Ritorno a Trelawney

by Hannah Rothschild

Incantevole, dai modi squisiti, immancabilmente chic, Ayesha Sleet è l’incarnazione stessa del glamour. Seppur dotata di una bellezza non convenzionale, il viso a cuore, i grandi occhi ambrati e la bocca piena sembrano attirare l’attenzione di tutti i fotografi e i direttori di giornali del Regno Unito, come testimoniano gli innumerevoli articoli e fotografie che la ritraggono a questo o quel party.
D’altro canto Ayesha unisce alla bellezza una storia altrettanto poco convenzionale: figlia illegittima del Conte di Trelawney, è cresciuta nel palazzo indiano di un maharaja, e solo grazie a un matrimonio con il ricchissimo Sir Thomlinson Sleet è rientrata in possesso di Trelawney Castle, la monumentale dimora di famiglia ormai in stato di abbandono. Eppure, la qualifica che Ayesha sente piú adatta a sé non è quella di socialite, bensí quella di «storica dell’arte» ed è proprio a questo che si è dedicata negli ultimi anni: riempire Trelawney Castle di preziosissimi pezzi d’arte antica e contemporanea. Tutto sembra crollare, però, quando Sir Thomlinson decide di vendere il maniero a un costruttore di parchi a tema e il lavoro di Ayesha, cosí come il futuro di sua figlia Stella, rischiano di svanire in una nuvola di fumo. Anche perché Sleet, spinto dalle sue insicurezze e dalla brama di successo, e invaghito di una misteriosa truffatrice, prende decisioni che mettono a repentaglio l’integrità della famiglia. Ferita e tradita da tutti, Ayesha si troverà a lottare per difendere le cose che ama. Ma riuscirà a farlo senza chiedere aiuto all’eccentrico clan dei Trelawney, da sempre poco benevolo nei suoi confronti?
Dopo il successo di Casa Trelawney, Hannah Rothschild torna in libreria con un romanzo acuto e travolgente, che ci conduce con allegria e ironia pungente al cuore dell’alta società inglese.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Literary Fiction, Humor, Family, Adult

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2023

About the author

Hannah Rothschild is the author of House of Trelawney; The Baroness: The Search for Nica, the Rebellious Rothschild; and The Improbability of Love which was shortlisted for the Bailley's prize for womens' fiction and won the PG Wodehouse, Everyman, Bollinger prize for best comic novel in 2016.
Her feature length BBC/HBO documentaries have appeared at such festivals as Telluride and Tribeca. She's written for Vanity Fair, Vogue, The Independent, Elle, Bazaar, T and C, The Times, The Telegraph, the NYT and others. She's a vice president of the Hay Literary Festival, a former trustee of the Tate Gallery, and was the first woman chair of the National Gallery in London. In 2018 she was made a Commander of The British Empire for services to literature and philanthropy.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

An updated look at wealth and nobility. We follow the members of the Trelawney family as they struggle to move on in more ways than one. While still becoming immersed in the story, I would recommend reading 'The House of Trelawney' first. This would definitely provide the back story to a lot of this book.

[Tonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I described House of Trelawney as a romantic comedy. This sequel veers towards black comedy (the author calls it a social satire). The bad guy is despicable. You just need to suspend belief and enjoy the ride!

[Mary McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this British satire following the characters from House of Trelawney.

[Susan J. Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what it promised to be: a funny and witty romp through the British upper class and the world of high finance.
A lighthearted read that skipped along with some fabulously colourful characters.
I’d have liked an ending that packed a bit more of a punch, but you can’t have everything, can you?
A very enjoyable five stars from me. Thanks to NetGalley and BloomsburyPublishing for a chance to read the ARC.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and unique read! The story follows a woman who is the illegitimate child of an aristocratic family who married into wealth and bought her family's ancestral castle. It obviously causes even more of a rift until the woman enlists them to help her in the fight to keep her husband from selling it off, and keeping she and her daughter together after their divorce.

It's a lively narrative in which a woman who is about to lose "everything" navigates the world around her and faces the reality of the relationships she has built or left to flounder. I was thoroughly engrossed by power dynamics and social games everyone was playing. The characters were multidimensional with different motives and histories making it an entertaining read. I was a bit confused on the main character's relation to the Trelawneys, but it became more clear near the end. I think a family tree would be helpful. Overall great read!

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trelawney, the Cornwall estate owned for 800 years by the Trelawney family, is flourishing under the careful hand and bottomless purse of Aisha Sleet, wife of one of the most revolting hyper-wealthy slobs in recent literature. Her marriage has lasted eight years, she has a lovely daughter, and she thinks she has almost learned how to manage Sir Thomlinson. Sadly, this is not to. Soon Aisha and other members of her estranged family will be thrown together as they try to keep Trelawney from being sold to a theme park developer. The result is a funny, tart novel that will make you want to read Hannah Rothschild's earlier "House of Trelawney" as soon as you close this book. "High Time" stands alone, but you will wish it were part of a long series because it is a total joy. Many thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.

[Kristin Martini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one blind, but it was enjoyable even without reading the previous Trelawney family books. Hannah Rothschild delivered on a biting satire set in England in 2016. There were times when I found the tonnage of characters and intertwining storylines a little bit hard to track, but overall this was a great read that I tore through in two days.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

[Lynne James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next in the Trelawney series by Hannah Rothschild continues her lampooning of a certain section of the British class system which is very easy to satirist...because in so many ways they absolutely deserve it.
Peppered with eccentrics and with an absolute villain at its centre, High Time develops into and almost Feydeau farce mixed up with a revenue's tragedy!
Great fun, but do suspend your disbelief that's for sure!

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

In search of my A-Z book challenge, I picked this book for two reasons. It sounded good from the blurb and it only had one rating. I am very thankful to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read books for honest reviews because I get to discover new books and authors, this book was no exception. I give it a 4.5 stars, the only reason I marked it down by 0.5 is some of the 'additional' characters I was left confused thinking 'who is this one again' maybe because I didn't connect with them all.

This is a story of the rich and the trials and tribulations of it. I don't want to give anything away in addition to the blurb. If you like the sound of it, go read it! The author paints the characters incredibly, I am now off to see what else she's got to offer!

I think this might be the next big summer read.

[Carol Perreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy story of a manor house that needs work and the woman who is trying to fix it up while dealing with her domineering and just awful husband.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il sequel di Casa Trelawney non ha deluso. Anzi, l’ho trovato ancora più godibile.
Se il primo capitolo di questa saga familiare si concentra sulla sgangherata famiglia di nobili in decadenza, le loro dinamiche disfunzionali alle prese con le difficoltà di mantenere e soprattutto salvare le sorti del castello di proprietà; Ritorno a Trelawney ruota intorno alla giovane e affascinante figlia illegittima del patriarca oramai deceduto, che dal suo arrivo in Cornovaglia già dal libro precedente, ha avuto l’intera famiglia contro. Grazie ad un matrimonio fortunato (almeno in apparenza!) Ayesha si impossessa della proprietà e fa piazza pulita dei suoi residenti… Ma non è tutto oro ciò che luccica… “Nessuno l’aveva messa in guardia dagli incubi che possono nascondersi fra le pieghe dei sogni”…

Scritto con grande ironia (ed è un gran bene quando si parla di rapporti disfunzionali, altrimenti sai che pesantezza!) i personaggi di Trelawney sono spassosi e pungenti.

E poi c’e’ sempre quel richiamo al mondo dell’arte che non manca mai nei libri della Rothschild a cui sono molto affezionata!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a satire that follows an aristocratic British family in the run-up to Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. There book is mainly centered around Ayesha, who is navigating a challenging marriage to a much older and wealthy man. The book was engaging, although it was hard to keep track of the characters. While this is the second book following this family, I didn't have any issues following the story without reading the first book. Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for the ARC.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 80 of 2024: High Time by Hannah Rothschild

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the months leading up to the Brexit referendum, Ayesha, the beautiful, young secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, has married the much older thuggish banker Tomlinson Sleet with whom she has a young daughter, Stella. Ayesha is busy restoring Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, which Sleet has bought, to its former glory, as well as studying art at the Courtauld in London. The elderly Countess Clarissa—still ensconced on the property—the host of a camp television show, is about to head into a disastrous marriage. Sleet is becoming increasingly difficult, distracted by the seductive and ruthless bitcoin goddess Zamora, but Kitto’s sister Blaze and her husband, Joshua, will support Ayesha’s clever plan as she discovers shocking secrets, takes action, and brings the family together.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC! This book has already been released and I unfortunately just got to it last month. High Tim was full of family drama, British humor, and satire of the wealthy and famous. There were a lot of different characters in this book and I had a little difficulty finding anything likable about nearly all of them. They were all selfish and quite over the top, but I liked how in the end they all banded together to support Ayesha against Steel. This wasn’t my favorite read, but it was a sharp commentary and had a good ending.

[Marie-Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outlandish. Fails both at satire and in its more serious aspirations. I like Hannah Rothschild but this is a book doesn’t seem to know where it wants to go. Some of the characters are caricatured to an absurd degree. Rehashes same tedious and predictable stereotypes about old money/ aristocracy vs extremely crass “new rich”. As to the main protagonist, everything is done so that the reader may sympathise with her, yet she remains a kind of poorly drawn phantasmagorical figure. It is hard to reconcile this cultured and refined creature with the ruthless gold-digging…. and does a woman this intelligent really need 8 years to find out how ghastly her husband is, when this fact is made blatantly obvious to the reader by every word that comes out of his month and every action he undertakes? Even parodies, beneath all the hyperbole, must ring true at some level and this just doesn’t.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

High Time • 3.5 🎭🎨🏦

In the months leading up to Brexit and the popularity of cryptocurrency, High Time follows the story of Ayesha Sleet, who is in the middle of getting divorced from this wealthy banker. Ayesha navigates how to make sure that she gets their family house (the Trelawney Castle) and the custody of their only child.

This was actually a very fun and entertaining read! I enjoyed the British satire and humor. I also enjoyed the blend of politics, finance & the art world in the story. I was really rooting for Ayesha and her daughter Stella from the very beginning!

However, I didn’t realized that this book was part of a series. The beginning of the book was very confusing. I struggled to keep track of the characters and find the connection between all the Trelawney family members. It took me about halfway through the book when I finally connected the relationships. I think a family tree in the beginning of the book would probably be helpful.

Overall, if you enjoy art and finance and looking for something light and easy read before the end of the Summer then this book is a perfect read! 😍

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. This book was okay. It took me a long time to understand how some of the wider characters were related, and there was also a heavy focus on the finance world which became a bit complex/dense. Overall an interesting read, but I do wish we had read more about the resolution for Sleet & his company.

[Becky Cavazuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

High Time by Hannah Rothschild Is a British story, about a high born family and all of it’s characters. Ayesha is the illegitimate daughter and was not recognized by the rest of the family. She has married a high flying and egotistical American and has a precious daughter. The husband goes off the deep end and the family pulls together at the end. There is cryptocurrency, art forgery and all kinds of illegal manipulation. It was kind of a fun read but not a favorite for me.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and engaging read from start to finish.

The Trelawney family is rich and they have it all, right? But, as with all upper echelons of society, there are secrets and deals that aren't always in the best interest of everyone in the family.

The FMC wants her legacy in tack and her husband wants to dismantle it. This satire will have you on the edge of your seat and enjoying every page.

Thank you to AAKnopf for the free copy :)

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2020 I read Hannah Rothschild’s delightful modern comedy of manners, ‘House of Trelawney’ and was pleased to discover that she had recently published a sequel, ‘High Time’.

While it is possible to read ‘High Time’ on its own, I would suggest that it is best to read ‘House of Trelawney’ first to meet the characters when they are first introduced and appreciate the various storylines.

‘High Time’ opens in January 2016, six years after the closing of ‘House of Trelawney’ and again follows a number of interwoven stories centred on Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, where the Trelawney family have lived for eight hundred years. I won’t mention plot details as it’s far too easy to enter spoiler territory for ‘House of Trelawney’.

Hannah Rothschild’s writings remind me of the novels of Nancy Mitford. She offers gentle satire and social commentary on issues of the day, including financial and political shenanigans, and of course Brexit.

Art also plays a major role in the narrative. Hannah Rothschild has had a long association with the art world and served five years as the Chair of Trustees of the National Gallery and so she writes about art from a strong foundation.

Overall, I found ‘High Time’ an engaging and entertaining read; bursting with sparkling wit and a cast of eccentric characters that I became very fond of.

Highly recommended.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to House of Trelawney. Cleverly plotted.

[Stroop · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not realize this book was part of a series and you are plunged into what seems like the middle of a story right away. It took a while but I largely caught up with which character was which and was curious to see how the story unfolded. I enjoyed some parts (mainly those focused on Ayesha) and overall felt this was a little too long, focused on too many characters and wasn’t as exaggerated as I hoped regarding the social satire. I do think this can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would still read anything of Hannah Rothschild’s, But sometimes her novels do annoy me. She does a lot of telling rather than showing. The main antagonist is such a caricature it drove me crazy. (I know, I know, there are a few public men like that, but still, when you’re writing a novel, you want to get a little deeper.) Another caricature, if an amusing one, the old lady of the manor, who is absolutely insufferable, does an about turn at the end, and I just don’t buy it. But I am only tough on Rothchild, because I think she is so good, fundamentally. Looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

[Mary Ellen Barringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the first book in this series, The House of Trelawney, this book makes fun of English aristocracy and pop culture. However, the plot is a mess. At times, there are scenes with tremendous detail and then huge gaps in time.

I had looked forward to this book yet am seriously disappointed in this volume.

[Leane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You do not need to read The House of Trelawney (2020) which this is a sequel to taking place eight years later in 2016, but trust me, you will want to read it, probably first because enjoying them sequentially will be a rich experience for any reader who values CH development and the immersion of place—Trelawney’s Castle is a formidable CH in both. This book contains all the CHs introduced in the 1st; however, the main focus is Ayesha, her debacle of a marriage to Sir Tomlinson Sleet (the greedy, rapacious Vulgarian), and the other members of Ayesha’s eccentric family who make appearances and add to the plotting. Rothschild gives you what you need to understand the current predicaments and previous history and does an excellent job of showing every CHs’ viewpoint and foibles. Humor resonates as does an increasing feeling of dread as the loss of the castle and her daughter loom over Ayesha until the satisfactory conclusion. Using a monthly time line beginning in January 2016 to the end of 2017 adds to the pace and tone. The thematic material is rich in detail from the sumptuous art world to Brexit, British politics, high finance and cryptocurrency, the environment, popular reality TV, social and class issues. Rothschild does an admirable job showing how life has changed in Britain and for this family since the 2008 financial crash. Ayesha is an empathetic CH and the others run the gamut between entitled and tone-deaf like the Lady Clarissa; fatuous and sometimes sad Barty & Tony the gay couple/best friends; the well-intended Blaze and Joshua, and the malignant and utterly repulsive and oblivious Sir Sleet. The children are nice pockets of joy, and the ending brave, realistic, and unforeseen. This was a biting and satirical look at family and British society but also moving and poignant, emphasizing resilience and the power of maternal love. Those readers who like the combination of family CHs and the glamour and pillory of the rich may find good options with Jenny Jackson’s Pineapple Street, Tess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins, and Maggie Shipstead’s Seating Arrangements or maybe Emma Straub, Amy Poeppel, or Patrick DeWitt. I read this slowly to enjoy every morsel of terrific writing and if you have never read Rothschild's first novel, The Improbability of Love, I highly recommend and envy your reading it for the first time.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received a complimentary copy of High Time by Hannah Rothschild from
Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/NetGalley. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

BOOK REPORT
Giving High Time by Hannah Rothschild 3 stars because I can’t do 2.5. Sigh.

The story was interesting, of course because of the near-innumerable parallels to real-world people/places/events, but this book was in need of some serious editing. It felt bloated, if you will.

Also, I wouldn’t call it satirical. To me, satire is much more finely drawn.

Finally, I was very surprised to realize that it’s the second book by this author about essentially this same group of people. Had I known that, I would’ve read House of Trelawney: A Novel first. Do have it on my list because I’m especially interested in Uncle Tony’s story.

Just not very high up.

DESCRIPTION
A modern English comedy of morals and manners, about a highborn family of outrageous characters, in a story that proves revenge can be sweet

In the months leading up to the Brexit referendum, Ayesha, the beautiful, young secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, has married the much older thuggish banker Tomlinson Sleet with whom she has a young daughter, Stella. Ayesha is busy restoring the once run-down Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, which Sleet has bought, to its former glory, as well as studying art at the Courtauld in London. The elderly Countess Clarissa—still ensconced on the property—the host of a camp television show, is about to head into a disastrous marriage. Lady Jane has separated from the hopeless Trelawney heir Kitto, who is crazier than ever, and found an enlightened woman to keep her company abroad. Sleet is becoming increasingly difficult, distracted by the seductive and ruthless bitcoin goddess Zamora, but Kitto’s sister Blaze and her husband, Joshua, will support Ayesha’s clever plan as she discovers shocking secrets, takes action, and brings the family together.

Biting and satirical, but also poignant and moving, High Time is a delicious story of madness, mayhem, and mischief run amok.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one warned her that nightmares lurk in the shadows of dreams.
from High Time by Hannah Rothschild

Tomlinson Sleet is an appalling ‘vulgarian,’ motivated by narcissism, greed, and a need for attention—A combination of Scrooge, the Grinch, and a certain politician who will not be named. Sleet has married three wives, possessions who soon lost their luster after he obtained them.

Ayesha is his latest wife, beautiful and young and the mother of his child. But there is someone new on his radar–a gorgeous Albanian crypto-currency guru who lures with dreams of untold wealth. Sleet sees her as the perfect combination of trophy wife and financial gain. She has kept him at arm’s length, demanding he invest millions before she will allows him a few minutes in her presence.

Ayesha was the illegitimate daughter of Enyon Trelawney. She and Sleet are living in Trelawney Castle, her father’s estate. Ayesha has been restoring the castle while working for her art degree. She married Sleet for security, having grown up in the shadows. When Ayesha realizes that Sleet intends to replace her, and that her daughter’s security is threatened, she goes on a quest to guarantee her financial future, hoping to purchase Trelawney Castle and keep it in the family.

Her father’s legitimate heirs resent Ayesha, but as she discovers Sleet’s shady dealings she enlists them to help her bring Sleet down. It is high time that Sleet pays for his mistreatment of others. Her investigations takes us deep into the way money is manipulated and misused.

I do love social comedy, and the Trelawney family is filled with oddball characters from the upper crust. The Countess Clarissa, Enyon’s wife, still occupies the castle. She makes pronouncements about correctness. Imperious and rude, she has fallen in love for the first time. Princess Amelia remarks that in the good, old days, people were born into service, died in service; “now they have such highfalutin ideas.” Ayesha has hired her great-uncle Tony and his sidekick Barty to decorate the Castle; the loveable pair provide comic relief.

Ayesha learns hard lessons but has her gains in a realistic, but satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to A.A. Knopf for a free book.

[Bookoholiccafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"High Time" is a modern English comedy centered around a highborn family with eccentric characters. Set against the backdrop of the Brexit referendum, the story follows Ayesha, a young woman who marries the older banker Tomlinson Sleet. Ayesha strives to restore Trelawney Castle and pursue art while dealing with the challenges of her marriage. The narrative revolves around the family's quirks, including an eccentric heir, a campy Countess, and a seductive bitcoin goddess. Ayesha devises a clever plan to uncover secrets and reunite the family, resulting in chaos, humor, and emotional moments. The story blends satire, social commentary, and family dynamics, providing an entertaining exploration of modern life.
The story's exploration of relationships, secrets, and the pursuit of revenge, all set against a backdrop of societal change, provides a unique and entertaining reading experience.
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این کتاب یک کمدی مدرن انگلیسی است که حول محور خانواده ای بالغ با شخصیت های عجیب و غریب است. داستان در پس زمینه رفراندوم برگزیت اتفاق می افتد، عایشه، زن جوانی را دنبال می کند که با بانکدار مسن تر تاملینسون اسلیت ازدواج می کند. عایشه تلاش می کند تا قلعه ترلاونی را بازسازی کند و هنر را دنبال کند و در عین حال با چالش های ازدواج خود مقابله کند. داستان حول محورهای عجیب و غریب خانواده می چرخد، از جمله یک وارث عجیب و غریب، یک کنتس کمپینگ و یک الهه بیت کوین فریبنده. عایشه نقشه ای هوشمندانه برای کشف رازها و اتحاد مجدد خانواده طراحی می کند که در نتیجه هرج و مرج، شوخ طبعی و لحظات احساسی به وجود می آید. این داستان طنز، تفسیر اجتماعی و پویایی خانوادگی را در هم می آمیزد و کاوشی سرگرم کننده از زندگی درن ارائه می دهد.
کاوش داستان در روابط، رازها و پیگیری انتقام، همه در پس زمینه ای از تغییرات اجتماعی، تجربه خواندن منحصر به فرد و سرگرم کننده ای را فراهم می کند.

[Claudia Sorsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but I found it less sprightly than the first Trelawney book. I think there so much time spent on Ayesha’s misery that it overbalanced the weight of the whole story a bit. It's hard to enjoy a satire of the rich and thoughtless when a woman's world is completely falling apart, especially when it's through no real fault of her own.

And yes, the bad guy is Bad, cartoonishly so. Again, that would have been more enjoyable if there'd been less focus on the damage he was doing; driving a good man to suicide is way too horrific, and another part of the story that's too heavy for the structure, as it were..

Seeing a Winkleman (from The Improbability of Love) pop back in for a brief cameo was delightful, though. As always, the art parts are thoughtful and well done; the difference between Ayesha's genuine love for the paintings she's studying, and the way she grows through her study, versus the genuinely brutal indifference of the collector is obvious, but still almost painful to see.

I can’t quite judge the ending, because I’m not sure it is one; is there to be a third Trelawney book?

[Carolyn Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The financial crash of 2008 and the ascendancy of an unknown heiress smashed the Trelawneys to smithereens. Eight years on the odious lord of the manor Sleet is loathed, his wife Ayesha is lonely, and money is the be-all and end-all of plot and the silencer of humor. The financial machinations weigh on the narrative, as the stakes are raised: loss of home, failed marriage, custody battle and the family must band together for revenge. Wry, satirical perspective recovered.

"Life in Cornwall was a meteorological festival; the weather conditions changed several times an hour. There was nothing faint-hearted about nature in these parts; it belted, pelted, blasted, bored, poured, whipped, slammed, burned and blustered all in one day." p.7

"For all upper wealth and opportunities, despite a beautiful wife and homes, you are a lost and lonely man dogged by the fear of failure and abandonment." p. 146

"The only thing they shared were their exhausted -looking wardrobes, bad haircuts, and haughtiness. All might be in penury but each and every one of them, based on hundreds of years of inbred self-importance, believed they were grander and more aristocratic than the next person." p. 161

"It was classic Moneyland, that borderless, stateless place where the super-rich and the super-shady lived without scrutiny, hiding their assets from the taxman and prying governments." p. 232

[Marianne Kaplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Good story about a ruthless American living in Britain and trying to attain social status. He makes money by causing misery to others (the book narrates one specific example of suicide). He also marries women who he believes will give him access to higher social groups - a strategy that has not worked for him in his first three or four marriages. I enjoyed the story of his maneuverings and those of the individuals in his life.. He is ruthless. His fourth marriage is to a young and naive woman who becomes world savvy due to his duplicity. The story tries to teach a moral lesson about the futility of living only for money and social status. The character development of the male protagonist is good. There are too many other characters to be fully developed, however, so for parts of the book my biggest struggle was remembering who was who and how they fit into the story. The female protagonist was likable though somewhat insipid until the very end. And her transition was somewhat lacking in credibility. Author's writing style was a lot of foreshadowing which left this reader frequently wondering if I had missed something in earlier parts of the book.