Product Description

The narrator of this tale is the ultimate unreconstructed male. his primary concerns are booze, sex and the New York Giants. But things go very wrong for him - he drinks too much, he's impotent, and the Giants start to lose. So we follow his trail, through failed marriages, to mental hospital.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #327520 in Books
• Published on: 1999-06-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 396 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Frederick Exley recounts his life as the son of a hero-worshipped high school athlete who is doomed to be a spectator not only of sports, but of life. From irresponsible drifter, to dreamer of impossible dreams, to drunkard, to frequent patient at an asylum, Exley carried baggage from his childhood through much of his adult life, never feeling he could escape the dark cloud of expectation that hung over him. When Frank Gifford, former New York Giants backfield star, is injured, Exley is jolted into painful realisations about his life and a confession.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant, Great and Overlooked.
A brutually honest self-portrait of a man who can not live up to his own expectations and drowns himself in booze to kill that pain. This tragic and at times depressing story is populated with a great cast of characters. Where can I buy the film rights?

A great read
This is one of those rare, rare books which actually live up to the hype. A dark, bittersweet look at one man falling into the abyss, written beautifully.

Powerful, tragic, and hilarious
There is no 'Happy Ever After' in this story. It's one man's tragic life told with unflattering honesty and insight. It is classed as a novel, but is based on Exley's own life.

If you don't want to read about political incorrectness, mental illness, failure, and drunkenness, then avoid it. But if you enjoy classic literature or are an aspiring writer, then this is a must-read.

Exley has written two other books: 'Pages From A Cold Island' and 'Last Notes From Home'. If they were available, I'd buy them without a moment's hesitation.