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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 822
EAN num: 9780822207979
ISBN number: 0822207974
Label: Dramatists Play Service Inc
Manufacturer: Dramatists Play Service Inc
Quantity: 1
Printing Date: 1980-12
Publishing house: Dramatists Play Service Inc
Sale Popularity Level: 795171
Studio: Dramatists Play Service Inc
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
A ³thumping good read² from a 20th-century master.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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A real page turner. I had read the book long time ago and had completely forgotten. I am glad I read it again. Actually I listened to the audio version. I enjoyed every minute of it. I drove aimlessly to finish the last 100 pages.
It is a confession of sorts by Philip, the protagonist, who falls in love with his cousin Rachel, who was married to his mentor, benefactor and father figure, Ambrose. After Ambrose marries Rachel, a widow, who grew up in Italy, he is sadly disillusioned by her behavior and imagines she was after his money and was poisoning him. Rachel had a close friend Renaldi, who Ambrose suspects was in cohorts with Rachel, in destroying him. He writes to Philip to visit him in Florence and save him. But Philip is too late. By the time he arrives in Florence, Ambrose is dead and his cousin Rachel had left town. Philip vows revenge and goes back to England.
In one of the most dramatic turn of events, Rachel woos him with her charm, grace, patronizing, and by just being herself. Philip falls in love with her and bequeaths the entire estate and jewelry, which was his to keep, according to Ambrose will, when he reached 25. On his 25th birthday, delirious, he proposes to Rachel. who was 10 years his senior. Rachel just laughs thinking it is all in good humor.
When confronted by his persistent proposals, Rachel rebuffs Philip and to compound insult to injury, Renaldi shows up at the estate. Philip is outraged and imagines Rachel is up to her old tricks and he was going to be the subsequent victim like Ambrose.
What will Philip do? Is Rachel a cold blooded calculating murderer?
This book reminded me of "Of Human Bondage", another classic by Somerset Maugham. But this Philip is not feckless.
A must read.
Rated by buyers 
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This book is about obsession, and how it can blur the line between reason and madness. I will forever wonder about the innocence or guilt of Rachel; she is a complicated enigma that will surely cause readers to reflect about her character, long after they have finished the book. At worst, she is a deceitful, conniving vixen who uses her charms for personal gain; at best, she is an endearing flirt who is too naive to understand the power of her charms on a young, inexperienced young man like Phillip. Because Phillip is the narrator, all of his motivations, vulnerabilities, fears, doubts and insecurities are fully explored, which makes for a fascinating mind journey. He seems to have as many flaws as his cousin Rachel does, and yet her innermost thoughts and feelings remain just out of reach. The four stars are because I felt the set-up for the ending was too convenient and too contrived. This complicated character study deserved more than its easy, predictable finish.
Rated by buyers -
This is a classic. It's about a young man named Philip (played by Richard Burton)who falls in love with his uncles widow (played by Olivia de Haviland (sp?) The book is terrific and suspenseful. I wish there was a DVD out there or the VHS. It's a must see!
Rated by buyers -
Beginning with a story that gets your attention but seems fairly average, this book soon begins to wrap its slowly twisting plot around the reader till it must be finished as soon as possible. Told by Philip, a likable and musing young man, the reader soon finds himself right with Philip, feeling the agony of his debate and the dilema of his passions. The only reason my rating is just shy of the five star mark is that it is dark and can leave the reader with a heavy and unsatisfied feeling. I'd still say its worth the time, but just be warned. The tale is well-written and the plot chillingly unraveled. To tell more is to ruin the effect...
Rated by buyers -
An astonishing look into the mind of a reckless young man driven close to madness by jealousy and suspicion. Going even deeper than "Rebecca", this book explores the confusing shadow-play of modern romance and its darker side: obsession. The ending is perfect, leaving just the right questions posed and unanswered. I've read this book three times, and I'll surely read it again. Btw, the BBC did the perfect serialization of this book in the 1980s, with Geraldine Chaplin in the title role. How come this isn't available on video?
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