Product Description

Vicky van Zale's fight for survival against the three men who use her as a pawn in their struggles for wealth and power begins when her millionaire father manipulates her into an arranged marriage. Her battle with and ultimate victory over her father, her husband and finally her lover, who all try to use her to further their own ends, is set against a background of boardroom intrigue, brutal ambition and bitter masculine rivalry. This is a companion novel to The Rich Are Different and continues the gripping story of the Van Zale dynasty through two decades of conflict as the sins of the fathers are finally visisted upon the next generation ...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #276613 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 672 pages

Review
'Grippingly readable' - Sunday Times 'One of the most original novelists writing today' - Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan
`One of the most original novelists writing today'

About the Author
Susan Howatch was born in Surrey. After taking a degree in law, she emigrated to America where she married, had a daughter and embarked on a career as a writer. When she eventually left the States, she lived in the Republic of Ireland for four years bef

Customer Reviews

This book keeps you in a trance from start to finish
Susan Howatch's novel is in fact a sequel to "The Rich are Different", and continues the story of a filthily rich family with the second generation. It is a powerful book, full of fascinating characters, who each have their own "problems" and ghosts from the past to deal with. Especially the character of Vicky is one I could personally strongly relate to. Daughter of one of the richest men in the US, she develops from a naive young girl, who doesn't really know what she wants, into a strong woman who eventually manages to mend the past. A powerful, fascinating book with a strong ending that leaves you satisfied, and yet still longing for more... in the next novel ! I am truly looking forward to more reading from the same author.

More about the van Zales...
This story tells us what became of Cornelius van Zale and his circle after the Second World War. It's set almost completely in the States and vividly describes how Cornelius' attempts to control his daughter's life lead to his estrangement from her. Again, a very powerful and insightful book. Again, I was left asking for more--how do father and daughter lead their separate lives?

GREAT SEQUEL TO THE 'RICH ARE DIFFERENT'
Once more Howatch's psychological insight showing the ongoing searing damage caused by selfish actions and double-dealing in the past is to the fore here, with the continuing saga of the Van Zale dynasty.

The various narratives of the strong (and in the end, some not so strong) characters are skilfully written, taking the reader right into their thoucht processes and the reasons for their various, sometimes shattering, actions.

Being what can only be described as 'filthily rich' is strongly portayed and so also is the fact that having all that wealth does not necessarily make for happiness; indeed the point is well made here that it can make you very unhappy, although you may oblivious of the fact until it is too late.

Double-dealing, back-stabbing, manipulation, accessory to murder (albeit, unpunished)are all in this book but because they are committed by 'gentlemen in suits', ie. merchant bankers, the world they lived in looked on with equanimity and the mighty Dollar was king! This world is skilfully and accurately seen through Howatch's excellent writing.

As I have said previously about Howatch's books, you do not want to put them down, but when you have read them you are quite often at a loss as to what to read next that will be able to match them.