the life of Kenneth Toomey, an old man telling the story of his incredible life. Read more
Published 23 months ago by movie maniac
3.0 out of 5 stars Third Time Unlucky
I first read this around 1980 when it was published and thought it a work of genius as I was an almost uncritical fan of Burgess at that time. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2011 by John Fitzpatrick
5.0 out of 5 stars Genius
Everyone has a 'comfort book' and this is mine. I've escaped to 'here' so many times I've had to buy three copies having read the first two to destruction. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2010 by Mandy
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read
Don't be put off by Martin Anis's recommendation - it really is a good read and very funny. If you like farce, you'll like this. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2008 by I. Holton
5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Novel
I remember picking this up and getting a feeling of joy bubbling through me when I read the first line and found that I already liked Kenneth Toomey as he explained his thinking... Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2008 by D. M. Deeks
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