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Tycoon
Unable to secure the respectability of old money despite his fabulous financial successes, ambitious network pioneer Jack Lear advances himself through two marriages and faces an unexpected threat. Reprint.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1996
40 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Harold Robbins
319 books437 followersBorn as Harold Rubin in New York City, he later claimed to be a Jewish orphan who had been raised in a Catholic boys home. In reality he was the son of well-educated Russian and Polish immigrants. He was reared by his pharmacist father and stepmother in Brooklyn.
His first book, Never Love a Stranger (1948), caused controversy with its graphic sexuality. Publisher Pat Knopf reportedly bought Never Love a Stranger because "it was the first time he had ever read a book where on one page you'd have tears and on the next page you'd have a hard-on".
His 1952 novel, A Stone for Danny Fisher, was adapted into a 1958 motion picture King Creole, which starred Elvis Presley.
He would become arguably the world's bestselling author, publishing over 20 books which were translated into 32 languages and sold over 750 million copies. Among his best-known books is The Carpetbaggers, loosely based on the life of Howard Hughes, taking the reader from New York to California, from the prosperity of the aeronautical industry to the glamour of Hollywood.
His first book, Never Love a Stranger (1948), caused controversy with its graphic sexuality. Publisher Pat Knopf reportedly bought Never Love a Stranger because "it was the first time he had ever read a book where on one page you'd have tears and on the next page you'd have a hard-on".
His 1952 novel, A Stone for Danny Fisher, was adapted into a 1958 motion picture King Creole, which starred Elvis Presley.
He would become arguably the world's bestselling author, publishing over 20 books which were translated into 32 languages and sold over 750 million copies. Among his best-known books is The Carpetbaggers, loosely based on the life of Howard Hughes, taking the reader from New York to California, from the prosperity of the aeronautical industry to the glamour of Hollywood.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 2, 2017
This is among the first few novels that I read in English. Harold Robbins had died in 1997 and there was a newspaper obituary saying that he was the world's best selling writer. So I wanted to read him but it was just a thought. And a friend of mine was reading this book and he said he was reading it just for the juicy bits. Anyway, I got it from him and started reading and I was immediatly hooked and finished the book in 2 days. That was pretty good speed for me at that time and I don't think my reading speed has improved much. Except I get distracted easily now. Abt the novel: It is the story of a rich guy who was big in the 1930s - till he died time frame. If you have read Robbins, you would know most of his novels are set like that. It is about some poor guy who made it big with guts and gumption and it mostly starts in the 1930s during the depression time with oodles of sex and power struggles thrown in. Only thing is he writes it in such a way, I never found any of his novels boring. And he knew how to write something that moves you as well. of course, towards the end of his writing life, he lost ideas and wrote a few (or more, depending on how you judge) bad books that had just sex and some plot bcoz he led such a lavish lifestyle that he managed to spend away all his money! he reportedly sold 750 million books!. Anyway, I tried to re-read this a few years back and I couldn't go beyond 50 pages.
July 7, 2014
Sexy, outrageous, irresistible, entertaining.
April 26, 2013
a rags to riches story with loads of drama,scandals,sex etc etc thrown in.Tycoon tells the story of jack lear rise to power and also tells the parallel story of his family and some people connected to him.
i did not like many things in the story and found many instances morally and ethically wrong,the book just did not match with my frequency and though many would like this book for its narration and good pace,i could not bring myself to love the novel because of the things mentioned above
it was just not the kind of novels i like
i did not like many things in the story and found many instances morally and ethically wrong,the book just did not match with my frequency and though many would like this book for its narration and good pace,i could not bring myself to love the novel because of the things mentioned above
it was just not the kind of novels i like
January 11, 2014
This was a shockingly bad book. Badly written, no plot, gratuitous sex (but not enough to make it an erotic novel) - I've got the end and still not sure what the point of the whole book was. Time I will never get back.
September 28, 2007
Sordid
March 3, 2011
( Ricos e Belos )
January 7, 2013
It started off as a pretty good historical novel, but then descended into one sex scene after another, with varied pairings to better shock the reader.
August 15, 2012
Nothing too great a bood about the life a rich guy. Read unless you are very very bored.
September 2, 2012
Harold Robbins writes either a very good book or the very worst one. This is one of the later. Would not advice any one to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2013
2nd read
Read
August 30, 2013 Read 3/98
November 4, 2015
Not as good as his older stories but totally readable!
May 27, 2016
Novel - Life and loves of radio-TV tycoon Jack Lear from 1931-1973.
November 4, 2013
quick, fun, light
October 17, 2018
I’d just finished reading 79 Park Avenue, which I absolutely loved (a rare 5 stars from me) so went straight into Tycoon after finishing that.
I read it over three days on holiday as, at 432 pages, it is fairly lengthy. Although a good page turner it did feel long in parts. For me the pace picked up better in the second half.
It definitely falls into the category of ‘shock fiction’ in a similar way to Jacquelin Susann. Tycoon portrays lavish lifestyles set against a constant backdrop of material wealth, sex and scandals.
The book is set predominantly in 1930s-1960s America. It follows Jack Lear and his family, friends and acquaintances from when he graduates Harvard through development of Jack’s media empire, personal relationships and journey through high society over the next 30-40 years.
I find this period in America fascinating and Robbins writes about it vividly and with great detail. I found the competition in the media industry during the rapid development of TV, Radio and Film and the New England ‘Old Money’ vs California ‘New Money’ struggle fascinating.
Robbins writes about the personal relationships, scandals and backstabbing between characters in vivid Technicolor. Tycoon was very graphic with a lot of swearing, strong sex scenes etc which didn’t offend me but a lot seemed purely for shock value. It started out graphic from the start and I felt as though he was trying to continually raise the stakes through the book which, when coming towards the end of the book, left him with nowhere to go.
I found most characters (there are many... you could have a family tree appendix!) interesting but not likeable. From Jack’s first wife, the Boston debutante Kimberly, to the gossip column writer there was a broad range of personalities in the pages. I didn’t really find one character to root for with perhaps the exception being Joni, Jack’s model turned actress daughter. But maybe that’s the point?
I recommend reading Tycoon if you’re already a fan of Robbins or writers like Jacquelin Susann. You certainly won’t be bored reading it lying on a sun lounger. If easily offended I’d give it a wide berth!
I read it over three days on holiday as, at 432 pages, it is fairly lengthy. Although a good page turner it did feel long in parts. For me the pace picked up better in the second half.
It definitely falls into the category of ‘shock fiction’ in a similar way to Jacquelin Susann. Tycoon portrays lavish lifestyles set against a constant backdrop of material wealth, sex and scandals.
The book is set predominantly in 1930s-1960s America. It follows Jack Lear and his family, friends and acquaintances from when he graduates Harvard through development of Jack’s media empire, personal relationships and journey through high society over the next 30-40 years.
I find this period in America fascinating and Robbins writes about it vividly and with great detail. I found the competition in the media industry during the rapid development of TV, Radio and Film and the New England ‘Old Money’ vs California ‘New Money’ struggle fascinating.
Robbins writes about the personal relationships, scandals and backstabbing between characters in vivid Technicolor. Tycoon was very graphic with a lot of swearing, strong sex scenes etc which didn’t offend me but a lot seemed purely for shock value. It started out graphic from the start and I felt as though he was trying to continually raise the stakes through the book which, when coming towards the end of the book, left him with nowhere to go.
I found most characters (there are many... you could have a family tree appendix!) interesting but not likeable. From Jack’s first wife, the Boston debutante Kimberly, to the gossip column writer there was a broad range of personalities in the pages. I didn’t really find one character to root for with perhaps the exception being Joni, Jack’s model turned actress daughter. But maybe that’s the point?
I recommend reading Tycoon if you’re already a fan of Robbins or writers like Jacquelin Susann. You certainly won’t be bored reading it lying on a sun lounger. If easily offended I’d give it a wide berth!
May 8, 2022
This book is occasionally great but it’s written very clinically ie) a happened , then b happened, etc. it’s also seemingly just peppered with random insert lines of sex, like it’ll be a chapter about business then a line out of nowhere about a woman grabbing his balls or licking something , etc. it almost becomes comical after a while. But it does a good job, in it’s weird way, of presenting a life than spans the major events of the beginning to late twentieth century, at least the life of a super rich dude who sleeps with lots of women. Soap opera-ish but trashy enough to be fun in parts.
July 14, 2020
The basic storyline was quite good but the rest left much to be desired. The excessive overly descriptive deviant sex was totally unnecessary. I do not consider myself to be a prude but had I known that this novel contained these kinds of sex episodes then I would not have bought the book.
Is the author catering to the masses or whether this is what readers are looking for, I for one feel that a good storyline does not need this. Quite disappointed with the author.
Is the author catering to the masses or whether this is what readers are looking for, I for one feel that a good storyline does not need this. Quite disappointed with the author.
August 14, 2017
An absolute blockbuster!
This is yet another riveting entry into Harold Robbins' sprawling legacy. Rich in all the elements that exemplify his books: high drama, intrigue, compelling characters, grit, substantive knowledge in subject matter and of course, a lot of raunchy sex. Easily the best book of Robbins' I've read since 'The Adventurers'. Simply fantastic.
This is yet another riveting entry into Harold Robbins' sprawling legacy. Rich in all the elements that exemplify his books: high drama, intrigue, compelling characters, grit, substantive knowledge in subject matter and of course, a lot of raunchy sex. Easily the best book of Robbins' I've read since 'The Adventurers'. Simply fantastic.
January 8, 2020
Definitely not his best
August 22, 2022
Not a bad story. Seems like too much focus on sexual situations that really don’t add to the story.
Read
March 21, 2017excellent book
September 8, 2023
Good story.
November 23, 2023
Não é exatamente literatura erótica, mas é cheio de sexo ao ponto de tornar a leitura cansativa após um certo tempo.
Bem escrito, mas há coisas melhores por aí. Válido para os fãs do autor.
Bem escrito, mas há coisas melhores por aí. Válido para os fãs do autor.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews