- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Dutton (Nov 11 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1556115121
- ISBN-13: 978-1556115127
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.8 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 680 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #777,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Kirkus Reviews
Charming, deftly amusing pastiche purporting to be the dictated memoirs of a 108-year-old scallywag who boxed, swindled, and seduced numerous historical personalities in his long life--and may even have started WW I, all while chasing the girl of his dreams. Departing from his customary gung-ho thrillers, Thayer (White Star, 1995, etc.) delivers a hilarious historical farce told through the eyes of Woodrow Lowe, a working-class Boston Irishman who, in 1879 at age 15, is smitten with the upper-class charms of Amy Balfour, daughter of the founder of the Massachusetts State Bank, when he stops the hard-drinking boxer John L. Sullivan from coldcocking her carriage horse. Amy and her snobbish brother Richard repulse Lowe's bumbling, shanty-town advances, with the grasping, mercenary Amy rudely ridiculing him. After abandoning his day job in his father's saloon, Lowe supports his nascent prizefighter's career by dusting the floor of Harvard's gym. There, on a bet, he knocks out future Rough Rider Theodore Roosevelt, who later befriends him, enlists him as a spy, and sends him out on a series of increasingly hairsbreadth (and ribald) adventures. Throughout his travels, Lowe survives by pluck and happy accidents, and even, eventually, finds true lust--in the arms of Tzu Hsi, the Empress Dowager of China. Along the way, he not only blunders up San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders but cuts a deal with Diamond Jim Brady that will enable him to avenge himself on the ever- disdainful, cruel Amy and her slimy brother. Ultimately, he gets his face carved into the whiskers of Roosevelt's moustache on Mount Rushmore. Writing in the tradition of Thomas Berger's Little Big Man, Thayer revels in the burlesque he adds to our otherwise overly romanticized past, gleefully transforming numerous well-known sacred cows--such as haughty Civil War General Philip Sheridan-- into braying jackasses. In all, a breezy, impeccably researched picaresque: the best book of Thayer's career. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Ingram
The acclaimed author of such suspenseful novels as White Star and Pursuit now turns to his real love--a grand novel of a man awash in history who has done almost everything, and been almost everywhere. The rollicking story of 105-year-old Woodrow Lowe is filled with romance and lust, intrigue and creative violence--all against a background of impeccable historical accuracy.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Adventure,
By Chris Paterson (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Man Of The Century (Hardcover)
I was not previously familiar with the author, but loved his style. The book reminded me of the movie "Forrest Gump". An incredible life story based on a man chasing his first crush, but continually getting caught up in incredible adventures along the way. A good lesson on history, geography, and different cultures. I wish Woodrow hadn't died before we got to hear the end of his adventures! Two thumbs up.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent change of pace for Thayer: Completely enjoyable!,
By gary_leiffer@rossinc.com (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Man Of The Century (Hardcover)
Traveling through the lintriguing life of Woodrow, I couldn't put this one down until I learned about his world. Excellent change of pace from the one-story thriller, this book has it all!
5.0 out of 5 stars
totally delightful. Did not want it to end!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Man Of The Century (Hardcover)
Very enjoyable book. Well written. Found it fun to follow Woodrow Lowe throughout his life. Great summer time reading. Dry wit, lots of chuckles!
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