Punto di fuga

by Morris L. West

Carl Strassberger, the son of an old New York banking family, has renounced his position in the business to follow a quiet career as an artist in the south of France. His place has been taken by his brother-in-law, Larry Lucas, an exceptionally brilliant financier. Larry Lucas has been commuting to Paris for months, working on a very large deal. When it is signed and sealed, he returns to New York in triumph. The next day he disappears. It is as if he has dropped off the planet. Emil Strassberger, patriarch of the family and president of the company, institutes immediate damage control. He hires a large international security firm and imposes a press blackout. He orders an immediate internal audit of all branches of the company, and he requests his son, Carl, to return to New York to head the search for Larry Lucas. For the first time, Lucas's wife reveals to her family that her husband suffers from a major mood disorder. His emotional life has become a rollercoaster ride between intense depression and manic elation. Lucas's condition may have extreme consequences: wild folly on the one hand and suicide on the other. What happens to Larry Lucas is a life-or-death matter, and everyone connected with him is involved in his fate. Carl Strassberger is the most deeply affected. He can no longer retreat into his private Eden. He must put himself at risk as he investigates those who live "on the dangerous edge of things."

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novels, Suspense

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Morris Langlo West was born in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1916. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Christian Brothers seminary ‘as a kind of refuge’ from a difficult childhood. He attended the University of Melbourne and worked as a teacher. In 1941 he left the Christian Brothers without taking final vows. In World War II he worked as a code-breaker, and for a time he was private secretary to former prime minister Billy Hughes.

After the war, West became a successful writer and producer of radio serials. In 1955 he left Australia to build an international career as a writer. With his family, he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA, including a stint as the Vatican correspondent for the British newspaper, the Daily Mail. He returned to Australia in 1982.

Morris West wrote 30 books and many plays, and several of his novels were adapted for film. His books were published in 28 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Each new book he wrote after he became an established writer sold more than one million copies.

West received many awards and accolades over his long writing career, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature for The Devil's Advocate. In 1978 he was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1985, and was made an Officer of the Order (AO) in 1997.

Morris West died at his desk in 1999.

Reviews

[Gerard P Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story of family intrigue and conflicting emotions

A fictional account of turmoil, loyalty and conflicting emotions that besiege the main character as he sets about making good his father's trust and dependency when the heir apparent of a financial dynasty goes missing. I felt the ending was hurried and let down the build up of the story. Otherwise a good read.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. The plot was very refreshing and I'm glad that I pushed through and read the entire thing. The writing at times, specifically the metaphors that the author writes, are quite beautiful and capture an idea or theme perfectly. I enjoyed analysing this book and, although it was quite long, it was a good book.

[Ian Russel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante...

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and intriguing story of a man's search for another man thru scenic areas in italy.

[Pedro Werberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel

[Victoria]

Author via MHC in by the book available at h library

[J.D · Rating 1 out of 5]

All I can remember about this book is old mate the protagonist stepping in to find his brother-in-law who has done the vanishing act whilst running the family multinational company. And then getting other people to do all the actual searching, while he gadded around the globe having some exceptional meals that he had to describe in all their detail.
I also remember the author telling the reader he came up with the idea for the book when he read a brochure in a hotel room he stayed at, about a company that could make you disappear. Very disappointing effort from a usually solid writer.

[Margaret Stickland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morris West once again writes with authority on a subject that he had some knowledge of and was able to research and come up with a very good novel.
A Bi-polar son in law working in a wealthy financial institution, finds expectations too high and opts out. The wolves gather when it looks like huge gains and losses can be made. But that is only part of the story. The human contacts are worth the read.

[Riley Rox · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot was going on in this one. That of course doesn't take away from the fact that it's a fairly decent book if the themes capture you. Personally however - not my cuppa. I would have probably preferred if Carl was a PI infiltrating the secret traveling agency with his false identity and such. The mental illness did not sit well with me especially since I felt the book was a drama masked as a thriller - uncomfortable mix. When i come to think of it three stars is probably me being generous.

[adri patamoma · Rating 3 out of 5]

achei este livro tããão fraquinho! ele é fácil de ler, sim, mas a história não é nem muito interessante nem muito bem contada, e achei a linguagem meio demodê, sei lá. achei até que o texto fosse dos anos 80, de tão 'velho' que me pareceu este best-seller!

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Two themes ,finance and mental illness. Both done very well.

[Mary Coz · Rating 4 out of 5]

MW is so insightful about pain, family, loyalty, and mental health - there are no winners - but we all work toward redemption.

[Katherine Bware · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptionally well written; solid story; plus - a cogent perspective on living with bipolar disorder (and buckets of money. Just' sayin'.)

[Phil Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very psychological, but very human, as well. MW is a great author.

[Louise Davy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written novel about mental illness and the secretive business of people who choose to disappear from their old lives.