Rich Are Different: Amazon.ca: Susan Howatch: Books

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From AudioFile

Dinah Slade will do anything to keep her family home in Norwich, England, out of the hands of estate agents. But little does she know what twists of fortune will result from her dalliance with the great American banker, Paul Van Zale. Nadia May captures the essence of the six first-person narratives comprising the story, to the point of making recognizable each character's voice as related by the others. However, her portrayals of young children come across as contrived and squeaky. Furthermore, technical problems with the tracking of the MP3 version reviewed here, most likely corrected by now, marred this listener's audio experience. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Description

"Susan Howatch has surpassed herself. This is a mighty book."
ORLANDO TRIBUNE
Dinah Slade was young enough to be Paul Van Zale's daughter. But she didn't care. She was a very ambitious and beautiful woman with her eye on Van Zale's tremendous fortune. However, she hadn't counted on falling in love. Paul found himself attracted to Dinah in a way he had long forgotten. Her vitality, her sensuality, consumed him. With her he could forget his past, his wife, his enemies, his empire.... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

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4 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book, Mar 12 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rich Are Different (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book in 1977 & still remember it as a great book. It is quite long, 658 pages but it is very hard to put down. It is intertaining & interesting. I know I will be reading it over & over again.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Howatch is wonderfull, May 29 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rich Are Different (Mass Market Paperback)

Howatch puzzles me, her novels look like run of the mill pulp fiction best sellers to judge by the covers but once you start to read them you discover a formidable intelligance. Why doesn't this author have the reputation her skills entitle her to, she is easly up there with Drabble, Murdoch and other Doyens of the British novel.

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5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Modern Day Story of Caesar., May 7 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rich Are Different (Mass Market Paperback)

I've ready this book about 6 times for the past 10 years and it always delights. It didn't hit me, until I started studying ancient Rome that it is the very story of Caesar and Cleopatra, but set in Wall Street, New York (as powerful as ancient Rome!) The story begins identical to the first meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra...just as Cleopatra was brought to Caesar rolled in a carpet and carried by her faithful servant...so is Diana Slade brought to Paul Van Zale concealed in a cart and rolled in by her trusty Geoffry. Paul's wife is barren, just as history says that Caesar's wife Calpurnia was barren. Guess what else? Paul has epilepsy - who else can you think of that historians believe ALSO had epilepsy? Paul's right-hand man Steve is described exactly as Marc Antony...burly, surly and with dynamic charm - guess what? Diana and Steve find an even greater love than Diana and Caesar...oops I mean Paul Van Zale...Paul is assasinated by the son of his ex-mistress (If you know your history...you know that Brutus is the son of Caesar's ex-mistress Servilia...) Paul leaves his fortune to his cunning, clever, sickly nephew Cornelius. Who also mirrors Octavian (Augustus Caesar in later years) Octavian becomes Diana's bitter enemy and vows to take from her the one thing that she holds most dear...Mallingham her ancestral home... Just as Octavian vowed to take Egypt from Cleopatra. Steve is hounded by Cornelius much as Antony was hounded by Octavian and finally dies a virtual suicidal death...When Cornelius tries to take Diana back to New York (mmmh, seems to me that Octavian wanted to bring Cleo to Rome...) Diana gets the last laugh. Paul's son also dies in his early years just as Caesarian did. Paul's only daughter Vicky married Paul's enemy just as Caesar married his daughter to Pompei...and Guess what? She dies during her pregnancy just as Julia did! I can go on and on, but you get the picture. In my youth, I considered this a truly original masterpiece...but I now know that the entire story is the most famous in history and that it did not come from Ms. Howatch's incredibly imaginitive mind. It does not mean this book isn't worth reading...It Is!! We'll just have to forgive her for borrowing from history. I have ready many of her books and they are all wonderful. I usually read them many times.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Modern Day Story of Caesar.
I've ready this book about 6 times for the past 10 years and it always delights. It didn't hit me, until I started studying ancient Rome that it is the very story of Caesar and... Read more

Published on May 7 1999 by mmsmall@prodigy.net

5.0 out of 5 stars Skillfully woven tale of the beginning of Investment Banking
This is the story of the struggle for wealth and power in the 1920's. The impact of the depression on "high society" is made more understandable than any History... Read more

Published on April 20 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars A very litterary work of art, a mirror for the society
The book traces wih unmatched truthfullness the decadence nature of our society. It demonstrates with painfull emotions the hopeless pursuit of materials success that we daily... Read more

Published on Feb 9 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Author speaks with many voices
I love Susan Howatch. I have read all of the Church of England series plus Cashelmara. This book speaks through the voice of several characters. Read more

Published on Oct 26 1998