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Ripley #1-5
The Complete Ripley Novels
The Complete Ripley Novels - a first-time, boxed collection of the entire Ripley series - is a cause for critical and popular celebration. Its publication reflects the fact that Patricia Highsmith, "no more a practitioner of the murder mystery genre... than are Dostoevsky, Faulkner and Camus" (Joan Smith, Los Angeles Times), has finally entered the American literary canon.
Marginalized throughout her career as a mere thriller writer, Highsmith has experienced a remarkable renaissance since her death in 1995.
Now Highsmith fans and new readers alike can find these five novels - The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water - all housed under one roof in this brilliantly designed, highly collectible edition.
Marginalized throughout her career as a mere thriller writer, Highsmith has experienced a remarkable renaissance since her death in 1995.
Now Highsmith fans and new readers alike can find these five novels - The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water - all housed under one roof in this brilliantly designed, highly collectible edition.
1520 pages, Hardcover
First published November 25, 2020
14 people are currently reading
662 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Highsmith
486 books5,037 followersPatricia Highsmith was an American novelist who is known mainly for her psychological crime thrillers which have led to more than two dozen film adaptations over the years.
She lived with her grandmother, mother and later step-father (her mother divorced her natural father six months before 'Patsy' was born and married Stanley Highsmith) in Fort Worth before moving with her parents to New York in 1927 but returned to live with her grandmother for a year in 1933. Returning to her parents in New York, she attended public schools in New York City and later graduated from Barnard College in 1942.
Shortly after graduation her short story 'The Heroine' was published in the Harper's Bazaar magazine and it was selected as one of the 22 best stories that appeared in American magazines in 1945 and it won the O Henry award for short stories in 1946. She continued to write short stories, many of them comic book stories, and regularly earned herself a weekly $55 pay-check. During this period of her life she lived variously in New York and Mexico.
Her first suspense novel 'Strangers on a Train' published in 1950 was an immediate success with public and critics alike. The novel has been adapted for the screen three times, most notably by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951.
In 1955 her anti-hero Tom Ripley appeared in the splendid 'The Talented Mr Ripley', a book that was awarded the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere as the best foreign mystery novel translated into French in 1957. This book, too, has been the subject of a number of film versions. Ripley appeared again in 'Ripley Under Ground' in 1970, in 'Ripley's Game' in 1974, 'The boy who Followed Ripley' in 1980 and in 'Ripley Under Water' in 1991.
Along with her acclaimed series about Ripley, she wrote 22 novels and eight short story collections plus many other short stories, often macabre, satirical or tinged with black humour. She also wrote one novel, non-mystery, under the name Claire Morgan , plus a work of non-fiction 'Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction' and a co-written book of children's verse, 'Miranda the Panda Is on the Veranda'.
She latterly lived in England and France and was more popular in England than in her native United States. Her novel 'Deep Water', 1957, was called by the Sunday Times one of the "most brilliant analyses of psychosis in America" and Julian Symons once wrote of her "Miss Highsmith is the writer who fuses character and plot most successfully ... the most important crime novelist at present in practice." In addition, Michael Dirda observed "Europeans honoured her as a psychological novelist, part of an existentialist tradition represented by her own favorite writers, in particular Dostoevsky, Conrad, Kafka, Gide, and Camus."
She died of leukemia in Locarno, Switzerland on 4 February 1995 and her last novel, 'Small g: a Summer Idyll', was published posthumously a month later.
Gerry Wolstenholme
July 2010
She lived with her grandmother, mother and later step-father (her mother divorced her natural father six months before 'Patsy' was born and married Stanley Highsmith) in Fort Worth before moving with her parents to New York in 1927 but returned to live with her grandmother for a year in 1933. Returning to her parents in New York, she attended public schools in New York City and later graduated from Barnard College in 1942.
Shortly after graduation her short story 'The Heroine' was published in the Harper's Bazaar magazine and it was selected as one of the 22 best stories that appeared in American magazines in 1945 and it won the O Henry award for short stories in 1946. She continued to write short stories, many of them comic book stories, and regularly earned herself a weekly $55 pay-check. During this period of her life she lived variously in New York and Mexico.
Her first suspense novel 'Strangers on a Train' published in 1950 was an immediate success with public and critics alike. The novel has been adapted for the screen three times, most notably by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951.
In 1955 her anti-hero Tom Ripley appeared in the splendid 'The Talented Mr Ripley', a book that was awarded the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere as the best foreign mystery novel translated into French in 1957. This book, too, has been the subject of a number of film versions. Ripley appeared again in 'Ripley Under Ground' in 1970, in 'Ripley's Game' in 1974, 'The boy who Followed Ripley' in 1980 and in 'Ripley Under Water' in 1991.
Along with her acclaimed series about Ripley, she wrote 22 novels and eight short story collections plus many other short stories, often macabre, satirical or tinged with black humour. She also wrote one novel, non-mystery, under the name Claire Morgan , plus a work of non-fiction 'Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction' and a co-written book of children's verse, 'Miranda the Panda Is on the Veranda'.
She latterly lived in England and France and was more popular in England than in her native United States. Her novel 'Deep Water', 1957, was called by the Sunday Times one of the "most brilliant analyses of psychosis in America" and Julian Symons once wrote of her "Miss Highsmith is the writer who fuses character and plot most successfully ... the most important crime novelist at present in practice." In addition, Michael Dirda observed "Europeans honoured her as a psychological novelist, part of an existentialist tradition represented by her own favorite writers, in particular Dostoevsky, Conrad, Kafka, Gide, and Camus."
She died of leukemia in Locarno, Switzerland on 4 February 1995 and her last novel, 'Small g: a Summer Idyll', was published posthumously a month later.
Gerry Wolstenholme
July 2010
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 5, 2024
¡Qué gran decepción!
Tras leer la esperanzadora primera entrega de las cinco novelas que componen esta saga, «El talento de Tom Ripley», poco bueno puedo decir del resto. La única que aguanta el tipo, «El amigo americano», es precisamente aquella en la que Ripley deja el protagonismo a otro personaje.
Su odio hacia lo que significa ser Tom Ripley, la adopción de personalidades distintas en función de la persona que tiene en frente, su egocentrismo, su inseguridad acompañada de una infinita confianza en que todo saldrá bien, su ambigüedad sexual, su falta de conciencia, su egoísmo infantil, sus errores y su capacidad de improvisación para escapar de ellos, que es lo mejor de la primera novela, apenas se mantiene en las demás. En estas, Ripley es una persona casera, dedicada a la jardinería y a la pintura, que participa en alguna estafa o hecho delictivo por puro entretenimiento, pues goza del dinero que tiene asignado su rica esposa. Las tramas son insípidas, carentes de suspense y con muchas páginas cuyo único objetivo parece ser alcanzar el tamaño adecuado para una novela de este tipo.
Como digo, solo se salvan de la quema «El talento de Tom Ripley» (aquí pueden leer mi comentario: El talento de Tom Ripley ) y «El amigo americano», novela en la que la autora aborda nuevamente su seguridad en la creencia de que todos podemos llegar a cometer un asesinato si las condiciones son las adecuadas, aunque no todos pueden soportar la presión de haberlo cometido.
June 12, 2021
I read the Ripley books many years ago, long before the pretty good movie The Talented Mr Ripley with Matt Damon. I think I've seen a movie version of Ripley's Game as well, with John Malkovitch, but don't remember much if it.
It was the first time that I encountered a hero that was so unapologetically bad and very likeable to boot. As far as I remember, these books are not high octane or extremely suspenseful, they are more character studies than thrillers and very well written.
It was the first time that I encountered a hero that was so unapologetically bad and very likeable to boot. As far as I remember, these books are not high octane or extremely suspenseful, they are more character studies than thrillers and very well written.
July 29, 2014
Okay - the Ripley books are by far, some of the most interesting reading I have ever done! So much so that I decided to re-read them during the summer of 2007.
To be fair - this type of book is not going to be everyone\'s cafe au lait (it has a delicious European setting). Tom Ripley is a bad, bad man. BAD!!! But the author has done something really unique here...she writes him very empathetically - so you WANT him to get away with all his crimes and you HOPE no one will ever find out. Further, you WANT to live his lifestyle and HOPE that he gets even further untoward-gained success to further his fantastic lifestyle.
Now, you may have watched the movie of the same name with Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law (oh, and a charming little performance by the deep dish apple pie, Phillip Seymour Hoffman - I LOVE HIM!). Okay, back to the review - the movie is very close to the book. Some movies take far to many liberties - this movie is quite close to the original. Of course there are a few changes but it\'s one of my favorite movies ever. (I am going to watch it again this weekend I think... I\'ve given myself a movie appetizer here just remembering it!).
The other four books (Ripley Under Water, Ripley\'s Game (which is also a movie with my other, weird love interest - John Malkovich - don\'t ask...), The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Underground, are all equally strange and delicious. Oh! LOVE THEM ALL!
To be fair - this type of book is not going to be everyone\'s cafe au lait (it has a delicious European setting). Tom Ripley is a bad, bad man. BAD!!! But the author has done something really unique here...she writes him very empathetically - so you WANT him to get away with all his crimes and you HOPE no one will ever find out. Further, you WANT to live his lifestyle and HOPE that he gets even further untoward-gained success to further his fantastic lifestyle.
Now, you may have watched the movie of the same name with Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law (oh, and a charming little performance by the deep dish apple pie, Phillip Seymour Hoffman - I LOVE HIM!). Okay, back to the review - the movie is very close to the book. Some movies take far to many liberties - this movie is quite close to the original. Of course there are a few changes but it\'s one of my favorite movies ever. (I am going to watch it again this weekend I think... I\'ve given myself a movie appetizer here just remembering it!).
The other four books (Ripley Under Water, Ripley\'s Game (which is also a movie with my other, weird love interest - John Malkovich - don\'t ask...), The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Underground, are all equally strange and delicious. Oh! LOVE THEM ALL!
May 31, 2013
This might be the only time I have ever preferred the movie over the book. The portrait of a cold, calculating psychopath (who doesn't realize that's what he is) is intriguing, but in book form, I just found the story too draggy. So much text devoted to Tom playing out the possibilities and worrying about getting caught. The movie was so well done that a lot of the psychological nuances are conveyed just with a look or a gesture.
February 22, 2016
So, after an INCREDIBLY LONG journey, I can officially say that I have COMPLETED the entire "Ripliad." It's name derives from the utilization of a central character throughout the 5 novels: Thomas Ripley. The five titles in the series are as follows: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water. These five novels were some of Patricia's best sellers in the U.S. She was overlooked in the U.S. prior to the creation of one Thomas Ripley. Albeit, she did have a great deal of success in many European countries because it was there that she spent much of her adult life (namely Switzerland and France). Hence, her fascination with and keen understanding of all things European can clearly be witnessed throughout her work (especially in this series).
One idea that is alluded to in her work is the relationships between males. She had an interest in themes and conceptualizations pertaining to homosexuality. Under an assumed name (Claire Morgan), her novel "The Price of Salt," addresses this matter directly. It was shunned and dismissed by her American publishers because of its content. And, although there is no direct reference to it within "The Ripliad," she does, in fact, connote homosexuality via the interactions between Thomas Ripley and the various males throughout.
Now, that being said, I will commence by saying that of the five books she created, the middle novel Ripley's Game, is by far the weakest. It seems to me that after her commercial success of The Talented Mr. Ripley, she decided to "cash in" on this character, writing as many situations and scenarios as she could think of. It is for this reason that the 3rd novel was difficult to begin. I will say that I must've started it and stopped, restarted it and stopped again, and then again, and then again. There was a very slow opening to this novel. Plus, it probably didn't help that it was NOT my initial intention to read all five of the books. I was referred to read the first book in the series: The Talented Mr. Ripley. Yet, upon discovering that there were four additional books with the same character, I decided to read the entire series. I have no regrets having read the entire "Ripliad." But, if you asked me if I had an interest in reading it again: the answer is an EMPHATIC NO.
As I began in the preceding paragraph, the 3rd book is certainly the weakest. The four "outer" books (books 1 and 2 & 4 and 5) are definitely worth the read. There are some great moments to occur in all of them. I was most impressed with Highsmith's ability to see Monsieur Ripley through a number of obstacles. Each time that I was convinced his demise was imminent, he would always find a way out of the stickiest, most troubling situations. Each novel presents him with newer, more challenging ways to scheme, plot, and disguise himself for the reader. He was even able to utilize his "talents" for the advancement of friends/colleagues. Some of the rather unscrupulous characters with whom he was involved at times, were just as disreputable as he.
In describing Thomas Ripley, I would liken him unto a PROTAGONIST VIEWED THROUGH THE LENS OF AN ANTAGONIST. I say this simply because he spends the entirety of the series fighting against the establishment, against authorities, against would be informants, who, otherwise, would see his destruction, but for his wit, his intelligence, quick thinking, and lack of sympathy or empathy. He is 100% NARCISSISTIC; he is 100% PSYCHOPATHIC. And, anyone threatening the life that he "worked very hard to create," is one who needs to be handled.
Other reviews of the novels suggest that Tom Ripley is merely a charlatan. However, this is simply an untruth. It's impossible for that to be a reality. In point of fact, Tom Ripley spends his life, year after year, committing murders (whether directly OR indirectly), all in the name of "JUSTICE" and "PRESERVING" his life with his wife at his manor/estate. The killings, in his mind, are all justifiable. For this reason, he is not merely a con artist. No. He is a charlatan AND SERIAL KILLER. It was unfortunate, in some instances, that persons were somehow too smart for their own good, or just happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Would I recommend reading the novels? Hmmm...perhaps. I would say that the FIRST novel is certainly worth a read. But, if you would like to witness the ingenuity of one Thomas Ripley, from one disguise to another, from one inventive killing to another, from one LIE TO ANOTHER, then dive in--head first. Or, if you are looking for a series to read (as was I at the time, and thus, I decided to COMMIT to all 5 novels, since I hadn't read a full series before), then "The Ripliad" would not be a bad choice.
One idea that is alluded to in her work is the relationships between males. She had an interest in themes and conceptualizations pertaining to homosexuality. Under an assumed name (Claire Morgan), her novel "The Price of Salt," addresses this matter directly. It was shunned and dismissed by her American publishers because of its content. And, although there is no direct reference to it within "The Ripliad," she does, in fact, connote homosexuality via the interactions between Thomas Ripley and the various males throughout.
Now, that being said, I will commence by saying that of the five books she created, the middle novel Ripley's Game, is by far the weakest. It seems to me that after her commercial success of The Talented Mr. Ripley, she decided to "cash in" on this character, writing as many situations and scenarios as she could think of. It is for this reason that the 3rd novel was difficult to begin. I will say that I must've started it and stopped, restarted it and stopped again, and then again, and then again. There was a very slow opening to this novel. Plus, it probably didn't help that it was NOT my initial intention to read all five of the books. I was referred to read the first book in the series: The Talented Mr. Ripley. Yet, upon discovering that there were four additional books with the same character, I decided to read the entire series. I have no regrets having read the entire "Ripliad." But, if you asked me if I had an interest in reading it again: the answer is an EMPHATIC NO.
As I began in the preceding paragraph, the 3rd book is certainly the weakest. The four "outer" books (books 1 and 2 & 4 and 5) are definitely worth the read. There are some great moments to occur in all of them. I was most impressed with Highsmith's ability to see Monsieur Ripley through a number of obstacles. Each time that I was convinced his demise was imminent, he would always find a way out of the stickiest, most troubling situations. Each novel presents him with newer, more challenging ways to scheme, plot, and disguise himself for the reader. He was even able to utilize his "talents" for the advancement of friends/colleagues. Some of the rather unscrupulous characters with whom he was involved at times, were just as disreputable as he.
In describing Thomas Ripley, I would liken him unto a PROTAGONIST VIEWED THROUGH THE LENS OF AN ANTAGONIST. I say this simply because he spends the entirety of the series fighting against the establishment, against authorities, against would be informants, who, otherwise, would see his destruction, but for his wit, his intelligence, quick thinking, and lack of sympathy or empathy. He is 100% NARCISSISTIC; he is 100% PSYCHOPATHIC. And, anyone threatening the life that he "worked very hard to create," is one who needs to be handled.
Other reviews of the novels suggest that Tom Ripley is merely a charlatan. However, this is simply an untruth. It's impossible for that to be a reality. In point of fact, Tom Ripley spends his life, year after year, committing murders (whether directly OR indirectly), all in the name of "JUSTICE" and "PRESERVING" his life with his wife at his manor/estate. The killings, in his mind, are all justifiable. For this reason, he is not merely a con artist. No. He is a charlatan AND SERIAL KILLER. It was unfortunate, in some instances, that persons were somehow too smart for their own good, or just happened to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Would I recommend reading the novels? Hmmm...perhaps. I would say that the FIRST novel is certainly worth a read. But, if you would like to witness the ingenuity of one Thomas Ripley, from one disguise to another, from one inventive killing to another, from one LIE TO ANOTHER, then dive in--head first. Or, if you are looking for a series to read (as was I at the time, and thus, I decided to COMMIT to all 5 novels, since I hadn't read a full series before), then "The Ripliad" would not be a bad choice.
October 12, 2010
Classic. Ripley is one of the most intriguing and strange whilst still remarkably believable characters I've ever enjoyed getting to know. How did she make me care for someone so stark and hopeless?
These are definite re-reads. Can't wait because I miss walking around his French home, his maid, his harpsicord, his little town... genius.
These are definite re-reads. Can't wait because I miss walking around his French home, his maid, his harpsicord, his little town... genius.
July 19, 2023
Some of my favourite books. It transports you into another world full of depth and flavour. So interesting that it’s from the perspective of a psychopath.
December 10, 2017
Підіб’ю підсумки Ріпліади з моєї точки зору. Перша книга («Талановитий містер Ріплі») – незвичний протагоніст (антагоніст? хай би й так) і незвичний розвиток подій. Друга книга («Ріплі під землею») – тінь першої, проте змінює вектор і вводить визначальних персонажів серії. Третя книга («Гра Ріплі») – геній Тома Ріплі у всій своїй красі. Четверта книга («Юнак, який рушив за Ріплі») – найгірша, Ріплі сам на себе не схожий, сюжет дурнуватий. П’ята книга («Ріплі під водою») – Ріплі зустрів, здавалося б, гідного суперника, хай вагові категорії різні, але Том знову нагадав себе змолоду. І хотілося б позбутися двух книг, а залишити три, однак, на жаль, і в них відбулися події, які стали наріжними каменями для подальшого сюжету.
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June 28, 2020I'VE BEEN READING PATRICIA HIGHSMITH NOVELS AND I CAN'T TELL IF SHE HATED WOMEN OR IF SHE'S JUST REALLY GRATE AT WRITING DUDES WHO HATE WOMEN. I THINK IT'S THE LATTER BUT I'M NOT POSITIVE.
IL THE FIRST RIPLEY NOVEL, ARE THE OTHER ONES AS GOOD? IT FEELS SO PERFECT THAT IT'S HARD TO THINK ABOUT A SEQUEL. :D:
I THINK THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY IS MY FAVORITE BOOK FROM THAT ERA.
IL THE FIRST RIPLEY NOVEL, ARE THE OTHER ONES AS GOOD? IT FEELS SO PERFECT THAT IT'S HARD TO THINK ABOUT A SEQUEL. :D:
I THINK THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY IS MY FAVORITE BOOK FROM THAT ERA.
March 16, 2014
What can i say about the 'Ripley' series by Patricia Highsmith that hasn't been said? This audiobook is ideal for anyone with a visual impairment or, if you are like me, enjoy playing it as a bedtime story.Below is included all the information one might need, thanks to the BBC:
Saturday Play: The Complete Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (5 Episodes)
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[img=http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/images/e...]
Episode 1 of 5: The Talented Mr Ripley
Ian Hart stars as charming, cultured Tom Ripley, Patricia Highsmith's mischievous anti-hero with a taste for the finer things in life. In the first of five Ripley novels Tom is barely one step ahead of his creditors when a stranger offers him a free trip to Europe and a fresh start. Tom wants money and success and he is willing to kill for it.
Tom Ripley...Ian Hart
Dickie Greenleaf...Stephen Hogan
Marge Sherwood...Barbara Barnes
Mr Greenleaf...Malcolm Tierney
Mrs Greenleaf...Janice Acquah
Roverini...Stephen Critchlow
Buffi...Matt Addis
Dramatist Stephen Wyatt
Director Claire Grove
Tom Ripley detests murder unless it is absolutely necessary. He prefers someone else to do the dirty work. But if he's called on to act there is no one more cool, calculating and clever. Radio 4 brings all Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels together in a thrilling series on five successive Saturdays. Written over 35 years Patricia Highsmith kept being drawn back to her hedonistic, charming, cultured and mischievous anti-hero who has a taste for the finer things in life. Always on the edge of being discovered, Ripley appeals to the amoral instinct in all of us. These are unique and complex crime novels with a brilliantly twisted centre.
Ian Hart stars as Tom Ripley. A BAFTA Award winning actor, Ian Hart has starred in projects as varied as Land and Freedom, The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Cock and Bull Story, Blind Flight and Harry Potter.
"Highsmith's novels are peerlessly disturbing, bad dreams that keep us thrashing for the rest of the night." THE NEW YORKER.
Episode 2 of 5: Ripley Under Ground
Ian Hart stars as charming, cultured Tom Ripley, in the second of Patricia Highsmith's classic thrillers. With a dead man's money safely stowed in the bank Tom is living in luxury in a chateaux in France with his beautiful French wife. But the clever art forgery which funds Tom's expensive tastes is about to be uncovered.
Tom Ripley...Ian Hart
Heloise...Helen Longworth
Bernard Tufts...Benedict Sandiford
Jeff Constant...Stephen Hogan
Madame Annette...Caroline Guthrie
Murchison...Malcolm Tierney
Webster...Stephen Critchlow
Dramatist Alan McDonald
Director Claire Grove.
Episode 3 of 5: Ripley's Game
Ian Hart stars as charming, cultured Tom Ripley, in Patricia Highsmith's classic thriller. Tom sets up a man he dislikes to carry out two perfect murders but an attack of conscience propels him on to a train to take on the Mafia.
Tom Ripley...Ian Hart
Heloise...Helen Longworth
Madame Annette...Caroline Guthrie
Reeves Minot...Paul Rider
Jonathan Trevanny...Tom Brooke
Simone Trevanny...Janice Acquah
Gauthier...Philip Fox
Marcangelo...Matt Addis
Lippo...Sam Dale
Dramatist Alan McDonald
Director Steven Canny
Producer Claire Grove
Episode 4 of 5: The Boy Who Followed Ripley
Ian Hart stars as charming, cultured Tom Ripley, in Patricia Highsmith's classic thriller. A rich young man arrives at Belle Ombre. He and Tom end up having to fight for their lives in sexually-ambiguous, underworld Berlin.
Tom Ripley...Ian Hart
Frank Pierson...Nicholas Hoult
Heloise...Helen Longworth
Lily Pierson...Janice Acquah
Reeves Minot...Paul Rider
Eric Lanz...Jonathan Tafler
Ralph Thurlow...Philip Fox
Max...Matt Addis
Dramatist Stephen Wyatt
Director Steven Canny and Claire Grove
Episode 5 of 5: Ripley Under Water
Ian Hart stars as charming, cultured Tom Ripley, in Patricia Highsmith's classic thriller. Strange new neighbours show an overdeveloped interest in Ripley's past. Tom discovers they are not who they say they are but will his shady dealings be exposed after all?
Tom Ripley...Ian Hart
Heloise...Helen Longworth
Madame Annette...Caroline Guthrie
David Pritchard...William Hope
Janice Pritchard...Janice Acquah
Jeff Constant...Stephen Hogan
September 15, 2023
Ha sido un mes para acabar estas 1300 páginas, pero lo cierto es que no ha costado demasiado trabajo. Fácil de leer, un poco desasosegante, sobre todo al principio, no especialmente exquisito en el estilo… Un personaje que, en los dos primeros libros, resulta absolutamente deleznable por su falta de moral y absoluto egocentrismo. Pero a partir de la tercera entrega, parece que la autora se encariña con él y no vuelve a matar por interés propio; de hecho, hasta en ocasiones se arrepiente del crimen que le permitirá llegar a ser lo que es en los cuatro últimos libros de la serie. A pesar de todo, no me cae bien. Para mí Ripley no es más que un niño que llega a pijo y que disfruta enormemente de lo que el pijerío significa (lujo, casa, mujer hermosa…). Para mantener el status, todo vale. Y si bien es cierto que parece a veces encariñarse con otros personajes (Heloise, por descontado, o el joven Frank, que al principio parece ser el aprendiz de ser amoral que a Tom le gustaría), lo que en todo momento deja patente es que no piensa renunciar a nada de lo conseguido, cueste lo que cueste. Sin ánimo de mojigatería (está claro que ningún libro tiene que dar una lección de moral, el mundo tampoco es un buen ejemplo de ello), no soporto que un tipo de la calaña de Tom Ripley salga siempre airoso.
October 8, 2010
I admit, I saw the movie (the Matt Damon version, not Plein Soleil) and was not THAT impressed by it. But, with a lack of anything to read and time to peruse the Mystery shelves at the library I was drawn to Patricia Highsmith's Ripley series. It was probably just the name recognition that caused me to take the first book down and start to read it. By the middle of the story, I was hooked and very glad that it was only part one in a series. Admittedly, Highsmith's style is not for everyone. But if her style DOES work for you, you will be thoroughly engrossed in everything that Ripley has to offer. Sometimes predictable or slow, the story draws the reader into a world where no one is free from suspicion or naivete.
January 31, 2022
This was a summer goal - actually it was last summer's goal - to read this series again (& read the Anne of Green Gables series, quite a contrast!) & altho I am someone who rarely re-reads I did thoroughly relish this re-read. Ripley is the best of Highsmith's works. What is Ripley - a sociopath, psychopath? There is much debate over Ripley's personality but none about the fact that he is a likeable killer and how do these two go together? Somewhere I read in reference to his character that he is the most evil character in literature to be so well-liked. And this is what rivets the reader - he does terrible things and yet you want to go on reading about his crazy adventures, um, misadventures? I could read it again someday I think.
August 26, 2009
A Pentateuch of evil as the redoutable Tom Ripley, literature's most casual sociopath, casts his shadow over various parts of Europe in his murderous efforts to obtain, regain, and sustain his ill-gotten social status and wealth.
Despite some faltering plotting and stylistic elements in her last two volumes, the character of Ripley demonstrates the evolution of an aging murderer and offers hints into the dark secrets of his past. Like a guilty pleasure, you can't stop after a single Ripley...just one more please.
Wonderful reading for the dark of night...pleasant dreams!
Despite some faltering plotting and stylistic elements in her last two volumes, the character of Ripley demonstrates the evolution of an aging murderer and offers hints into the dark secrets of his past. Like a guilty pleasure, you can't stop after a single Ripley...just one more please.
Wonderful reading for the dark of night...pleasant dreams!
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July 9, 2009mystery,women authors
May 23, 2011
Superb
October 4, 2011
Amazing read.
May 3, 2015
Superb.
May 21, 2009
ooooh, so nasty, how we feel when we identify with the murderer
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews