Charles Judd meanders round his local Cornish beach, contemplating the turns his life has taken. His wife Daphne struggles hopelessly with the latest fish recipe, trying to keep something in her life under control. Two of their children are keeping it all together - just. But they are all still recovering from the shock of the prodigal daughter, Juliet, being imprisoned in New York State for her part in an art theft. Since then, Charles appears to have lost his entire family. Now Juliet is being released, the family is about to be reunited and the wounds her imprisonment has caused are being re-opened.
The Promise of Happiness
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Review
'A compelling and candid portrait of a family in crisis' -- Mail on Sunday
'A special treat: as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. It confirms his status as one of our foremost novelists' -- Daily Mail
'A storming piece of work, the equal of anything published on this side of the Atlantic this year' -- Independent on Sunday
'A touching, beautifully observed novel written with precision and sympathy' -- Literary Review
'Extraordinarily bold ... this is a funny, angry, moving novel ... brilliant' -- Independent
'A special treat: as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. It confirms his status as one of our foremost novelists' -- Daily Mail
'A storming piece of work, the equal of anything published on this side of the Atlantic this year' -- Independent on Sunday
'A touching, beautifully observed novel written with precision and sympathy' -- Literary Review
'Extraordinarily bold ... this is a funny, angry, moving novel ... brilliant' -- Independent
About the Author
Justin Cartwright's novels include the Booker-shortlisted In Every Face I Meet, the Whitbread Novel Award-winner Leading the Cheers and the acclaimed White Lightning which was shortlisted for the 2002 Whitbread Novel Award. Justin Cartwright was born in South Africa, and now lives in Islington, London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book has had incredible reviews, and rightly so. It is a moving account of a family's attempts to come to terms with the fact that their eldest daughter, the golden girl of the family, has been imprisoned for an art theft. We get all five members of the family's point of view, and it ends with an astonishing scene when they are finally re-united. One critic, and I heartily agree, described this as the most moving book he has read in ten years. But a word of warning: it is not a feel-good,sentimental read, which is what some of the people who have written in expect. It is a genuine work of literature, but very accessible and very contemporary. Please, please read this if you are interested in the way we live now.
78 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a very rewarding book, a story of a family going through a challenging time, with the eldest daughter being released from prison, bringing all sorts of undercurrents to the surface of this typically middle class family. JoJo was convicted of fraudulently handling some antique windows, while working in New York. Her family in England coped with this in various ways, but the greatest impact was on her parents. Her father went into denial and during her two year incarceration was unable to bring himself to visit her in jail, leaving her mother to go by herself. When the time comes for her release, JoJo's brother goes across to meet her at the prison and to take her through a few days of acclimatisation during which he keeps in touch with the other family members by telephone as they anticipate the reunion a the family home in Cornwall.
The book is tense at times, largely centring on the relationship between the mother and father who find various way of not coping very well. There is also an element of the detective novel about this book as clearly, JoJo's conviction was not the best example of US justice and requires investigation by her brother, who delves into the truth behind it. I would rate this as an extremely well-written book which deserves the reputation is has gained since its release.
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
It's very rare to read a novel so full of ideas and observations, and to find at the same time that it is very enjoyable and easy to read. I couldn't put it down. It's about a family in crisis, but still agonisingly funny. The favourite daughter has been involved in an art theft in New York, and the novel opens on the day she is let out of prison. Her parents, Daphne and Charles, her sister Sophie and her brother Charlie are all wonderfully well described. Charles is having something of a crisis, unable to come to terms with his daughter's imprisonment. The book is crammed full of moving and - as I said - funny moments, and lays bare the soul of this family. There are also interesting observations on art, on families, on life as we live it now. Don't miss this book. They hype is definitely justified.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book
Very moving, super well written as usual for Justin Cartwright book , I couldn't put the book down, I really recommend.
Published 5 days ago by E2436
4.0 out of 5 stars
Make up your own mind.
I've just read 'The Promise of Happiness' - the first Justin Cartwright book I own, but I will be buying, reading, and hopefully keeping, more. Read more
Published 2 months ago by lyssa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marvellous!
Beautifully written and a compelling read. The characters are superbly drawn and their lives of quiet desperation brilliantly portrayed. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Tyler Durden
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Families are like sea anemones, quick to close."
Justin Cartwright always writes well about family life. In The Promise of Happiness he shows it with its ups and downs, joys and disappointments. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Wynne Kelly
1.0 out of 5 stars
So bad that it's....well, just really bad.
This book is deeply flawed. It's failings are too numerous to list, but the jarring, unrealistic dialogue is my main bugbear. Read more
Published on 14 May 2010 by Bookworm1984
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charming, well-observed, funny and clever
I'm amazed at how polarised the reviews are on this page. I found Cartwright a very genial companion, his prose is so intelligent, light, witty and astute. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2010 by William Cohen
1.0 out of 5 stars
Irritatingly poor
One of the most boring, pointless books I have read (although I must confess I skimmed the last few chapters). It neither entertains nor informs. Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by Finn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pitch Perfect
In The Promise of Happiness Charles Judd surely utters the best line in contemporary fiction. It's worth waiting for. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2009 by Jonathan Posner
2.0 out of 5 stars
The happiness promised not delivered
Sadly lightweight and contrived. Good idea. Shallow characterisations. A true 'Aga saga'. Justin Cartwright's credentials suggest it should have been better.
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by gardengran
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Promise of Happiness
This is the first novel by Justin Cartwright that I have read, and I certainly intend to read more. I found some of the incidents e.g. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by Antenna
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