- Paperback: 496 pages
- Publisher: Fourth Estate; New edition edition (4 Feb 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841154660
- ISBN-13: 978-1841154664
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 11.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 650,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Don't let the fact that Howard Roughan's highly impressive The Up and Comer has been optioned for a film (starring Michael Douglas) put you off. Chances are that if you allow the author to lay his spell upon you (and most readers will not find that at all difficult), your image of handsome, stylish Philip Randall will be nothing like any movie star. When so many novels these days read as mere blueprints for the subsequent movie, this is very much a work of fiction that functions on its own terms. That Roughan's novel refuses to fit comfortably into any category is one of its primary virtues.
By marrying a rich Manhattanite, Philip Randall has secured something of a dream existence, enjoying a high-powered job at a Manhattan law firm, a desirable loft in Chelsea and even a mistress who satisfies his every erotic need. But his lover Jessica is also married to his best friend, and when an ex-friend produces blackmailing photographic proof of the affair, Philip realises that his privileged existence may be about to collapse around him. And his troubles are increased when a savage murder puts him in the middle of a massive police investigation.
There are elements of Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities in the author's cold-eyed exposure of the excesses of the Manhattan rich. Even though the bones of the plot may be that of a thriller, it's Roughan's skills as a social commentator and satirist that really distinguish his tale. Certain concepts stand just as much chance of passing into our consciousness as did many in Tom Wolfe's magnum opus:
Sometime during my teens I created in my mind a sliding scale of what I called--for lack of originality--Risk Factors. The scale numbered from 1 to 10. For instance, something like... oh, I don't know, crossing the Sahara on foot, was a Risk Factor 10. Shoplifting the Talking Heads' latest album, meanwhile, was a Risk Factor 1. Both dangerous, of course, just not to the same degree. Ever since then I'd use this scale as a quick and orderly way to assess all the risks that came along in my life. From there I could better determine which ones were worth taking. My affair with Jessica had suddenly jumped from a Risk Factor 5 to Risk Factor 6...--Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘A wonderful decline-and-fall story for our well-heeled times which captures the dubious underside of anyone who believes “careerism” is a noble calling. Terrific.’ Douglas Kennedy
‘Elegant writing, fine dialogue and deft jokes…a hugely entertaining read’ Tatler
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First Sentence
The four of us were having dinner together, as we so often did. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The four of us were having dinner together, as we so often did. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a pretty straightforward modern-day morality tale, of having it all, wanting more, and ending up with nothing. It reads pretty much like a less cynical and more mainstream "American Psycho" or "Glamorama", while missing out on the viscousness of those books.
It is quite an addicitve read, and I though it was quite nicely wrapped up with a good and slightly unexpected way.
A good read, and by the way in which it was written, watch out for the film soon.......
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you want to learn about life in New York for a group of young "up and comers" who seem to be on their way to the end of the rainbow, then dip into this book. Roughan has a way with prose that teases the reader into wanting to find out more about his characters, where they came from and how their personalities were molded into the shallow beings that they are.
For this, it is a shame that he doesn't focus more on character development and less on trying to shock the reader with a John Grisham crafted plot.
The book is a good, light read and worth the time to escape some of your more complex worries of life.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A hot-shot US lawyer who has married into money but has an affair with one of his wife's "City Made Friends"...you know it's all going to go pear-shaped.
Howard Roughan spins a great tail about this bungling buffoon and it's compelling reading. In fact the story was so good that I was disappointed that I'd reached the end. Maybe that's because the ending was a bit disappointing...
Nevertheless, I'll definitely look out for his next book.
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