The Gold Tip Pfitzer

by Irene Handl

Continues the story of a wealthy and eccentric French family, the Benoirs, including Mim, who, at twenty-seven, is in search of a fourth husband, George, her charming ten-year-old son, and Armand, her unusual brother

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 1986

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up because the author is an actress whose work I much enjoyed. I had heard that, whilst she specialised in playing potty old charwomen, she actually came from a wealthy, sophisticated family - so wanted to read her novel.
It's not the kind of book I'd normally go for, Aga-sagas not being my kind of thing, but it was very well-written and with a real ear for patterns of speech. It's a story about a wealth French family and their English in-laws, centring around the illness of a child.
Though good at capturing character, the tale is heavily laced with stream-of-consciousness which can be a little confusing at times, working out quite who is thinking and who they are thinking about. The main drawback for e, though, was that the family are utterly selfish and horrible - none of them are remotely likeable, and brought to mind Fitzgerald's comment that the rich are different.
That said, I'm glad I read the book and discovered a new side to Irene Handl's character and life (I am assuming she may have based the fictional characters on people she knew).

[Dave Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marvellously written with completely believable and complex characters, but having read The Sioux I didn't really need this extended epilogue. Still, even taken on its own it's better than most books -- certainly better than the limp Rules of Civility which I read next.

[Joanna Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to The Sioux. Heartbreaking. Lovely. Gorgeous writing. Will tear your heart out.