Paper Money - Ken Follett Book Review

Written in 1977, this novel was not certain to make the famous writer Ken Follett it is today. Paper Money is one of the first books written by the author, and is distinguished more for its brevity, its smoothness and texture without any major twists and is therefore devoid of those elements "too" necessary to thrill the reader and make it a masterpiece.

The story is set in London in the sixties and takes place over an entire day, with the titles of the chapters details the passing hours: from 6:00 am, to 16:00 pm. Despite the time span is limited, the affected areas in the city are various: from the bag to crime, from finance to newspapers, with stories of characters who meet and change within minutes.

Despite his young age is unmistakable "style Follett" the author reveals magician in outlining both the environment where the events take place, the psychological aspect that characterizes each character, his uncommon ability to bring out each player a good side and a bad one hand a strong and weak, which leads the reader to become attached immediately and to hate every character in the novel.

The characters whose stories intertwine in this book range from weak Tim Fitzpeterson, undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy, married with children, eager to climb the Olympus of the policy, the mobster Tony Cox, who always manages to elude the patrol pawn and organize all the shots in "his" neighborhood, then there is Felix Laski, astute businessman, who does not disdain the dirty game, and Derek Hamilton, middle-aged man, suffering from physical problems, financial and family .

The novel begins with the trap Fitzpeterson organized by Cox, with the latter that get swept by the unbridled passion for a beautiful girl with red hair, strong enough to have doubts about their family life, only to realize, however, that it was all a trap is so blackmailed by a gangster who wants very important information ..

This information is pure gold for the businessman Felix Laski, powerful and enigmatic figure, not only hobbies and fascinated by money, Cox ready to give what he wants just to be aware of a particular that can make it do 's deal of the century: report cheap Hamilton Holdings before the value of its shares go through the roof.

The majority shareholder of the company at the center of the story is Derek Hamilton, frustrated by a marital crisis and ongoing financial difficulties from which it seems unable to escape. Rounding out the cast of characters there are journalists dell'Evening Post, a newspaper with an editorial based on silencing the scandals and publish news only "most certain" young journalists are, then, to bite the brake before the attempted Fitzpeterson suicide because of being blackmailed by a gangster named Cox, who holds the relationship with respectable businessman Laski.

The finish will all the players selected in the presence of "difficult", the take it or leave it intended to lead to sacrifices, however painful.

It 's definitely a novel characterized by light and shadow, that despite the "birth date" seems to go over "Ricucci & Fiorani story" of recent days. Not one of the masterpieces of Follett, but the book is enjoyable to read and is very smooth.

1 comment:

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