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Lunch with... #1
Lunch With The Generals
Ramon, self-styled master storyteller, has steered his listeners down a sinister path littered with love and betrayal, secret police and death squads. But as the Argentinian′s tale nears its startling conclusion, his audience is struck with horror at the possibility that Ramon′s clever invention is nothing more than the cunningly disguised chronicle of his own shadowy past.
Is Ramon a gifted artist of the imagination or the perpetrator of a terrible act of revenge that defies all forgiveness?
Is Ramon a gifted artist of the imagination or the perpetrator of a terrible act of revenge that defies all forgiveness?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
17 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Derek Hansen
31 books46 followersDerek was born in London in June 1944 about the same time Hitler thought London was a great place to send his V1 flying bombs.
At the age of four he convinced his parents to emigrate and spent the next sixteen years in Auckland being called a Pommy and a wimp for playing soccer and not rugby.
His first published short story appeared in his grammar school yearbook.
Equipped with a million ideas for novels he approached the leading national newspaper for a traineeship and was told he was too undisciplined; approached publishers and was told he was too young; approached an advertising agency and was welcomed into their embrace – they knew a fast, facile, fashionably glib mind when they saw one.
His talent took him London in the sixties where his quirky style and commercial instincts brought a rapid rise through the ranks to the country’s top advertising agency, accumulating many international awards along the way.
Derek was lured to Australia by the usual inducements – money, sunshine, money, lifestyle, money, etc – and spent the next twenty-five years doing ads and wishing he was writing novels instead.
About the time Bryce Courtenay wrote The Power of One and Peter Carey wrote Bliss, Derek and his partners sold their advertising agency and three years later he was free to pursue his true writing ambitions.
Having spent a lifetime reducing masses of information to less than 100 words or thirty seconds of TV time, working in exactly the opposite direction did not come easy.
An idea for a novel can be written on a folded napkin. What follows takes thousands of tablecloths.
One day over lunch Derek had the bright idea of breaking his novel down into more easily managed bite-sized pieces and so the idea for the Lunch series was born.
Lunch with the Generals became an instant bestseller in Australasia and was sold into Britain, Scandinavia, France and Germany. Lunch with Mussolini followed but it was Sole Survivor that piqued American interest.
Simon and Schuster decided to publish an American edition and Kennedy-Marshall (Sixth Sense, Snow Falling on Cedars) bought the rights to the movie on behalf of Disney in a $US750,000 deal.
Three weeks before the movie was due to go into production, shooting began on Castaway with Tom Hanks. Two movies about a man on an island surrounded by salt water was deemed one too many, and Sole Survivor the movie bit the dust. How typical of Hollywood to choose to make the wrong movie.
Derek has subsequently published a further five novels and three collections of short stories, but nothing quite as quirky or funny as his latest novel, A Man You Can Bank On.
Derek is married, has two grown-up children and lives most of the time in Avalon on Pittwater, and some of the time in Doonan on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Kingfish, salmon, bonito, bream and flathead live just outside his back door and the surf rises a short walk from the front door.
Someone had to have this life and Derek is just so glad that someone is him.
At the age of four he convinced his parents to emigrate and spent the next sixteen years in Auckland being called a Pommy and a wimp for playing soccer and not rugby.
His first published short story appeared in his grammar school yearbook.
Equipped with a million ideas for novels he approached the leading national newspaper for a traineeship and was told he was too undisciplined; approached publishers and was told he was too young; approached an advertising agency and was welcomed into their embrace – they knew a fast, facile, fashionably glib mind when they saw one.
His talent took him London in the sixties where his quirky style and commercial instincts brought a rapid rise through the ranks to the country’s top advertising agency, accumulating many international awards along the way.
Derek was lured to Australia by the usual inducements – money, sunshine, money, lifestyle, money, etc – and spent the next twenty-five years doing ads and wishing he was writing novels instead.
About the time Bryce Courtenay wrote The Power of One and Peter Carey wrote Bliss, Derek and his partners sold their advertising agency and three years later he was free to pursue his true writing ambitions.
Having spent a lifetime reducing masses of information to less than 100 words or thirty seconds of TV time, working in exactly the opposite direction did not come easy.
An idea for a novel can be written on a folded napkin. What follows takes thousands of tablecloths.
One day over lunch Derek had the bright idea of breaking his novel down into more easily managed bite-sized pieces and so the idea for the Lunch series was born.
Lunch with the Generals became an instant bestseller in Australasia and was sold into Britain, Scandinavia, France and Germany. Lunch with Mussolini followed but it was Sole Survivor that piqued American interest.
Simon and Schuster decided to publish an American edition and Kennedy-Marshall (Sixth Sense, Snow Falling on Cedars) bought the rights to the movie on behalf of Disney in a $US750,000 deal.
Three weeks before the movie was due to go into production, shooting began on Castaway with Tom Hanks. Two movies about a man on an island surrounded by salt water was deemed one too many, and Sole Survivor the movie bit the dust. How typical of Hollywood to choose to make the wrong movie.
Derek has subsequently published a further five novels and three collections of short stories, but nothing quite as quirky or funny as his latest novel, A Man You Can Bank On.
Derek is married, has two grown-up children and lives most of the time in Avalon on Pittwater, and some of the time in Doonan on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Kingfish, salmon, bonito, bream and flathead live just outside his back door and the surf rises a short walk from the front door.
Someone had to have this life and Derek is just so glad that someone is him.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 20, 2020
Derek Hansen's 'Lunch with...' series had been recommended to me so I thought I should start with the first. Four men meet for lunch in Sydney each Thursday and tell each other stories. The story Ramon, a blind Argentinian immigrant, tells is punctuated by chapters showing the reactions and interactions of his listeners. As his story progresses, we begin to suspect that there is a more personal side to his tale of intrigue and revenge.
The early parts of this novel engaged my interest, firstly in the history of Argentina after the Generals' coup in the 70s (centred around the character of Jorge) and secondly in the Indonesian setting in the late 60s when another army coup ousted President Sukarno (centred around the character of Dutchman, Jan). However, my interest waned as the novel charted Jan's life as a tea planter and family man. I knew that the lives of Jan and Jorge would intersect and Hansen managed this quite cleverly. However, I gradually lost interest as character development was sacrificed to plot. I skimmed a lot of the latter part of the book and despite an intriguing ending felt that overall it was a disappointment. I'm not sure I would try any more of this series.
The early parts of this novel engaged my interest, firstly in the history of Argentina after the Generals' coup in the 70s (centred around the character of Jorge) and secondly in the Indonesian setting in the late 60s when another army coup ousted President Sukarno (centred around the character of Dutchman, Jan). However, my interest waned as the novel charted Jan's life as a tea planter and family man. I knew that the lives of Jan and Jorge would intersect and Hansen managed this quite cleverly. However, I gradually lost interest as character development was sacrificed to plot. I skimmed a lot of the latter part of the book and despite an intriguing ending felt that overall it was a disappointment. I'm not sure I would try any more of this series.
December 8, 2010
A "could not put down" book. Derek Hansen is a great novelist. He also wrote "Lunch With Mussolini" which was made into a motion picture. Only someone with real talent could grant his characters such intelligence and insight and still remain in command
Ramon, self-styled master storyteller, has steered his listeners down a sinister path littered with love and betrayal, secret police and death squads. But as the Argentinian's tale reaches its startling conclusion, his audience is struck with horror at the possibility that Ramon's clever invention is nothing more than the cunningly disguised chronicle of his own shadowy past.
Ramon, self-styled master storyteller, has steered his listeners down a sinister path littered with love and betrayal, secret police and death squads. But as the Argentinian's tale reaches its startling conclusion, his audience is struck with horror at the possibility that Ramon's clever invention is nothing more than the cunningly disguised chronicle of his own shadowy past.
September 21, 2020
An avid reader recommended this book. I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about it at the beginning but I was intrigued by the concept of a group of men meeting over lunch in Sydney and telling stories. This story has it all. It’s a saga, a romance, an adventure and so much more. I was never sure where the story would go and I was somewhat surprised at how it ended.
September 16, 2024
I was given this book by a friend as she loves the author. The quality of the writing style cannot be disputed by I really could not get into it, the ending did not give me a ‘light bulb’ moment about its meaning. I disliked the ‘stories’ finding them cruel and overall it was a horrid tale.
June 4, 2013
.....a 'One Day' book..i.e. read in one go...different ...original...absorbing......loved every page. I fully intend seeking out every book this author has written.....when I get me royalties that is...kids being a bit unreasonable at the minute ... wanting food and stuff....brats!
September 20, 2012
love this book, one of my all time favourites.
January 4, 2019
Lunch With The Generals
by Derek Hansen
Published originally in 1993 this copy in 2003 by Harper Collins Publishers Australia Ltd
ISBN 9 780732 275426
Lunch with the Generals, was Derek Hansen’s first novel. It is followed by a series of ‘Lunches with . . .’. Several gentlemen were sitting by themselves for lunch. Gancio, the proprietor of an Italian restaurant in Leichhardt introduced them to each other by seating them at a common table.
Although from different backgrounds there was an immediate synchronicity, which developed into a long-standing regular Thursday arrangement. Gancio would preside with a special menu for the group while they took turns to outdo one another with elaborate story-telling over several meetings.
Lunch with the Generals, is Ramon’s story—set in Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. It is a complex tale littered with love, betrayal, revenge and compassion. In short, it is about several people and their journey through life. It is full of twists and turns, happiness and disappointment, and above all hope.
Knowing culturally diverse Leichhardt, one can easily picture the group—Gancio from Lake Como in Northern Italy, Ramon from Buenos Aires in Argentina, Milos from Yugoslavia, Lucio the short, fat, bald, over-sexed Italian (as he describes himself).
Derek Hansen is a master story-teller. He manipulates the reader’s emotions mercilessly. We meet a character whom at first, we dislike, even revile, but later the author makes us soften until we fall in love with the same person and even take pity on him when he does the unthinkable.
I found it extraordinary how Hansen dovetailed two opposing stories from countries poles apart like Java and Argentina. Then he brought together a seemingly incompatible cast of characters who easily formed lifelong relations with each other. Truly, the work of a genius.
I especially love the way Hansen weaves history, tradition, politics and geographic details into the book. These minutiae underpin the story and make the characters actions utterly believable. In fact the listeners of Ramon’s story squabble amongst themselves about the interaction between characters and what will surely happen in the next instalment.
They speculate whether the story is fiction or in reality a veiled attempt by Ramon to purge these old memories and accuse him of being the protagonist. Ramon is cagey but insists that is not the case.
I look forward to reading more ‘Lunches with . . .’ stories and perhaps other of Hansen’s novels. About 450 pages of interesting easy re
by Derek Hansen
Published originally in 1993 this copy in 2003 by Harper Collins Publishers Australia Ltd
ISBN 9 780732 275426
Lunch with the Generals, was Derek Hansen’s first novel. It is followed by a series of ‘Lunches with . . .’. Several gentlemen were sitting by themselves for lunch. Gancio, the proprietor of an Italian restaurant in Leichhardt introduced them to each other by seating them at a common table.
Although from different backgrounds there was an immediate synchronicity, which developed into a long-standing regular Thursday arrangement. Gancio would preside with a special menu for the group while they took turns to outdo one another with elaborate story-telling over several meetings.
Lunch with the Generals, is Ramon’s story—set in Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. It is a complex tale littered with love, betrayal, revenge and compassion. In short, it is about several people and their journey through life. It is full of twists and turns, happiness and disappointment, and above all hope.
Knowing culturally diverse Leichhardt, one can easily picture the group—Gancio from Lake Como in Northern Italy, Ramon from Buenos Aires in Argentina, Milos from Yugoslavia, Lucio the short, fat, bald, over-sexed Italian (as he describes himself).
Derek Hansen is a master story-teller. He manipulates the reader’s emotions mercilessly. We meet a character whom at first, we dislike, even revile, but later the author makes us soften until we fall in love with the same person and even take pity on him when he does the unthinkable.
I found it extraordinary how Hansen dovetailed two opposing stories from countries poles apart like Java and Argentina. Then he brought together a seemingly incompatible cast of characters who easily formed lifelong relations with each other. Truly, the work of a genius.
I especially love the way Hansen weaves history, tradition, politics and geographic details into the book. These minutiae underpin the story and make the characters actions utterly believable. In fact the listeners of Ramon’s story squabble amongst themselves about the interaction between characters and what will surely happen in the next instalment.
They speculate whether the story is fiction or in reality a veiled attempt by Ramon to purge these old memories and accuse him of being the protagonist. Ramon is cagey but insists that is not the case.
I look forward to reading more ‘Lunches with . . .’ stories and perhaps other of Hansen’s novels. About 450 pages of interesting easy re
May 9, 2020
I've not read a novel like this before. Nothing would've enticed me to read this, however I was enticed only by the agreement that I would read it aloud with my partner! We have only just made our way to the end of the story and I am looking forward very much, to the sequel!!
The story follows a weekly lunch meeting between old mates. They each take turns to tell their stories, and this novel is only one of the party member's stories. The reflection points when the old men are bantering, provide a bit of comic relief and give perspective into what might come next and what relation the story might have to the present day version of the storyteller.
The story itself was riveting - all genres, with great amounts of detail and historical information to give clear visuals of the eras and political, cultural or environmental setting of each episode. The characters were well described and there were many decision markers that made you think about how you would act in the same situation. I learnt a lot from reading these stories. Including how to pronounce Argentinian and Indonesian names!
January 27, 2019
Mix of riveting and boring passages. Could have left out the boring business and Australian life bits and kept the build-up pieces shorter. OK, but not as good as his subsequent “lunch with” books. Hansen’s writing obviously got better with practice
March 14, 2025
This would have got more stars except for the very end. This was a fascinating story, very intense but in the best way. I hate ambiguous endings. I need closure. I don't like the author leaving it up to me. It's his story, he should have finished it. I feel cheated when they leave me hanging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2019
It was a really great read, but there were a few areas that were a bit slow and mundane
September 30, 2022
Abandoned.
January 31, 2017
Isn't it great when you find a series that you just have to read all of. So it is with the 'Lunch With...' series, by Derek Hansen. Unlike many other series', you don't actually have to read this series in order, which is just as well, because I started with the last one - 'Lunch with a Soldier', then moved onto number three - 'Lunch with the Stationmaster', and now number two. Next is number one - 'Lunch with Mussolini'. Each of these novels is completely self contained, the link and familiarity between them due to the same four men meeting weekly in an Italian restaurant in Sydney to tell their stories and pass time together. And eat beautiful Italian food! How incredibly civilised! And what stories these ageing gentlemen tell! Each book is great story telling, the author has a wonderful gift in the art of telling a story. The tension and hook of each story is trying to figure out whether it is the narrator's life story or if it is really a made up story, or even a mixture of the two.
This fluidity with the truth is maddening in this particular tale! The story of the General is narrated by Ramon, an exile from Argentina. You never know at all how much is Ramon's story and how much isn't, even at the end there are doubts. But don't let this slight annoyance detract you from the brilliance of the story telling.
Ramon's story begins during a terrible period in Argentina's recent history. A small boy witnesses his parents being taken away, betrayed by an ex-lover of the mother. The parents are never seen again, The ex-lover 'escapes' to Australia, renames himself Eduardo, and begins a new life. Running parallel to this story is that of a young Dutch man who makes the long journey to his childhood home in Indonesia, taken over by the Japanese during the war. Eventually he and his family also land in Sydney, where inevitably the paths of the two men and their families cross. As does the third path of the young child abandoned during his parents' arrests. It is perhaps a little contrived with a not entirely satisfactory ending, but still compelling story telling. Not the best in the series, but still worth a read.
This fluidity with the truth is maddening in this particular tale! The story of the General is narrated by Ramon, an exile from Argentina. You never know at all how much is Ramon's story and how much isn't, even at the end there are doubts. But don't let this slight annoyance detract you from the brilliance of the story telling.
Ramon's story begins during a terrible period in Argentina's recent history. A small boy witnesses his parents being taken away, betrayed by an ex-lover of the mother. The parents are never seen again, The ex-lover 'escapes' to Australia, renames himself Eduardo, and begins a new life. Running parallel to this story is that of a young Dutch man who makes the long journey to his childhood home in Indonesia, taken over by the Japanese during the war. Eventually he and his family also land in Sydney, where inevitably the paths of the two men and their families cross. As does the third path of the young child abandoned during his parents' arrests. It is perhaps a little contrived with a not entirely satisfactory ending, but still compelling story telling. Not the best in the series, but still worth a read.
September 3, 2012
I made the error of reading the second instalment in Hansen’s ‘Lunch with...’ series before I read the first novel. Whilst this in no way gave away any of its predecessors secrets, it did however raise the bar astronomically high. As a result I felt Lunch with the Generals was not as awe-inspiring as its successor, nevertheless an incredible debut from a very talented writer.
Hansen has a fantastic way of creating exciting, lovable but extremely flawed characters and ties them together in cleverly thought out scenarios. He uses Ramon the storyteller to question his friends as to what extent people can be forgiven for their mistakes, and thereby asks of us as readers; which characters are we willing to forgive and why?
He layers his plot with two key sections; the first is Ramon and his audience of three, listening to his story as they gather for their weekly meeting. The other takes you into the events of Ramon’s narration, to follow the many separate journeys of different characters before they are brought together for the conclusion. Hansen has chosen some interesting times in global history to flesh out his narration, including the civil unrest in Argentina.
His stories never fail to be astonishing, both in terms of the surprises he releases onto his readers, or by the sheer cleverness with which he constructs his work. Hansen is fast become one of my favourite authors.
Hansen has a fantastic way of creating exciting, lovable but extremely flawed characters and ties them together in cleverly thought out scenarios. He uses Ramon the storyteller to question his friends as to what extent people can be forgiven for their mistakes, and thereby asks of us as readers; which characters are we willing to forgive and why?
He layers his plot with two key sections; the first is Ramon and his audience of three, listening to his story as they gather for their weekly meeting. The other takes you into the events of Ramon’s narration, to follow the many separate journeys of different characters before they are brought together for the conclusion. Hansen has chosen some interesting times in global history to flesh out his narration, including the civil unrest in Argentina.
His stories never fail to be astonishing, both in terms of the surprises he releases onto his readers, or by the sheer cleverness with which he constructs his work. Hansen is fast become one of my favourite authors.
June 29, 2014
Derek Hansen is a great storyteller. In this novel he wove three stories into one. A group of men meet for regular lunches, knowing very little of each others private lives. Ramon decides to tell the others the above stories over their weekly lunches. I definitely feel the suspense is there for the men and myself as the reader. Unfortunately I felt the ending let the book down. It didn't take away from the enjoyment, not sure if hat is the right word because most of the story is quite dark but Hansen's descriptions of countries, events, feelings and human interaction I could picture vividly.
Thank you to my friend who passed on this good read, lucky she found it in the op shop for $2 - hopefully more people will find hidden copies and enjoy them and pass them on.
Thank you to my friend who passed on this good read, lucky she found it in the op shop for $2 - hopefully more people will find hidden copies and enjoy them and pass them on.
July 22, 2014
I really enjoyed the structure and idea behind this book. The idea of four men meeting to take turns telling each other stories is interesting. The story in this instance starts in Argentina and Indonesia and gradually comes together in Australia. I wish I had read it before the second in the series, which I found much more compelling and better told.
For me, the father's behavior was inexplicable. It felt like the author had started down a path with this character and then tired of it. The parents reach a crisis point and it evaporates. And the character of Niall was ridiculously written, he just didn't seem real to me. The same with the boy Roberto. And the ending was inconclusive and not more interesting because of it.
For me, the father's behavior was inexplicable. It felt like the author had started down a path with this character and then tired of it. The parents reach a crisis point and it evaporates. And the character of Niall was ridiculously written, he just didn't seem real to me. The same with the boy Roberto. And the ending was inconclusive and not more interesting because of it.
June 23, 2013
WHAT a fantastic read! Full of mystery, drama, romance and intrigue, the superb writing of Hansen brings this book to life. Four friends meet for lunch every thursday and this time it is Ramon's turn to tell the story but is it a true story and what part does he play in the saga? At this point I am just thankful there are three more in the series I will get to enjoy. Bring it on.
December 30, 2013
I could not put this book down! I loved it. A story within a story written by an author through character story tellers. I wanted it to be real - it was that believable to me as a reader. I have bought the next three so I can find out the other story teller's secrets (I am of course assuming this will be the case).
February 27, 2015
An intriguing book. Great to read about things from my home country that I have seen (like the grand piano player at David Jones Sydney).
However the story is not limited to Australia, it also goes to Argentina and South East Asia.
Very well written, it is the first in the "Lunch With" series.
However the story is not limited to Australia, it also goes to Argentina and South East Asia.
Very well written, it is the first in the "Lunch With" series.
February 5, 2014
Hansen, during this series, takes the readers to some interesting places, all over a lunch break and old men telling their stories.
A great read.
A great read.
June 17, 2016
first review 5*
June 3, 2012
Loved this book, been meaning to read the others awesome
February 20, 2013
Having previously read three of the Hansen books and highly rating them, I was disappointed in this one. I do look forward to anything else by this author.
Currently reading
January 8, 2014kkkkk
May 19, 2014
Loved this book. Hansen is such a great story teller.
January 20, 2015
What a fabulous tale and beautifully written. Am looking forward to reading the next, Lunch with Mussolini.
February 24, 2015
Great book
December 15, 2015
I enjoyed this book and found it easy to read.
March 16, 2015
Riveting read. Great storytelling.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews