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The Last Days of America
London. 18 cm. 312 p. Encuadernación en tapa blanda de editorial ilustrada. Idioma Inglés. Paul E. Erdman. Originally London : Secker & Warburg, 1981 .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. 0722133502
360 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
7 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Paul Emil Erdman
34 books48 followersPaul Emil Erdman was one of the leading business and financial writers in the United States who became known for writing novels based on monetary trends and historical facts concerning complex matters of international finance.
Erdman was born in Ontario, Canada, to American parents. He graduated from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He received his PhD from the University of Basel (in Switzerland). In 1958 he worked as a financial analyst for the European Coal and Steel Community. Between 1959 and 1961, he worked as an economist at the Stanford Research Institute at Menlo Park.
Erdman returned to Switzerland where in 1965, he founded and was the president of a Swiss bank - the Salik Bank. In 1969, the United California Bank in California bought a majority stake and renamed it the United California Bank in Basel. The bank collapsed after taking large losses speculating in the cocoa market. Erdman and other board members were accused of fraud and Erdman spent time in jail awaiting trial.
While in jail, he wrote his first novel - The Billion Dollar Sure Thing (1973). It received a 1974 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel and was published in the UK as The Billion Dollar Killing. He was released on bail and fled from Switzerland. He was subsequently convicted in absentia. His second novel, the The Silver Bears (1974) was turned into a 1978 movie of the same name, starring Michael Caine. His books were well researched and contain convincing details. Despite the underlying complexity of his novels, his lucid writing style had enabled readers to learn complex concepts such as interest rate swaps, and his novels had often been bestsellers. The information in The Swiss Account is credited with providing a basis for helping track down the assets of Jewish victims of the holocaust.
Erdman was born in Ontario, Canada, to American parents. He graduated from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He received his PhD from the University of Basel (in Switzerland). In 1958 he worked as a financial analyst for the European Coal and Steel Community. Between 1959 and 1961, he worked as an economist at the Stanford Research Institute at Menlo Park.
Erdman returned to Switzerland where in 1965, he founded and was the president of a Swiss bank - the Salik Bank. In 1969, the United California Bank in California bought a majority stake and renamed it the United California Bank in Basel. The bank collapsed after taking large losses speculating in the cocoa market. Erdman and other board members were accused of fraud and Erdman spent time in jail awaiting trial.
While in jail, he wrote his first novel - The Billion Dollar Sure Thing (1973). It received a 1974 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel and was published in the UK as The Billion Dollar Killing. He was released on bail and fled from Switzerland. He was subsequently convicted in absentia. His second novel, the The Silver Bears (1974) was turned into a 1978 movie of the same name, starring Michael Caine. His books were well researched and contain convincing details. Despite the underlying complexity of his novels, his lucid writing style had enabled readers to learn complex concepts such as interest rate swaps, and his novels had often been bestsellers. The information in The Swiss Account is credited with providing a basis for helping track down the assets of Jewish victims of the holocaust.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 24, 2013
This was a solid political/business thriller, not quite as good as Erdman's The Crash of '79, but nonetheless still a good solid read.
Whilst it was written in 1981 and therefore is now set in the past asides from their being East & West Germany and the Soviet Union the story does transfer well to our current times - in fact there was recently a similar scenario occurring with missile technology being provided to China. So in reality asides for a handful of country changes the story is still realistic and pertinent.
The story essentially revolves around an American defense contractor attempting to sell it's new fangled missiles to NATO. When the deal appears in jeopardy they attempt bribery which leads down a path they were not expecting and to the eventual down fall of American foreign policy.
Whilst it was written in 1981 and therefore is now set in the past asides from their being East & West Germany and the Soviet Union the story does transfer well to our current times - in fact there was recently a similar scenario occurring with missile technology being provided to China. So in reality asides for a handful of country changes the story is still realistic and pertinent.
The story essentially revolves around an American defense contractor attempting to sell it's new fangled missiles to NATO. When the deal appears in jeopardy they attempt bribery which leads down a path they were not expecting and to the eventual down fall of American foreign policy.
June 3, 2016
If you see my review for the "Crash of 79" by the same author then all you will need to know about "my opinion" of this novel is there. I must say here though that this book was my favourite of the two. I read several reviews which knocked this novel as being too Jingoistic and in some way anti-European. I didn't find it to be either. For me this was an accidental read when I arrived at Feltham Young Offenders, Youth Custody prison. It had been left behind in the cell, bored and a little scared I began to read it. I am so glad I did. It turned out to be the beginning of an 18month stay in remand! Typically as soon as I got too court I was released having served so long waiting for trial. This book began a life long love affair with spy thrillers with big global storylines, conspiracies and the like. It led first to, the "Crash of 79" by the same author but that was the last Paul Erdmann they had so I moved on too Robert Ludlum and he kept me satisfied for much of that 18month sojourn at Her Majesties pleasure. I have since learnt to modify my behaviour but the love of spy thrillers and espionage books has never whined. After Ludlum came Cussler and after Cussler came Clancy and many others, however this book has a special place in my heart and that's not just because it was my first or because it was there at a moment in my life where I badly needed the distraction but because it is truly brilliant and very plausible and because I loved the main protagonist. My one complaint is the lack of kindle editions of as far as I can tell any of this author's novels. I very much want to read this again but it is quite hard to come by in print so come one kindle you dropped the ball here. Read, enjoy and remember a 17yr old boy pooping himself in HMP Feltham. Yee Haa
July 12, 2017
Strange book. But I am looking at it nearly forty years after it was published.
The actual story isn’t bad. Bribery on a massive scale, Americans getting in over their heads with the European banking, negotiating, power-broking elite, one American taking the fall and wanted in France, Germany and Switzerland. How to get out? And avoid spending the rest of his days incarcerated?
I found the two Americans – chair and president of a missile company – beyond belief. But, I don’t mix in those circles so maybe they do act like that. Who knows.
There was too much technical explanation about the missiles and the three companies competing for the NATO contract, it felt very repetitive. And far too many names, especially all the generals.
A couple of unexpected ‘murders’ livened the story up and changed the stakes and the plot so the story wasn’t without some excitement and tension once the dusty meeting rooms, generals and bankers were left behind.
It’s definitely dated both in terms of style and story. One wonders what Erdman would have made of Trump? There is a line in the book that says America’s decline in power is due to the increasingly mediocre presidents elected. They have no need to understand policy or statecraft, merely to act like a celebrity …
The actual story isn’t bad. Bribery on a massive scale, Americans getting in over their heads with the European banking, negotiating, power-broking elite, one American taking the fall and wanted in France, Germany and Switzerland. How to get out? And avoid spending the rest of his days incarcerated?
I found the two Americans – chair and president of a missile company – beyond belief. But, I don’t mix in those circles so maybe they do act like that. Who knows.
There was too much technical explanation about the missiles and the three companies competing for the NATO contract, it felt very repetitive. And far too many names, especially all the generals.
A couple of unexpected ‘murders’ livened the story up and changed the stakes and the plot so the story wasn’t without some excitement and tension once the dusty meeting rooms, generals and bankers were left behind.
It’s definitely dated both in terms of style and story. One wonders what Erdman would have made of Trump? There is a line in the book that says America’s decline in power is due to the increasingly mediocre presidents elected. They have no need to understand policy or statecraft, merely to act like a celebrity …
March 16, 2016
International Politics! I recommend ghis book to those who love politics. Here is an eye openner into what happens in high level negotiations. Am talking about politics in blocks like NATO.
NATO is a military block, how they acquire their weapons we don't know. America is a super power, and how they control the world is a mystery to many of us. How does other countries try maintain the balance?
Read this book for answers and many more.
NATO is a military block, how they acquire their weapons we don't know. America is a super power, and how they control the world is a mystery to many of us. How does other countries try maintain the balance?
Read this book for answers and many more.
January 7, 2022
Lots of questionable (to me) political points of view riddled throughout, but I loved this thriller. Especially the parts that weren't thrilling.
September 14, 2025
- some good ideas (e.g. the setting four years in the future), but very little action
- it's mostly people talking in several meetings (-> 2/5 points)
- only picks up pace - and action - in the last 90 pages, where it gets much much better (-> 4/5 points)
- it's mostly people talking in several meetings (-> 2/5 points)
- only picks up pace - and action - in the last 90 pages, where it gets much much better (-> 4/5 points)
July 10, 2017
Compelling and thought provoking. I would have given it more stars except for one thing: there was too much detail and explanation given in the dialogue. I found myself wanting to skip ahead.
November 12, 2019
an interesting read. it could do with a bit of twist and turn. a little suspense would be nice.
August 7, 2020
Read in 1981. Political thriller.
February 11, 2016
Wow. So ein Maß an falschen Prophezeiungen findet man bei weltlichen Autoren selten.
»(Die Westdeutschen) fanden bald heraus, daß es eigentlich ziemlich langweilig war, reich und pazifistisch zu sein.« Falsch! Aber danke für’s Mitspielen. Friede ist klasse. Wenn man dann noch Autos, Maschinen und sonst noch alles mögliche an die ganze Welt verticken kann, um so besser.
»Franz Josef Strauß hatte die Schlacht um das Kanzleramt 1980 verloren.« Ja genau. Eben weil er nicht pazifistisch genug war.
In dem Roman geht’s darum, dass Bundeskanzler Strauß für die BRD Kernwaffen und präzise, überschallschnelle Marschflugkörper anschaffen will, um damit die UdSSR herauszufordern. Das Problem ist, dass diese »die BRD will die Bombe«-Geschichte zur Zeit der »gegen Atomraketen in Deutschland«-Friedensbewegung spielt.
(Dass der Autor das Umfallen der FDP 1982 nicht vorhergesehen hat sei ihm verziehen, aber da wurde eben nicht Strauß, sondern Kohl Kanzler.)
Erzählt wird aus der Sicht von Frank Rogers, dem Präsidenten einer amerikanischen Marschflugkörperfirma. Sein Boss (Vorstandsvorsitzender) hat den Plan, einen NATO-Verteidigungsminister zu bestechen, damit die NATO ihrer Marschflugkörper kauft. Technisch nicht schlecht (aber auch nicht richtig gut) geschrieben. Man will schon wissen, wie’s weiter geht. Nur wird am Schluss der Protagonist doch noch richtig unsympathisch: Bei seiner Flucht .
»(Die Westdeutschen) fanden bald heraus, daß es eigentlich ziemlich langweilig war, reich und pazifistisch zu sein.« Falsch! Aber danke für’s Mitspielen. Friede ist klasse. Wenn man dann noch Autos, Maschinen und sonst noch alles mögliche an die ganze Welt verticken kann, um so besser.
»Franz Josef Strauß hatte die Schlacht um das Kanzleramt 1980 verloren.« Ja genau. Eben weil er nicht pazifistisch genug war.
In dem Roman geht’s darum, dass Bundeskanzler Strauß für die BRD Kernwaffen und präzise, überschallschnelle Marschflugkörper anschaffen will, um damit die UdSSR herauszufordern. Das Problem ist, dass diese »die BRD will die Bombe«-Geschichte zur Zeit der »gegen Atomraketen in Deutschland«-Friedensbewegung spielt.
(Dass der Autor das Umfallen der FDP 1982 nicht vorhergesehen hat sei ihm verziehen, aber da wurde eben nicht Strauß, sondern Kohl Kanzler.)
Erzählt wird aus der Sicht von Frank Rogers, dem Präsidenten einer amerikanischen Marschflugkörperfirma. Sein Boss (Vorstandsvorsitzender) hat den Plan, einen NATO-Verteidigungsminister zu bestechen, damit die NATO ihrer Marschflugkörper kauft. Technisch nicht schlecht (aber auch nicht richtig gut) geschrieben. Man will schon wissen, wie’s weiter geht. Nur wird am Schluss der Protagonist doch noch richtig unsympathisch: Bei seiner Flucht .
December 12, 2015
If a classic is a book that stands the test of time then the vast majority of books never come close to becoming classics. Most of them are forgotten within a year or so of publication. However, I would expect that every writer is at least hoping that his or her book will last and leave a legacy into the future. After all, writing a whole book is a lot of work. This book, though seems to be designed for quick obscurity. It was written and published in 1981 and the most of it takes place in 1985 with the last part of it taking place in 1987. That means that the author was predicting the very short term future and almost every time someone tries to predict the future, whether it is short or long term, they get it wrong. As I read this one the little predictions that kept coming up rather amused me. For example, the author apparently did not expect that Ronald Reagan would be a two-term president. The U.S. president in this story is never actually named, but it is clear that it is not Ronald Reagan. Toward the end of the book it is stated that when Apple Computers went public in 1980 it was the darling of Wall Street, but now, 1987, it was in receivership. That was a really glaring goof. The ultimate point of the plot is that the United States loses its status as a world power by 1987. That was entirely too close to the date of writing. The book was outdated very soon after publication. If it was in the genre of science fiction or alternate history that is very common and could be forgiven. Science does outpace science fiction. Alternate history is usually set in the past and it is clear that the author intends to write a story about how things might have been. This is neither though. It is a story of international financial intrigue and it is just plain outdated.
January 8, 2013
Skipped about 250 pages of the middle section to read to the end, because, well, first of all, this book is now 22 years out of date, and secondly, talk about clunky prose. This is only the second Erdman book I've read, and honestly, I'm not sure whether to read any more. I suppose I might come back to him again. Some day. In the meantime, there are other financial thrillers out there!
August 23, 2013
I read this book on a Greyhound bound for Charlotte, NC. I was finished upon arrival. Fun and entertaining, a good read. Along the lines of Steve Berry.
March 14, 2015
Interesting style. A lot of actual history to back up the plot (set 5 years in the future at the time of writing).
June 30, 2023
Really fun read! Really enjoyed the book
Want to read
December 21, 2018Synopsis: Frank Rogers, President of the Californian Missile Development Corp. finds himself in a labyrinth of treachery.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews