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Morris West was one of the best-selling novelists of his time, and several of his books were turned into highly successful films, notably 'Shoes of the Fisherman' and 'Devil's Advocate.' This novel was written later, in 1976, and it stands up amazingly well almost 50 years later. I've found many books from the time are now quite dated in either style, characterization, or plot - and sometimes all three. (See my recent review of Robert Ludlum's 'The Gemini Contenders, written 1974, for example.)
I read Morris West because his English prose is wonderful and his story telling is scintillating. He must have written Harlequin about 50 years ago and yet his plot would work if he had published it in the last year or two. Nothing about it would be out of place except for the historical references e.g. "the President's impeachment" and even that, is not completely out of place!West is an author that helps the reader to recognise his characters and their relationship to each other quickly and I
Read this book in Spanish when I was a teenager, 1978 or 79. I remember that I found it very interesting. I read it several times. Maybe, because it was a conspiracy inside the world of international banking. One of the ideas I remember is about how the Swiss bankers receive the money of drug traffic and corruption around the world and for it is just money without taking a moment to consider the suffering and degradation behind.
I enjoyed this to some extent, but I lost the message and couldn't figure out what was going on occasionally. It was a study in the ruthlessness of some businessmen who put money above all else including fairness and integrity. It was also a study of men who were honest and above board. It was good w/a good message but difficult to follow at some times.
Journey of a quiet friendship. Beautiful trajectory of the stars in every beat of fate.
I read this twice... both times a long time ago. Loved it! And I must have lent it to someone because it is no longer on our bookshelves. Damn!
Like an aged wineFifty years have passed and the quality of Mr West's writing has made this an enjoyable unaged read. Highly recommended.
Read in 1975. I must of liked this author although he is forgotten today, was popular back then.
A book with an indecent ending, but it is pleasant and honest from the beginning.
Violent, but not modern-day violent. A good read for someone who doesn't like the excessive gore in modern fiction but still wants to read about action.
Morris West can sure tell a story in first person. We are told this story by Mr Desmond a close friend of Mr Harlequin, a banker owner of Harlequin et Cie , Mr Desmond a working director.Who could imagine that the author of The Devils advocate, Shoes of the fisherman, Salamander, Daughters of Silence, Second Victory would also write about corporate scandals, betrayal , greed such as in Harlequin and Proteus, above all with class. This time Morris West is not lyrical, poetic or meditative prose b...
Very exciting, absorbing and easy to read.
Cleverly constructed and even prescient, "Harlequin" never quite engages. It has serious defects, particularly in terms of character depth and development. The first person perspective might be to blame - we only see Harlequin through the eyes of Harlequin's bestie Paul Desmond, and Desmond is an Aussie boor, equipped by West with a cynical philosophy and a fine turn of phrase, but far too self-centred and shallow to take us right under Harlequin's skin.We might have had a taut, chilling psychol...
This was a re-read. I am a big fan of Morris West, but had forgotten the story in this work. After 25 or 30 years I am reading this masterful word-crafter and story weaver, and I find myself amazed at the prophetic framing of our world today. The descriptions of the world financial realm, the government deceptions and double-dealings, the enrichment of the few, the collateral suffering so acceptable by all... Morris West is one of the greats at using the English language as it should be used; to...
This book was written in 1974. It could have been written at the height of the latest GFC, covering as it does the skulduggery of big business in its desire to become even bigger.
This was my second read after more than ten years, I know because I had left several yellow sticky notes in the pages making reference to ideas that I valued at that time but which I no longer remember. So also the story -- I don't remember reading it before, the words were not at all memorable, BUT instead, it read like current fiction with a plot that was even more suitable for our era that it must have been back when it was first published in 1974. I enjoyed the read, the plot was fun, a good...
HomeA story from a gentler time. I first read this in 1974. Now, 47 years later, i realize that what we thought was a cursed decade of terrorism, computer crime and corrupted governments was a haven we would all go back to, if we could, to escape. I found passages that guided my career, defined my style and formed my aspirations. I wonder what Morris West himself would say about his own novel. For me, the Old World charm, the simplicity of conflict, is a familiar home.
Awarding this one 3 stars but just could not get involved. Didn't really care about the characters and I found it dated. I know that Morris West was highly regarded in his day. Many goodreads readers enjoyed this but sadly it just didn't do it for me.
I should come back to this
Read in Danish.
