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Van Zale #1
The Rich Are Different
New York Times bestseller
“Mesmerizing storyteller” Susan Howatch spins a powerful tale about a prominent Wall Street family in the 1920s and the illicit affair that threatens their empire (Daily Telegraph).
“Mesmerizing storyteller” Susan Howatch spins a powerful tale about a prominent Wall Street family in the 1920s and the illicit affair that threatens their empire (Daily Telegraph).
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First published March 15, 1977
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1747 people want to read
About the author
Susan Howatch
94 books561 followersSusan Howatch (b. 1940) is a British novelist who has penned bestselling mysteries, family sagas, and other novels. Howatch was born in Surrey, England. She began writing as a teen and published her first book when she moved to the United States in 1964. Howatch found global success first with her five sagas and then with her novels about the Church of England in the twentieth century. She has now returned to live in Surrey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
March 25, 2016
Re-read last year but am writing reviews for all the early novels in light of their historical back stories. This review is substantially the same as for the sequel Sins of the Fathers
I love Susan Howatch's psychological writing. More, I love her method of taking a historical context and transposing it to a more modern one; in this case, the story of Julius Caesar. I see very few people seem to read the back story of Caesar as they review this book so I thought I would make a more detailed review than usual.
All of Howatch's books are written in this way, including the Starbridge series and the St Benet's trilogy. However, this is one of the earlier novels, all written in a Gothic novel style, and all covering an historical epoch. This is part 1 of the story.
The cast of characters is as follows:
Paul Van Zale - Julius Caesar
Lucius Clyde - Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Dolly - Cornelia, Caesar's first wife
Marietta - Pompeia, Caesar's second wife
Sylvia Van Zale - Calpurnia, Caesar's third wife
Elizabeth Clayton - Servilia
Cornelius van Zale - Caesar Augustus (Octavian)
Sam Keller - Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Kevin Daly - Maecenas
Jake Reichsmann - probably Herod (this is not entirely clear but seems the best fit to me as a) he's Jewish and b) he heads a rival bank/country).
Dinah Slade - Cleopatra VII
Vicky Van Zale - Julia, Caesar's daughter
Alan Slade - Caesarion
Emily - Octavia
Steve Sullivan - Mark Antony
Luke Sullivan - Lucius Antonius
Caroline Sullivan - Fulvia
Tony Sullivan - Marcus Antonius Antyllus
Scott Sullivan - Iullus Antonius
Rose and Lori Sullivan - Antonia Major and Minor
Jason Da Costa - Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Greg Da Costa - Sextus Pompeius
Bruce Clayton - Marcus Iunius Brutus
Charley Blair - Cassius Longinus
Terence O'Reilly - Publius Cornelius Dolabella (possibly)
Mildred - Atia
Wade Blackett - Lucius Marcius Philippus
Lewis - Lepidus
Elfrida, Edred and George Sullivan - Cleopatra Selene, Ptolemy Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphus, Mark Antony's children with Cleopatra VII
Vivienne - Scribonia
Alicia Foxworth - Livia
Ralph Foxworth - Tiberius Claudius Nero, Livia's first husband
Sebastian - Tiberius
Andrew - Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus
The other thing I love is the way she shifts from one character to another so that you get told a part of the story from a completely different perspective PLUS getting a different view on a character, as we slip behind his or her mask, who may have been represented quite differently when someone else was the narrator. And they are ALL complex psychological studies, just like real people are.
I am not entirely in agreement with the way she develops some of the characters - Elizabeth, for instance, is a very gentle Scribonia - but that's part of the charm of the thing; after all, we all see people differently. In the sequel I am taken aback by the brainlessness of Andrew (Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus).
So, you can read this straight, as a Gothic novel - or you can read it with one eye on the back story. Either way, it's engaging writing but the latter way it becomes mesmerising, as Howatch demonstrates that all human stories are able to be repeated over and over again; just the context changes.
I love Susan Howatch's psychological writing. More, I love her method of taking a historical context and transposing it to a more modern one; in this case, the story of Julius Caesar. I see very few people seem to read the back story of Caesar as they review this book so I thought I would make a more detailed review than usual.
All of Howatch's books are written in this way, including the Starbridge series and the St Benet's trilogy. However, this is one of the earlier novels, all written in a Gothic novel style, and all covering an historical epoch. This is part 1 of the story.
The cast of characters is as follows:
Paul Van Zale - Julius Caesar
Lucius Clyde - Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Dolly - Cornelia, Caesar's first wife
Marietta - Pompeia, Caesar's second wife
Sylvia Van Zale - Calpurnia, Caesar's third wife
Elizabeth Clayton - Servilia
Cornelius van Zale - Caesar Augustus (Octavian)
Sam Keller - Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Kevin Daly - Maecenas
Jake Reichsmann - probably Herod (this is not entirely clear but seems the best fit to me as a) he's Jewish and b) he heads a rival bank/country).
Dinah Slade - Cleopatra VII
Vicky Van Zale - Julia, Caesar's daughter
Alan Slade - Caesarion
Emily - Octavia
Steve Sullivan - Mark Antony
Luke Sullivan - Lucius Antonius
Caroline Sullivan - Fulvia
Tony Sullivan - Marcus Antonius Antyllus
Scott Sullivan - Iullus Antonius
Rose and Lori Sullivan - Antonia Major and Minor
Jason Da Costa - Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Greg Da Costa - Sextus Pompeius
Bruce Clayton - Marcus Iunius Brutus
Charley Blair - Cassius Longinus
Terence O'Reilly - Publius Cornelius Dolabella (possibly)
Mildred - Atia
Wade Blackett - Lucius Marcius Philippus
Lewis - Lepidus
Elfrida, Edred and George Sullivan - Cleopatra Selene, Ptolemy Helios and Ptolemy Philadelphus, Mark Antony's children with Cleopatra VII
Vivienne - Scribonia
Alicia Foxworth - Livia
Ralph Foxworth - Tiberius Claudius Nero, Livia's first husband
Sebastian - Tiberius
Andrew - Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus
The other thing I love is the way she shifts from one character to another so that you get told a part of the story from a completely different perspective PLUS getting a different view on a character, as we slip behind his or her mask, who may have been represented quite differently when someone else was the narrator. And they are ALL complex psychological studies, just like real people are.
I am not entirely in agreement with the way she develops some of the characters - Elizabeth, for instance, is a very gentle Scribonia - but that's part of the charm of the thing; after all, we all see people differently. In the sequel I am taken aback by the brainlessness of Andrew (Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus).
So, you can read this straight, as a Gothic novel - or you can read it with one eye on the back story. Either way, it's engaging writing but the latter way it becomes mesmerising, as Howatch demonstrates that all human stories are able to be repeated over and over again; just the context changes.
January 10, 2015
I loved Cashelmara and The Wheel of Fortune (and can't wait to read Penmarric), Howatch's series which takes the infamous Plantagenets and places them in 'modern day' settings, and was therefore looking forward to The Rich Are Different which retells the story of Ceaser, Cleopatra, Mark Antony and Augustus.
Unlike the Plantagenets who I know well, I've never read about the Romans and was keen to discover their story as well as get swept away in a big fat family saga full of love, lust, hate and murder, but it didn't really happen for me. Perhaps not knowing the story held me back; perhaps the 1920s Wall Street setting wasn't my era; perhaps the differing narrations between the main characters were too samey; perhaps it was all just a bit too blokey and boardroomy for my tastes?
Whether it's my fault for not fully embracing the Roaring Twenties Romans or Howatch's fault for not selling them to me, I don't know; all I do know I'm massively disappointed. Still really looking forward to Penmarric though.
Unlike the Plantagenets who I know well, I've never read about the Romans and was keen to discover their story as well as get swept away in a big fat family saga full of love, lust, hate and murder, but it didn't really happen for me. Perhaps not knowing the story held me back; perhaps the 1920s Wall Street setting wasn't my era; perhaps the differing narrations between the main characters were too samey; perhaps it was all just a bit too blokey and boardroomy for my tastes?
Whether it's my fault for not fully embracing the Roaring Twenties Romans or Howatch's fault for not selling them to me, I don't know; all I do know I'm massively disappointed. Still really looking forward to Penmarric though.
January 29, 2014
I am in awe with Susan Howatch as this novel was the most pleasant surprise for me. I bought a battered copy of this novel ( a old one from the 70s with a misleading cover ) on a charity sale and after a couple of years standing in my library, I decided to give it a go but expecting it to be a romance novel. No, sir, not at all. I loved it from the beginning and being so pleased with the book, I made a little research about it and found it was a "modern?" retelling of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Octavius set in the roaring twenties in New York and England. What I most admire about Howatch is her skill to make such unlikeable characters sympathetic - we do not agree with their choices nor opinions, nevertheless we care for them and what will happen to them ( though I admit I made a effort about Stephen as I think he was the less likeable character in a novel full of unpleasant people). Everything in this novel is to savour: descriptions and dialogues are truly authentic and despite this novel has 700 pages it flowed fuidly as this novel was indeed riveting making me read 100 pages each day at least... Now you can count me as a Susan Howatch fan as I intend to read her other novels as well
September 21, 2012
This book sucked me in. It took place during the post-WWI economic boom and crisis, and continued to WWII. It mirrored the lives of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Mark Antony, but it took place on Wall Street and in London. It was so creatively done that I didn't realize until I was half-way through it that the story sounded familiar. This was a dream for me as a student of history because of the constant references to historical events and people. I found each character interesting because I couldn't decide whether I admired them or hated them. The economic background was a little intimidating because I am not knowledgeable about financial history, but Howatch did a great job dumbing it down enough for ignorant readers like me. There was some language and a little sex in this book, as well as plenty of adultry, so don't read it if that makes you uncomfortable. Other than that, it was a fascinating and enjoyable read.
September 19, 2022
This is an 800+ page book which is an investment of time for me. It's set in 1920s London and I love that. So, I was quite excited. But after several chapters, I really quite dislike the two main characters. I'm not interested in their lives and can't keep going with it.
March 15, 2017
My first Susan Howatch novel. I was only half through this story when I purchased 10 more of her novels. Yeah, she's that good.
September 20, 2022
If you're looking for an escape from the real world with the juiciest, most delicious soap opera plot, this is your book. If a novel could wear jewelry, this one would be dripping in diamonds, dahling!
Written by Susan Howatch, this is the story of the Van Zale family dynasty of investment bankers, their wives, and their many mistresses—especially one who has the power to bring the entire empire to its knees. The novel, which takes place over two decades, begins in the roaring '20s when the stock market seemingly only went higher, booze was plentiful if you knew the right bootlegger, and (at least in this crowd) marriage vows were easily put aside when someone more interesting and sexier appeared on the scene.
The book is written in six chapters, each one told in the first person by one of the major characters beginning with Paul Van Zale, the patriarch who built his own investment banking empire. Paul has a deep, dark secret that only a very few people know—a secret he believes could ruin him forever. We also have Paul's favorite mistress, the 20-something British businesswoman Dinah Slade, who charms men, doesn't believe in marriage, and wants to run her own business empire. Other characters who take center stage are Paul's wife Sylvia Van Zale, his business partner Steve Sullivan, and his nephew and heir Cornelius Van Zale.
Like many of Howatch's novels, this one is (very) loosely based on an ancient story. In this case, it mirrors the life of Cleopatra (Dinah Slade), her love affairs with Julius Caesar (Paul Van Zale) and Mark Antony (Steve Sullivan) with a final showdown with Caesar's great-nephew Octavian (Cornelius Van Zale).
This is a novel in which there is nothing money cannot buy, but there are also dangerous gangsters, cold-blooded murder, vicious and convoluted plots of revenge, nefarious cover-ups, and financial shenanigans. And sex. Lots of sex. It's an absolute delight! While it's sentimental and treacly in too many parts (which is why it gets four stars and not five), it's still an escapist delight.
The book is long at 800 pages, but it's a relatively fast and easy read because it's a lot like reading a soap opera. And just like a good soap opera, it even has a cliffhanger ending, which will lead avid readers to the sequel, "The Sins of the Fathers."
Bonus: There are a LOT of good historical facts about the 1920s and 1930s—from sociology to banking law—and it's delivered like a pill concealed in a spoonful of sugar.
Written by Susan Howatch, this is the story of the Van Zale family dynasty of investment bankers, their wives, and their many mistresses—especially one who has the power to bring the entire empire to its knees. The novel, which takes place over two decades, begins in the roaring '20s when the stock market seemingly only went higher, booze was plentiful if you knew the right bootlegger, and (at least in this crowd) marriage vows were easily put aside when someone more interesting and sexier appeared on the scene.
The book is written in six chapters, each one told in the first person by one of the major characters beginning with Paul Van Zale, the patriarch who built his own investment banking empire. Paul has a deep, dark secret that only a very few people know—a secret he believes could ruin him forever. We also have Paul's favorite mistress, the 20-something British businesswoman Dinah Slade, who charms men, doesn't believe in marriage, and wants to run her own business empire. Other characters who take center stage are Paul's wife Sylvia Van Zale, his business partner Steve Sullivan, and his nephew and heir Cornelius Van Zale.
Like many of Howatch's novels, this one is (very) loosely based on an ancient story. In this case, it mirrors the life of Cleopatra (Dinah Slade), her love affairs with Julius Caesar (Paul Van Zale) and Mark Antony (Steve Sullivan) with a final showdown with Caesar's great-nephew Octavian (Cornelius Van Zale).
This is a novel in which there is nothing money cannot buy, but there are also dangerous gangsters, cold-blooded murder, vicious and convoluted plots of revenge, nefarious cover-ups, and financial shenanigans. And sex. Lots of sex. It's an absolute delight! While it's sentimental and treacly in too many parts (which is why it gets four stars and not five), it's still an escapist delight.
The book is long at 800 pages, but it's a relatively fast and easy read because it's a lot like reading a soap opera. And just like a good soap opera, it even has a cliffhanger ending, which will lead avid readers to the sequel, "The Sins of the Fathers."
Bonus: There are a LOT of good historical facts about the 1920s and 1930s—from sociology to banking law—and it's delivered like a pill concealed in a spoonful of sugar.
October 16, 2012
England, 1922. Wealthy New York banker Paul Van Zale decides to entertain himself by investing in Dinah Slade's cosmetics enterprise. Despite the great difference in their ages, the two begin an affair, but Paul's past *sins* eventually call him back to his wife and the cut-throat world of Wall Street (and maybe a gangster or two).
I'm in a bit of a review slump and not up to a full blown recap of events, so I'm keeping this short and sweet. Paul and Dinah have plenty of ups and downs and dirty dealings, plus there's his wife and his heir and nephew to deal with. The book begins in 1922, and the banking focus gives the reader a real inside look at the stock trading bonanza of the late 20s, plus a chilling look at the crash of 1929. Fans of big fat juicy family squabbles should put this one on their list, and as always Howatch excels at the alternating first person POV. She should give lessons to today's writers...
***slightly spoilerish going forward, so I'll mark with the spoiler tag even though I'm not spoiling.
FTC disclosure: purchased at a charity book sale.
I'm in a bit of a review slump and not up to a full blown recap of events, so I'm keeping this short and sweet. Paul and Dinah have plenty of ups and downs and dirty dealings, plus there's his wife and his heir and nephew to deal with. The book begins in 1922, and the banking focus gives the reader a real inside look at the stock trading bonanza of the late 20s, plus a chilling look at the crash of 1929. Fans of big fat juicy family squabbles should put this one on their list, and as always Howatch excels at the alternating first person POV. She should give lessons to today's writers...
***slightly spoilerish going forward, so I'll mark with the spoiler tag even though I'm not spoiling.
FTC disclosure: purchased at a charity book sale.
June 22, 2015
This book reminded me...
...of why I love to read. Well written, engrossing plots peopled with fully developed characters who stimulate the gamut of emotions from like to loathing make for a book in which I can become totally immersed. The Rich Are Different is just such a book.
The author's depth of financial and social knowledge of America in the 1920's and 30's is outstanding. Her descriptions of the final heady days before the October, 1929 stock market crash are suspenseful and heartbreaking and lead to equally upsetting images of the golden dream turned nightmare. The plotting, scheming and backstabbing of the captains of finance, mostly men with little or no moral compass, makes for compelling reading and invites comparisons to 'the too big to fail' institutions of the early 21st century.
Apart from the financial events of the times is the story of family, friend and business relationships. All of them are messy, tenuous and at times, downright frightening. None of the major characters seem to have any morals and very little conscience, but they are riveting nonetheless.
There is a sequel to this book which I plan to purchase and begin reading as soon as I finish writing this review. While 'The Rich..." Is a complete novel, I can't wait to find out what happens next in the lives of Cornelius and Dinah as well as the second generation of the Van Zale and Sullivan families. You may find yourself adrift in some of the economic machinations, but persist as this novel is well worth your time and effort.
...of why I love to read. Well written, engrossing plots peopled with fully developed characters who stimulate the gamut of emotions from like to loathing make for a book in which I can become totally immersed. The Rich Are Different is just such a book.
The author's depth of financial and social knowledge of America in the 1920's and 30's is outstanding. Her descriptions of the final heady days before the October, 1929 stock market crash are suspenseful and heartbreaking and lead to equally upsetting images of the golden dream turned nightmare. The plotting, scheming and backstabbing of the captains of finance, mostly men with little or no moral compass, makes for compelling reading and invites comparisons to 'the too big to fail' institutions of the early 21st century.
Apart from the financial events of the times is the story of family, friend and business relationships. All of them are messy, tenuous and at times, downright frightening. None of the major characters seem to have any morals and very little conscience, but they are riveting nonetheless.
There is a sequel to this book which I plan to purchase and begin reading as soon as I finish writing this review. While 'The Rich..." Is a complete novel, I can't wait to find out what happens next in the lives of Cornelius and Dinah as well as the second generation of the Van Zale and Sullivan families. You may find yourself adrift in some of the economic machinations, but persist as this novel is well worth your time and effort.
set-aside-aka-dnf
September 10, 2023I'm so disappointed. This cover caught my eye years ago and I added it to my wishlist because I was so drawn to it (I'm shallow, yeah). Finally got it on my kindle and it has gathered dust there until I finally cracked it open. I didn't have the first clue what it was about, other than it was to do with rich folk and the Wall street crash of the 1920's. Good enough.
The first chapter was promising. Got to the end of the Second chapter and that was it, game over.
I can't even remember the names of these people but we'll call him 'Rich Guy' and we'll call her 'Little Girl'. Urgh, he was God knows how old but kept talking about his 'front hair', whatever that was (but I do know it was on his head o_0) and she was 21. He's a rich American banker and she's a stupid English girl who needs to borrow money to save her Estate in the country.
The first thing he wants to know about her when he finds out she wants to meet with him is, "Is she a virgin?"
Well yes, it turns out she was, until he combed his front hair and took 40 seconds to remedy that. Ack!. Whatever. I just can't do it.
I've just found out it was written in 1983 and was probably considered racey back then but now...it's just lame.
Lots of people seem to like it, but it's not for me.
I don't, won't and can't force myself to read books that I'm not enjoying in the hopes that they pick up a bit. If I'm not loving it then it's history.
DNF.
The first chapter was promising. Got to the end of the Second chapter and that was it, game over.
I can't even remember the names of these people but we'll call him 'Rich Guy' and we'll call her 'Little Girl'. Urgh, he was God knows how old but kept talking about his 'front hair', whatever that was (but I do know it was on his head o_0) and she was 21. He's a rich American banker and she's a stupid English girl who needs to borrow money to save her Estate in the country.
The first thing he wants to know about her when he finds out she wants to meet with him is, "Is she a virgin?"
Well yes, it turns out she was, until he combed his front hair and took 40 seconds to remedy that. Ack!. Whatever. I just can't do it.
I've just found out it was written in 1983 and was probably considered racey back then but now...it's just lame.
Lots of people seem to like it, but it's not for me.
I don't, won't and can't force myself to read books that I'm not enjoying in the hopes that they pick up a bit. If I'm not loving it then it's history.
DNF.
August 2, 2018
Still great 20 years later!
I read this book in my teens and always remembered how engrossed I became in the soap opera like lives of Dinah, Paul, Sylvia, Steve and Cornelius. I've always wanted to re-read and now that I have, I love it just as much as I did then and that each of these main characters had the opportunity to tell their side of the story!
Although it's a hefty book, it's an easy read and has solidified itself as one of my favorite books!
I read this book in my teens and always remembered how engrossed I became in the soap opera like lives of Dinah, Paul, Sylvia, Steve and Cornelius. I've always wanted to re-read and now that I have, I love it just as much as I did then and that each of these main characters had the opportunity to tell their side of the story!
Although it's a hefty book, it's an easy read and has solidified itself as one of my favorite books!
July 4, 2021
I thought I knew my British medieval royalty history well, but not nearly as well as I know the history of Caesar, Antony, Cleopatra and Octavian. So I really enjoyed this story as I recognized everyone quickly. I also really enjoyed learning about banking in the 1920’s and the cause of the Wall Street Collapse in 1929.
March 16, 2010
Haven't re-read this since my initial read when it came out in 1977 - since I enjoyed my recent re-read of PENMARRIC, I'm continuing in Howatch-mode - Caesar, Cleopatra and Marc Antony transported to the world of high finance in New York and London in the years between the two World Wars.
February 25th: I set it aside several weeks ago, after about 200 pages - I just couldn't take Howatch's lady-romance writing style any longer, and the character of Paul Van Zale, who believed marriage to be more or less a business arrangement, decidedly unlikeable.
Some other time, perhaps.
February 25th: I set it aside several weeks ago, after about 200 pages - I just couldn't take Howatch's lady-romance writing style any longer, and the character of Paul Van Zale, who believed marriage to be more or less a business arrangement, decidedly unlikeable.
Some other time, perhaps.
September 18, 2011
I've read this book when I was 20 or so, then again when I was in my 30's and just re-read it again in my 40's. There's just something about this story... and I pick up different things I didn't notice before, or didn't understand, on every reading. I just recently relized that it mirrors the story of Cleopatra, Julius Ceasar and Mark Antony, but set in the 1900's. Love it. Wish the author picked a different title, it very misleading.
Want to read
May 19, 2014Oh my goodness, I remember reading this years ago with my first reading group, in Austin, and love-love-loving it. Read several others by the same author back then (though they were hard to come by). Don't remember too many of the specifics (shocker!), just that it opened up a whole new world of historical fiction for me. Glad to see it's out in kindle format now and looking forward to reading it again and reliving all the family drama!
December 14, 2017
This is a fast-paced, engrossing read. I've read her Starbridge books about ecclesial drama many times but had never read one of her earlier works. I'm glad I finally did. This book is set during the 1920s and 30s but the financial intrigue and shenanigans read like 2017.
October 12, 2007
Very good story, I hated Cornelius.
August 25, 2011
One of her best books based on a powerful banking family.
July 26, 2015
I liked the way it was written by different characters.
May 21, 2022
This is a family saga along the lines of Rich Man, Poor Man by Irwin Shaw or A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I am surprised it was never adapted to television. Based on the life of Julius Caesar and his successor, Augustus. Howatch transplants the action to New York, London and the Norfolk countryside.
Set in the 1920's, Dinah Slade is an impoverished aristocrat with an ancestral pile back in Norfolk, England she is desperate to save. She has the brains and the moxie to start a cosmetics company catering to the upper classes. Women didn’t use or have access to cosmetics then the way they do now, but chemical advances coupled with a growing acceptance of post WWI society to women wearing makeup meant that there was a real gap in the market that Dinah is perfectly positioned to fill. She just needs some investment capital. Enter Paul van Zale, a Wall Street financier who happens to be in England to shore up his firm's London office. The fact that he is old enough to be her father does not stop them from starting an affair as well as a business proposal. They both have a love of the classics and develop an intellectual bond as well as falling in love. But Paul's New York financial empire soon calls him home and he has to return to his long suffering wife and his faithful proteges who need him. So starts this story that will span another twenty years, encompassing the 1929 Wall Street crash and the rise of fascist Germany. Because Paul's return isn’t the end of his entanglement with the bewitching Dinah.
The story is split up in to six parts, each narrated in the first person by a different character with the exception of Dinah who gets two sections. I think I would have appreciated the novel more had I known less about the life of Caesar. Knowing Or maybe I missed the theological and philosophical musings that are in her Starbridge and Saint Bennet's books.
Set in the 1920's, Dinah Slade is an impoverished aristocrat with an ancestral pile back in Norfolk, England she is desperate to save. She has the brains and the moxie to start a cosmetics company catering to the upper classes. Women didn’t use or have access to cosmetics then the way they do now, but chemical advances coupled with a growing acceptance of post WWI society to women wearing makeup meant that there was a real gap in the market that Dinah is perfectly positioned to fill. She just needs some investment capital. Enter Paul van Zale, a Wall Street financier who happens to be in England to shore up his firm's London office. The fact that he is old enough to be her father does not stop them from starting an affair as well as a business proposal. They both have a love of the classics and develop an intellectual bond as well as falling in love. But Paul's New York financial empire soon calls him home and he has to return to his long suffering wife and his faithful proteges who need him. So starts this story that will span another twenty years, encompassing the 1929 Wall Street crash and the rise of fascist Germany. Because Paul's return isn’t the end of his entanglement with the bewitching Dinah.
The story is split up in to six parts, each narrated in the first person by a different character with the exception of Dinah who gets two sections. I think I would have appreciated the novel more had I known less about the life of Caesar. Knowing Or maybe I missed the theological and philosophical musings that are in her Starbridge and Saint Bennet's books.
April 7, 2022
I had accidentally picked up Sins of The Father, the 2nd book in the series and had gotten a few chapters in before realizing it was the 2nd in the series and having to grab this books 1st. Without knowing anything about this book's plot, I was a little confused as to why the characters acted the way they were acting. And even when Paul meets Dinah, I thought "Oh she ripped that off from Cleopatra." It wasn't until I was 50% that I realized this was Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Mark Antony and Octavius set during the time period in between WW1 and WW2. Once I understood what was going on, that's when the book became more interesting. Howatch deviates just enough from the historical events that you end up being in suspense of how it's going to end.
A few things keep it from being a 4 or a 5 for me. The change in time works better than in should, but there are still moments where characters react to Paul a certain way because that's how they'd react to Julius Caesar and not because the plot or the characters earned that reaction. Also, this book was written in the 80s about the early 20th century, so certain events and conversations are framed in a very dated way. Some of it on purpose, some of it a consequence of when it was written. The whole conspiracy with O'Reilly felt a little sloppy to me personally. And I wasn't a fan of Steve's death, even though I will concede the car accident was probably easiest way to get a Mark Antony like death in this particular universe.
Having said all that, this is a very strong 3. I came in with low expectations, coming into this series for some 80s nighttime soap opera/miniseries type drama and got something a little a more interesting.
A few things keep it from being a 4 or a 5 for me. The change in time works better than in should, but there are still moments where characters react to Paul a certain way because that's how they'd react to Julius Caesar and not because the plot or the characters earned that reaction. Also, this book was written in the 80s about the early 20th century, so certain events and conversations are framed in a very dated way. Some of it on purpose, some of it a consequence of when it was written. The whole conspiracy with O'Reilly felt a little sloppy to me personally. And I wasn't a fan of Steve's death, even though I will concede the car accident was probably easiest way to get a Mark Antony like death in this particular universe.
Having said all that, this is a very strong 3. I came in with low expectations, coming into this series for some 80s nighttime soap opera/miniseries type drama and got something a little a more interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2021
So good. As usual, Susan Howatch has given us an in depth look at people living their lives full of love, revenge, power struggles, jealousy, and sexual shenanigans.
After finishing this one I can’t wait to jump into Sins of the Fathers and see where we go!
Sadly, book clubs and travel mean this won’t happen until next month but at least it’s SO FAR backlisted that I won’t have to wait or put it on Hold. ☺️
After finishing this one I can’t wait to jump into Sins of the Fathers and see where we go!
Sadly, book clubs and travel mean this won’t happen until next month but at least it’s SO FAR backlisted that I won’t have to wait or put it on Hold. ☺️
September 21, 2017
Loved this when it came out. Wonder what I'd think now 40 odd years later?
February 21, 2019
Loved this one. Dinah and Cornelius, both amazing characters.
May 26, 2024
8“I was in London when I first heard of Dinah Slade. She was broke and looking for a millionaire, while I was rich and looking for a mistress. From the start we were deeply compatible.”
I live for this kind of opening. I love Susan Howatch, with Penmarric and Cashelmara being two of my favorites in a genre of epic family dramas. When I found a copy of The Rich Are Different at a flea market I knew I had to have it. Like her other novels, this one is also historically inspired, using the story of Caesar, Cleopatra, and Mark Antony as source material. The novel spans nearly two decades and moves between points-of-view in sections throughout the text. My thoughts, with full spoilers:
Section 1, titled Paul: The Realist, starts in 1922 and focuses on the beginning of a partnership between Paul Van Zale and Dinah Slade. Paul is an older, married, successful American businessman. Dinah strives to capture his attention, needing an investor for her proposed cosmetic business and to help her in securing her family home, Mallingham. The estate has been divided following the death of Dinah’s father, and buying out her half-siblings is the only way to preserve the home that means so much to her. The two begin an affair, and when Dinah falls pregnant, she breaks one of Paul’s rules: he has no interest in children. There is a condition in his family that leads to early infant death, something he withholds from Dinah. He also withholds how much he truly wants Mallingham, which Dinah has offered him as a gift until she can afford to buy it back from him with the money she earns from business. Absolutely loved this wonderful introduction. While it is full of antiquated thinking, it is wonderfully melodramatic and fun. I couldn’t stomach either Paul or Dinah! Paul is an asshole, clearly, but Dinah is equally gross in her uneven characterization as both a weepy virgin and tough as nails modern woman. Her naivety does make sense, given the era, but her overly trusting nature with Paul is absurd. Especially as he’s mostly honest with her from the outset!
Section 2 is told from Sylvia’s point of view. As the long suffering wife of Paul, we are able to learn more about his past. I really loved this character! Aside from the commitment to staying married to Paul and attempting to bear his child, despite his numerous warnings against her becoming pregnant or having his child, she was probably the character I felt the most sympathy for. Paul gaslights her and pretends like the affair with Dinah was meaningless. It is only through a receipt from Tiffany’s that she discovers Dinah has had Paul’s child! I felt all of the rage and sadness for her! I was sort of annoyed that she didn’t tell Paul about O’Reilly’s attempts to seduce her (which reads more like harassment and assault, if we’re being honest.) I was honestly rooting for her to shack up with one of Paul’s protégés!
Section 3 brings us to Dinah’s POV and covers the year 1926. At the end of the prior section Sylvia has suggested that Paul import his mistress from England for a bit of healing. He has suffered a relapse with his epilepsy and is losing confidence, something his wife seems to believe Dinah can restore. I still can’t believe these women are attracted to Paul. He’s a liar and morally bankrupt, and from descriptions average looking. This section really highlighted Dinah’s naivety. She still suffers under the illusion Paul might leave his wife and join her at Mallingham permanently. She doesn’t even discover that it was Sylvia’s idea to invite her to America until Elizabeth, one of Paul’s retired mistresses, tells her over tea while also informing her of Paul’s epilepsy! Although it is evident she still loves him, I was so happy when she called him out for being a manipulative dirt bag. This section ends with Dinah being informed of Paul’s assassination, which sent me over the moon.
Section 4 introduces the reader to Steve’s POV, covering from 1926-1929. Prior to this portion of the story I really didn’t care about Steve. He’s one of Paul’s partners and aside from memorable events at a party he and his wife hosted, he had very much faded into the background for him. The section opens with him relaying the news of Paul’s death to Dinah and vowing to destroy the men responsible for his death (Da Costa, Bruce Clayton, and Terence O’Reilly.) I sort of lost interest in this section, despite it having so much action. I did giggle at Steve’s constant assertion that Cornelius might be a pansy or a queen, but I was even more delighted when Cornelius blackmailed him and told him to “stop being so fucking dumb.” I actually was looking forward to the affair between Dinah and Steve, because he honestly seems more well-suited to her character. Dinah becomes pregnant with twins, and I couldn’t help but wonder why she seemed determined to have the children of married men?
I was excited for the arrival of the fifth section, told from Cornelius’ POV. I had hoped at various points that he would turn out to be a raging homosexual or at least indulge in an affair with Sylvia, but neither of those things were in the cards apparently. I think my fondness for the character primarily arose from his shyness at his first introduction. Despite my big queer disappointment in his heterosexuality, I was so pleased when he married an older woman, Vivienne! She seemed like a good time girl and I was so down for that. Turns out he should have listened to his friend Sam’s warning that it seemed like she might be sleeping with her cousin, Greg. In the end, she wasn’t, she had been in love with his brother. I cheered when Cornelius overheard the conversation in which she admits to marrying him for his money! It isn’t long before he shacks up with a pregnant woman, Alicia, who is then forced to give up her sons because seeking to gain custody would be a losing battle. They console one another by dreaming of the family they will have together, until Cornelius gets mumps and is rendered sterile. Steve leaves Cornelius’ sister, Emily, who he married following his wife’s death from cancer. It’s only a matter of time before Steve jumps ship to return to Dinah who has given birth to his twins. Howatch writes melodrama so easily that I was thrilled by this turn of events, especially as the section concludes with Cornelius discovering he is actually the legal owner of Mallingam! It’s difficult to muster any sympathy for Dinah, who had plenty of opportunities of reclaiming her property but didn’t want to accept and be seen as a kept woman.
Because apparently having affairs with married men, having their children, and then begging them to leave their wives is much, much more dignified!
The final section returns to Dinah’s POV and spans from 1933-1940. WWII breaks out and Steve, having turned to the bottle, dies in the hospital following a drunk driving accident. I think my biggest issue with this section is the return to Dinah’s POV and the resolution with Mallingham. I get that Dinah is supposed to be our Cleopatra, and perhaps I should have been rooting for her, but I wanted her to suffer a huge downfall! I found her to be completely insufferable. I was relieved to see some display of maturity in her character as she reconsidered her mother’s death and activism (her mother died after being force fed as a suffragette!) But, selling her own cosmetic company to put Steve in business? Garbage! Oh and Sam Keller, the only guy in the entire book who seemed fuckable? He turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer. Oy vey!
Despite my strong dislike of the primary cast (with the exception of Sylvia, even if she was a complete ninny) I really enjoyed this novel. It met all of the expectations of bonkbustery fun that I had anticipated. After nearly 700 pages, I was hoping for a more spectacular finale, but I do think it was a nice touch having Dinah burn down Mallingham rather than hand it over to Cornelius. Howatch knew how to draw a reader into the story, even when it feels like she’s info dumping (like with banking, which played a big role in the novel.) I can’t wait to read the sequel!
I live for this kind of opening. I love Susan Howatch, with Penmarric and Cashelmara being two of my favorites in a genre of epic family dramas. When I found a copy of The Rich Are Different at a flea market I knew I had to have it. Like her other novels, this one is also historically inspired, using the story of Caesar, Cleopatra, and Mark Antony as source material. The novel spans nearly two decades and moves between points-of-view in sections throughout the text. My thoughts, with full spoilers:
Section 1, titled Paul: The Realist, starts in 1922 and focuses on the beginning of a partnership between Paul Van Zale and Dinah Slade. Paul is an older, married, successful American businessman. Dinah strives to capture his attention, needing an investor for her proposed cosmetic business and to help her in securing her family home, Mallingham. The estate has been divided following the death of Dinah’s father, and buying out her half-siblings is the only way to preserve the home that means so much to her. The two begin an affair, and when Dinah falls pregnant, she breaks one of Paul’s rules: he has no interest in children. There is a condition in his family that leads to early infant death, something he withholds from Dinah. He also withholds how much he truly wants Mallingham, which Dinah has offered him as a gift until she can afford to buy it back from him with the money she earns from business. Absolutely loved this wonderful introduction. While it is full of antiquated thinking, it is wonderfully melodramatic and fun. I couldn’t stomach either Paul or Dinah! Paul is an asshole, clearly, but Dinah is equally gross in her uneven characterization as both a weepy virgin and tough as nails modern woman. Her naivety does make sense, given the era, but her overly trusting nature with Paul is absurd. Especially as he’s mostly honest with her from the outset!
Section 2 is told from Sylvia’s point of view. As the long suffering wife of Paul, we are able to learn more about his past. I really loved this character! Aside from the commitment to staying married to Paul and attempting to bear his child, despite his numerous warnings against her becoming pregnant or having his child, she was probably the character I felt the most sympathy for. Paul gaslights her and pretends like the affair with Dinah was meaningless. It is only through a receipt from Tiffany’s that she discovers Dinah has had Paul’s child! I felt all of the rage and sadness for her! I was sort of annoyed that she didn’t tell Paul about O’Reilly’s attempts to seduce her (which reads more like harassment and assault, if we’re being honest.) I was honestly rooting for her to shack up with one of Paul’s protégés!
Section 3 brings us to Dinah’s POV and covers the year 1926. At the end of the prior section Sylvia has suggested that Paul import his mistress from England for a bit of healing. He has suffered a relapse with his epilepsy and is losing confidence, something his wife seems to believe Dinah can restore. I still can’t believe these women are attracted to Paul. He’s a liar and morally bankrupt, and from descriptions average looking. This section really highlighted Dinah’s naivety. She still suffers under the illusion Paul might leave his wife and join her at Mallingham permanently. She doesn’t even discover that it was Sylvia’s idea to invite her to America until Elizabeth, one of Paul’s retired mistresses, tells her over tea while also informing her of Paul’s epilepsy! Although it is evident she still loves him, I was so happy when she called him out for being a manipulative dirt bag. This section ends with Dinah being informed of Paul’s assassination, which sent me over the moon.
Section 4 introduces the reader to Steve’s POV, covering from 1926-1929. Prior to this portion of the story I really didn’t care about Steve. He’s one of Paul’s partners and aside from memorable events at a party he and his wife hosted, he had very much faded into the background for him. The section opens with him relaying the news of Paul’s death to Dinah and vowing to destroy the men responsible for his death (Da Costa, Bruce Clayton, and Terence O’Reilly.) I sort of lost interest in this section, despite it having so much action. I did giggle at Steve’s constant assertion that Cornelius might be a pansy or a queen, but I was even more delighted when Cornelius blackmailed him and told him to “stop being so fucking dumb.” I actually was looking forward to the affair between Dinah and Steve, because he honestly seems more well-suited to her character. Dinah becomes pregnant with twins, and I couldn’t help but wonder why she seemed determined to have the children of married men?
I was excited for the arrival of the fifth section, told from Cornelius’ POV. I had hoped at various points that he would turn out to be a raging homosexual or at least indulge in an affair with Sylvia, but neither of those things were in the cards apparently. I think my fondness for the character primarily arose from his shyness at his first introduction. Despite my big queer disappointment in his heterosexuality, I was so pleased when he married an older woman, Vivienne! She seemed like a good time girl and I was so down for that. Turns out he should have listened to his friend Sam’s warning that it seemed like she might be sleeping with her cousin, Greg. In the end, she wasn’t, she had been in love with his brother. I cheered when Cornelius overheard the conversation in which she admits to marrying him for his money! It isn’t long before he shacks up with a pregnant woman, Alicia, who is then forced to give up her sons because seeking to gain custody would be a losing battle. They console one another by dreaming of the family they will have together, until Cornelius gets mumps and is rendered sterile. Steve leaves Cornelius’ sister, Emily, who he married following his wife’s death from cancer. It’s only a matter of time before Steve jumps ship to return to Dinah who has given birth to his twins. Howatch writes melodrama so easily that I was thrilled by this turn of events, especially as the section concludes with Cornelius discovering he is actually the legal owner of Mallingam! It’s difficult to muster any sympathy for Dinah, who had plenty of opportunities of reclaiming her property but didn’t want to accept and be seen as a kept woman.
Because apparently having affairs with married men, having their children, and then begging them to leave their wives is much, much more dignified!
The final section returns to Dinah’s POV and spans from 1933-1940. WWII breaks out and Steve, having turned to the bottle, dies in the hospital following a drunk driving accident. I think my biggest issue with this section is the return to Dinah’s POV and the resolution with Mallingham. I get that Dinah is supposed to be our Cleopatra, and perhaps I should have been rooting for her, but I wanted her to suffer a huge downfall! I found her to be completely insufferable. I was relieved to see some display of maturity in her character as she reconsidered her mother’s death and activism (her mother died after being force fed as a suffragette!) But, selling her own cosmetic company to put Steve in business? Garbage! Oh and Sam Keller, the only guy in the entire book who seemed fuckable? He turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer. Oy vey!
Despite my strong dislike of the primary cast (with the exception of Sylvia, even if she was a complete ninny) I really enjoyed this novel. It met all of the expectations of bonkbustery fun that I had anticipated. After nearly 700 pages, I was hoping for a more spectacular finale, but I do think it was a nice touch having Dinah burn down Mallingham rather than hand it over to Cornelius. Howatch knew how to draw a reader into the story, even when it feels like she’s info dumping (like with banking, which played a big role in the novel.) I can’t wait to read the sequel!
November 4, 2022
‘But I’m different! I’m special!’
I will start with two 'minuses'. First, I needed time to feel into the story. Somewhere around a hundred page, I knew I would love it. Secondly, I would prefer a bit different ending. I don't know how it could have ended better (to be a nice reference to the real story, or at least how we think the story went) but I would like something different.
‘It’s hard to see people properly,’ I said, ‘when there’s a big shadow blocking the light.’
Now, the rest I want to tell you about the novel. Susan Howatch did a great job of translating Cleopatra's story to the 20s and 30s of the XX century. If you know Cleopatra the book will be a bit spoilt for you, but I didn't mind it at all. The moment I got fascinated was the moment I was lost to the real world.
but first and foremost I had deceived myself
The best part of Howatch's writing (her style) were changes of first-person narrators. So we saw different points of view on the same things/people. This way you have hard work to do if you have a need for clear views (especially about characters). I advise against such attempts. As I wrote, this ambiguity was the best thing.
‘Nothing’s for ever. Everything changes eventually, and it’s the people who adapt who survive.’
There was, again, a deep understanding of human nature, or at least a fascination with it, that allows asking interesting questions, looking where you would not search.
If people believe you’re brave you may not only half believe them but even draw a spurious courage from their delusion.
Susan Howatch wrote a exquisite historical fiction. With an interesting, well-researched background, with complex characters, with messages. What do you want more?
By the way, are the rich really different?
April 27, 2015
Once again, Susan Howatch has cleverly rewritten history! The Rich are Different is a novel written to mirror the lives of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Set in the 1920's banking industry, it tells the story of the tumultuous love triangle between Dinah (a modern Cleopatra), Paul (Caesar) and Steve (Antony). Dinah, on a quest to save her English home, has an affair with the illustrious Paul Van Zale. The story progresses from there, with Dinah and her ambition always being the focal point. By the end of the story however, the scheming Dinah meets her match in Paul's heir, Cornelius (Octavius). I didn't think I would enjoy this novel as much as I did. I didn't care for the Wall Street setting, but as a fan of Roman and Egyptian history, the story, for me, made up for the setting. I think Howatch perfectly captured the magnetism of Caesar when she wrote the character of Paul. He still plays a huge role in the novel, even when he is no longer on center stage. Overall, it is a very cleverly written novel. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Sins of the Fathers.
August 7, 2008
My sister had great fun mocking the title of this - which may indeed be the worst title ever - but I knew that Susan Howatch does not write just another trashy book. Her novels are retellings of historical couples set in a more modern era (I don't know my ancient Roman history, which apparently this one mimics). Another thing Howatch always does is shifting narrative perspectives - each of half a dozen major characters narrate a good chunk of the book. After you've been in someone's head like that, even the worst villains are more sympathetic (and/or comprehensible). She does an amazing job with narrative voice - one of the best I've seen ever, anywhere.
This book is set among investment bankers in the 1920s and 30s on Wall Street. It has fabulous characters and great description and plot, but the first half is much much better than the second - a major character dies, and everything sort of loses focus. Still, it's Howatch, so it's really pretty good.
This book is set among investment bankers in the 1920s and 30s on Wall Street. It has fabulous characters and great description and plot, but the first half is much much better than the second - a major character dies, and everything sort of loses focus. Still, it's Howatch, so it's really pretty good.
December 4, 2014
Wow, this book was SO good and unlike any other book I have ever read. Thank you Megan for the recommendation to read this. It's hard to summarize this book. At first I thought it was a little slow but each page I read grabbed me more then the last and by the end, I couldn't put it down. This is story centered around 4 main characters, broken down into 5 parts. Each part is narrated by one of the characters(with one character that narrates two parts). This is a novel centered around the greed and corruption that ruled the 1920s American Investment Banking era, the Great Depression that followed the historic 1929 stock market crash, and ends during the height of War World II. I'm not even sure how to appropriately summarize this book. It's historical fiction filled with mystery, suspense, and scandal that left me with no idea what was going to happen next. Amazing read.
October 1, 2008
Dinah, an ambitious but impoverished young woman, propositions Paul, a rich American banker, in the hope of saving her family property. The book takes place in both the UK and USA, revolving around high finance and business. Fast-moving, tough characters, and well-woven plots with a fairly satisfying ending.
When I first read this in 2000 I concluded that it was not really my kind of book. In a sense that's still true - the banking and high finance life of the early 20th century isn't my scene.
But what a very well-written book it is; re-reading it, I was just as gripped as I was the first time, and also more appreciative of the characterisation, and the clever way the author has used the historical stories of Caesar and Mark Anthony as the basis for this amazing novel.
When I first read this in 2000 I concluded that it was not really my kind of book. In a sense that's still true - the banking and high finance life of the early 20th century isn't my scene.
But what a very well-written book it is; re-reading it, I was just as gripped as I was the first time, and also more appreciative of the characterisation, and the clever way the author has used the historical stories of Caesar and Mark Anthony as the basis for this amazing novel.
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