The Talented Mr Ripley (Vintage Loves Film)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the great crime novels of the 20th century, Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley is a blend of the narrative subtlety of Henry James and the self-reflexive irony of Vladimir Nabokov. Like the best modernist fiction, Ripley works on two levels. First, it is the story of a young man, Tom Ripley, whose nihilistic tendencies lead him through a deadly passage across Europe. On another level, the novel is a commentary on fiction making and techniques of narrative persuasion. Like Humbert Humbert, Tom Ripley seduces readers to empathise with him even as his actions defy all moral standards.
The novel begins with a play on James's The Ambassadors. Tom Ripley is chosen by the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf to retrieve Greenleaf's son, Dickie, from his overlong sojourn in Italy. Dickie, it seems, is held captive both by the Mediterranean climate and the attractions of his female companion, but Mr. Greenleaf needs him back in New York to help with the family business. With an allowance and a new purpose, Tom leaves behind his dismal city apartment to begin his career as a return escort. But Tom, too, is captivated by Italy. He is also taken with the life and looks of Dickie Greenleaf. He insinuates himself into Dickie's world and soon finds that his passion for a lifestyle of wealth and sophistication transcends all moral compunction. Tom will become Dickie Greenleaf--at all costs.
Unlike many modernist "experiments", The Talented Mr. Ripley is eminently readable and is driven by a gripping chase narrative that chronicles each of Tom's calculated manoeuvres of self-preservation. Highsmith was in peak form with this novel, and her ability to enter the mind of a sociopath and view the world through his disturbingly amoral eyes is a model that has spawned such latter-day serial killers as Hannibal Lechter.-- Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the great crime novels of the 20th century, Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley is a blend of the narrative subtlety of Henry James and the self- reflexive irony of Vladimir Nabokov. Like the best modernist fiction, Ripley works on two levels. First, it is the story of a young man, Tom Ripley, whose nihilistic tendencies lead him through a deadly passage across Europe. On another level, the novel is a commentary on fiction making and techniques of narrative persuasion. Like Humbert Humbert, Tom Ripley seduces readers to empathise with him even as his actions defy all moral standards.
The novel begins with a play on James's The Ambassadors. Tom Ripley is chosen by the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf to retrieve Greenleaf's son, Dickie, from his overlong sojourn in Italy. Dickie, it seems, is held captive both by the Mediterranean climate and the attractions of his female companion, but Mr. Greenleaf needs him back in New York to help with the family business. With an allowance and a new purpose, Tom leaves behind his dismal city apartment to begin his career as a return escort. But Tom, too, is captivated by Italy. He is also taken with the life and looks of Dickie Greenleaf. He insinuates himself into Dickie's world and soon finds that his passion for a lifestyle of wealth and sophistication transcends all moral compunction. Tom will become Dickie Greenleaf--at all costs.
Unlike many modernist "experiments", The Talented Mr. Ripley is eminently readable and is driven by a gripping chase narrative that chronicles each of Tom's calculated manoeuvres of self-preservation. Highsmith was in peak form with this novel, and her ability to enter the mind of a sociopath and view the world through his disturbingly amoral eyes is a model that has spawned such latter-day serial killers as Hannibal Lechter.-- Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The character development of Tom Ripley is what makes The Talented Mr. Ripley one of the great crime novels of the 20th century. Ms. Highsmith is an acute observer and is able to translate her sensitivity into a multidimensional portrait of a successful criminal in a way that is virtually unmatched. One of the most astonishing qualities of this book is that you will find yourself pulling for Ripley, even though he is as amoral a character as you will read about.
We meet Tom Ripley almost as casually as new friends do. It's only by following him around, hearing his thoughts and observing what he does that we realize who he is. Ripley is an immensely capable man who floats like a newly cut wood chip on the surging tides of life, always buoyant regardless of the circumstances. He is extremely impulsive. If there's candy there, he cannot resist it. At the same time, he has so little invested in who he is that he can even be happier pretending to be someone else. He's a man without a core. He is also unattached to the world's judgments. He looks for neither approval nor acclaim. Solitude suits him well.
The story opens as the father of a casual acquaintance tracks Ripley down in a bar. The father wants to persuade his son to return from Italy to take up a career in the family business. Through this contact, Ripley finds himself sent off to Europe as a paid-for emissary with an expense account. Once there, Ripley makes no headway but does develop a friendship with his casual acquaintance before strains start to develop. What follows is one of the most interesting and intricate plot lines that it will ever be your pleasure to read.
The book's largest theme is about identity. Who are we really? Can we be someone different from whom we seem to be? How do we misjudge one another? I don't remember any other crime novel that explores such subtle questions so well.
I recently reread this novel for the third time. I found depths in the themes and story telling that I had missed before. Even if you have read it before, I suggest you do so again. If you haven't read any of the Ripley novels, you have a great treat ahead of you. The next book in the series is Ripley under Ground.
Enjoy a great read!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Brilliant - I had wanted to read this for some time and took the opportunity to do so whilst in Nice. The writing reminded me of Albert Camus with its detached air. The introduction by Grey Gowrie should not be read before the books themselves but is illuminating when you have arrived at the end. I had not read Highsmith before. She creates timeless characters who evoke a world we can all relate to but is actually not with us anymore. The pacing of the novels is wonderful. To read these in a hardback compendium was also a pleasure in that handling a well constructed book itself further enhanced the reading experience. The best £10 you will spend on a book this year.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read the book before seeing the film, and as such the film didn't impress me much on first viewing, (though it has grown on me since), and I think that's largely because the book's greatness is down to its detailed understanding of Ripley's character. The film was a big glossy Hollywood number which went instead more for being a straightforward thriller, and you shouldn't really despise it for that reason, as it's a good movie. To make a film that stuck more religiously to the book though you would have to make it a much more offbeat, perhaps low-budget, affair.
The characterisation of Tom Ripley in this book is faultless. You do get much more idea of him as a person, particularly in the short but effective flashbacks to his troubled childhood (which is also where you gain your sympathy for him). His journey to Europe and the tangled web that is weaved there is extremely absorbing. In the Venice scenes too you get disturbing glimpses of Ripley's horror of close physical contact with the female sex, even to the extent where he is revolted by seeing a lady guest's underwear draped over her bedroom chair. It is hardly surprising that Patricia Highsmith has drawn such a complex character study, she was infatuated with her creation, to the point that she would sign letters from both herself and Tom!
The other books in the Ripley series are well worth reading but, to my mind, don't quite match the first. A lot of Ripley's mystique disappears when he's leading his comfortable artsy-fartsy life in France, (and in "The Boy Who Followed Ripley", a very late book in the series, I felt Highsmith was a tad TOO delicate about his sexuality, although the Berlin scenes have a sort of 1970s fascination), but in this, the first, where he's a loner travelling across Europe, this is a must-read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Utterly Brilliant
Tom Ripley has to be one of the most fascinating characters ever in the world of fiction. Highsmith's writing style is lucid and utterly brilliant. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hardcore Noir
Ripley is indeed a killer
I did not want to put this down; at every turn I wanted Ripley to succeed, not because those he trumps are so awful, but he is so endearing!
Published 4 months ago by Mr. J. P. Stirrup
A fine introduction to a great character...
To my shame, I come to this book relatively late. It is regarded as a classic, so I thought I'd give it a go. Read more
Published 7 months ago by bloodsimple
Talented Mr Ripley
Found this unconvincing with poor characterisation. The quality of thrillers has improved massively since the book was written and it does not compare well.
Published 9 months ago by Sarah B
A really vivid and richly plotted book. You feel like you've had...
This is richly plotted, causing you to wonder just how Ripley's actions and decisions will eventually condemn him as he switches from extreme confidence in the path he is taking to... Read more
Published 9 months ago by ceb 123
The quality of the writing doesn't cover the flaws
First Sentence: Tom glanced behind him and saw the man coming out of the Green Cage, heading his way. Read more
Published 14 months ago by L. J. Roberts
Disconcerting
Beautifully written, marvellous character observation and development- and yet I did not really enjoy this book. Something in my Protestant upbringing wanted Ripley to fail. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Donald Hughes
Great example of a 1950s crime novel
This book is about the adventures of Tom Ripley, a young man living in NY who is down on his luck - he gets the chance to go to Europe to persuade an acquaintance back to US and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Janie U
Portrayal of a Lovable Psychopath
My enjoyment of this book was hampered by my having seen the film about 3 times. Strange because I used to love the film, now I don't. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2010 by Book Scout
Stylish and fascinating!
In a nutshell the story is of pocket-less Tom Ripley,living in New york
is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy and pursuade the mans son
Richard to travel home to... Read more
is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy and pursuade the mans son
Richard to travel home to... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by Mr. A. J. Ralph
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