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The Carpetbaggers (The Carpetbaggers)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 1,304 ratings · 61 reviews

A LEGENDARY MASTERPIECE
A STORY OF MONEY AND POWER,
SEX AND DEATH

Jonas Cord coveted his father's fame, fortune, even his young, beautiful wife. When his father died, Jonas swore to possess them all. But Rina Marlow was the celebrated screen goddess no man could master. Her sizzling sensuality might inflame and enthrall millions, but her personal boudoir was no Hollywood fa...more

Mass Market Paperback, 688 pages

Published May 1st 2007 by Forge Books (first published 1961)

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Sep 02, 2010 Benjamin Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I always know a book is a fun read when I find myself making excuses to read it rather than work on my "Hunny-Do" list. According to at least one source this book is the 4th most read novel of all time. I don't know if that's really true but certainly it has been a widely read story for more than 40 years so obviously a lot of people have read it. The book apparently is somewhat notorious, largely for pushing the sexual boundaries of the time, right up to the edge. By today's standards it is rel...more I always know a book is a fun read when I find myself making excuses to read it rather than work on my "Hunny-Do" list. According to at least one source this book is the 4th most read novel of all time. I don't know if that's really true but certainly it has been a widely read story for more than 40 years so obviously a lot of people have read it. The book apparently is somewhat notorious, largely for pushing the sexual boundaries of the time, right up to the edge. By today's standards it is relatively tame and, in fact, most of the sexual scenes occur offstage although there is a lot of innuendo. The book is fairly long; my paperback is almost 700 pages long with pretty small print.

The main story takes place over a 20 year period between the World Wars. The main character is a Howard Hughes type tycoon named Jonas Cord with all sorts of business interests but most especially aircraft development and Hollywood pictures. His is mostly a tragic story up until the very end when he finally realizes what makes him happy. It is interesting to note that Harold Robbins knew Howard Hughes fairly well but despite so many similarities to Hughes, Robbins claims the model for the Jonas Cord character was actually Bill Lear (developer of the Lear jet and the 8-track tape player). The backdrop for the novel is absorbing as well; we get to see the roaring 20s, the depression era 30's, the lead up to World War II as well as the war itself; all major impacts on the plot.

The intriguing thing about this book is not so much the story but rather, how the story is told. It is divided into eight sections: four sections are Jonas Cord's life told in his own first person point of view and the other four sections are devoted to the backstories of four key people who Jonas interacts with during his life. One is a former gunfighter turned stuntman turned star of the silent movie era. One is a Hollywood actress (allegedly based on Jean Harlow). A third is a movie company executive and a fourth is a high-priced courtesan turned movie starlet. We get absorbed in their individual stories; they are very captivating all on their own. And it is really through them that we come to know Jonas himself. When you put the whole thing together you really get a great sense of the characters as well as the era itself. I have to say I really enjoyed the novel a lot more than I expected I would.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 25, 2008 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: american, fluff, ooh-la-la

So sometimes you pick up a book thinking, "Wow, this is going to be really awesome and trashy!" and then you're just disappointed. Well, this one did not disappoint. Unfortunately, Robbins brings out the big guns too early (the "Nevada Smith" fugitive-cowboy-turned-hollywood-movie-star story is too good to be true) and then he just keeps recycling the same characters over and over for the next 500 pages.

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Apr 29, 2012 Virgilio Machado rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Os Insaciáveis descreve a vida, os desejos e ambições dos ricos e famosos com um realismo que marcou [uma] época. [É] um dos romances mais populares da segunda metade do século XX.

http://www.skoob.com.br/livro/3459-os...

Uma história de homens e mulheres insaciáveis – de sexo, de amor, de dinheiro, de prestígio e também de sofrimentos e decepções. O livro é brutal, violento, escandaloso. O personagem principal, Jonas Cord, uma espécie de casanova moderno, piloto destemido e implacável homem de ne...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Marvin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It’s not often I find a book that, right from the first page, grips my attention. It’s even rarer to find a book like that that was written more than thirty years ago. The Carpetbaggers is story -telling at its best.

It surprises me that people think The Carpetbaggers is tame compared to current literature. I mean, I may not have kept up with the raunchy novels of late, but I do recognize that Harold Robbins infuses The Carpetbaggers with pretty much every topic that would make for a controversia...more It’s not often I find a book that, right from the first page, grips my attention. It’s even rarer to find a book like that that was written more than thirty years ago. The Carpetbaggers is story -telling at its best.

It surprises me that people think The Carpetbaggers is tame compared to current literature. I mean, I may not have kept up with the raunchy novels of late, but I do recognize that Harold Robbins infuses The Carpetbaggers with pretty much every topic that would make for a controversial novel: rape, incest, murder, sex, vendetta, father stealing son’s fiancé, liberal amounts of Yiddish and English slang, homosexuality , and he even throws in a devout Catholic girl turned prostitute for good measure - it’s not hard to see where Robbins pushes the boundaries of what was considered appropriate writing up to the 60’s. What sets this novel apart from sleazy, over-sexualized novels is that all these topics are treated tastefully and with some amount of subtlety. The best example of this is when on his deathbed, Standhurst whispers, rather cleverly, “You know Jennie, I thought the sweetest agony I’d ever known was coming. But going’s got it beat a million miles.” The sexual parts blend in with the storyline and don’t overshadow the events, making them incidental rather than central to the plot. It’s a shame that The Carpetbaggers isn’t commonly considered among one of the great classical novels – maybe because it doesn’t conform to the classical tradition of being at least a little boring.

There’s been a lot of talk about Jonas Cord being based on the eccentric aviator and Hollywood mogul, Howard Hughes, but I see some influence from Charles Lindbergh as well, particularly with the flight records Jonas breaks. I also see similarities between the lives of Marilyn Monroe and Rina Marlowe and her tragic death, which are probably coincidental.

One of the strengths of this novel is its riveting characters. The book is divided into nine parts that provide insight into the lives of five of its most prominent characters. There’s Jonas Cord, the playboy heir who suddenly finds himself at the helm of a multi-million dollar company, makes an empire of it, and finds that he’s become very much like his father whom he despised. Nevada Smith is Jonas’ guardian who buries his vengeful, bank robbing past behind him and changes his name to raise the younger Cord, and later enjoys a brief period of fame and success as an actor in Westerns before the shift in the movie industry from silent films to “talkies” put him out of business. He’s the strong character that’s always there to provide support for Jonas. Rina Marlowe brings the tragic angle to the novel. Orphaned at a young age, she is adopted by a successful family and experiences her world crash down around her over and over again until the end of her short life. David Woolf, nephew to the miserly owner of the Norman Company, is left to fend for himself at a young age and rises quickly through the ranks with little more than his wits and a phenomenal amount of mettle. Jennie Denton starts out a good Catholic girl under the tutelage of austere nuns, gets raped and beaten, attends nursing school, and become a high class prostitute. I think the part on her is the weak part of the book. She doesn’t bring a whole lot with her and ends up being made into a copy of Rina Marlowe by Jonas. Her character just seems trite and unconvincing.

The Carpetbaggers also covers, with impressive accuracy, four decades of history which, for a history buff such as me, is very enticing. We are given a view of major world events such as World War I, the Suffrage Movement, the innovation of talking movies, World War II, and the invention of television.

Unfortunately, my copy of the book is very old and has a few pages missing at the end so I have been prevented from reading the conclusion of the story.

(less)

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Aug 22, 2011 Lynn B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classic, fiction, grandpa-s-books

My grandpa gave me this book before he died. He thought I was finally old enough for the "smut" in the book. I was 29!

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 13, 2009 Philip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

A five-star rating for THE CARPETBAGGERS may raise a few eyebrows, but I'll defend it by saying that for sheer one-two punch storytelling and readability, it beats anything out there today. Harold Robbins was a natural storyteller (although he later severely over-estimated his abilities), and his powers of narrative drive reached their peak in this novel. Though considered quite bold and daring in its day, THE CARPETBAGGERS is actually rather mild compared to the onslaught of explicit novels whi...more

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Feb 23, 2008 Kat rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: meh

We used to rent a renovated barn-like house on Douglas Lake in Michigan for a summer vacation and there were a ton of paperback books downstairs in the "livingroom." I had rarely seen paperback books, as my parents had hardback books in their library as did my grandparents. We went to the library and, again, there were no paperbacks, so this was exotic to me.I was absolutely drawn to these small, yellowed or well-worn books stacked up in a tall bookcase. They had covers with men and women and so...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Dawn Wells rated it 2 of 5 stars

Rape and incest is always part of his novels. Which is real life for some so I read them with that understanding. This book also has homosexual relations mentioned. Also true to life. The problem for me with this novel is the Howard Hughes type of character. I did not get drawn in by him or the other 4 or so sort of main characters in the background. It was a book about real issues with unreal characters

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Jun 16, 2012 T. rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't remember why I picked up this book. It was written in the late 30's and it was great. It was really a scandal in it's day. In todays terms it would be light reading but in the 30's WOW what a shock it would have been. The book is broke into characters and while I was reading it I was sad to leave one section for the next but all the characters were good. This another book I read in 5 days loved it.

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Mar 23, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-and-westerns

Jonas Cord coveted his father's fame, fortune, even his young, beautiful wife. When his father died, Jonas swore to possess them all. But Rina Marlow was the celebrated screen goddess no man could master. Her sizzling sensuality might inflame and enthrall millions, but her personal boudoir was no Hollywood fantasy. She consumed her lovers on the fiery rack of her burning desires.

Rina and Jonas took Hollywood, the airplane industry, America itself by storm. From New York to LA they brawled, luste...more

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May 14, 2013 Jai Dior rated it 5 of 5 stars

This one is definitely a must read and then a must read again. May shock to the senses and sensibilities. Beautifully and ruggedly written. Uncensored. There're no more quite like this one anywhere. Great for the adventurous reader who is just up for a really, meaty good read. Now we know who started the 'revolution' and also why it's been reprinted so many times.

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Sep 19, 2012 Arra Bawalan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was too young back then when I first read this book.
It is not recommended for bookworms of a very young age.
The promiscuity of the society are expounded in intricate details. It can be an eye-opener of what's behind the high-end class system and what they are capable of doing.
I'll give this a satisfactory rating.

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Oct 12, 2012 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was one of my first books to read, and a long list of Harold Robbins , I love his style of writing! He can get gritty , you 'l be drawn to the character's good and bad! This book I would read again just because its so good and it was soo long since I've finished it!

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Apr 26, 2007 Dorai Thodla rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is a funny incident associated with this book. HR was not considered recommended reading due to sexual overtones and violence.

I used to read books during long bus rides to Engineering College. My dad allowed me to read provided, I come home and switch to studies.

I read this book in parallel with my dad. I would take it to school and read it during the trips. My dad would read it during late evenings. Our age difference is about 25 years. While we talked a lot about books, HR books were n...more

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Feb 09, 2010 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

I know I am supposed to have probably loved this book, but I just couldn't. It took me ages to finish because I kept finding something better to do. I did however find Nevada to be a great character, he was pretty much the only reason I kept reading.

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Jan 09, 2009 Dennis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: harold-robbins

This is the only second time that I picked up a novel written by Harold Robbins. This book doesn't disappoint. It has lots of interesting characters, specially the way Robbins used some history. The ending was a big whoa! Its a "How -come-I-never-saw-that" type of ending. It was a winner!

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Feb 27, 2013 Zohaib Furqan rated it 3 of 5 stars

only good, not that good, but good, I would recommend this book to the people who are born with a golden spoon in their mouth. I do not belong to that particular part of the society, so this book was like watching royal families day in and day out.

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May 23, 2010 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Up until I started high school, I didn't exactly have a love affair with literature, then my stepmother borrowed a copy of this novel for me. It's complete trash, just filthy and easily one of the most enjoyable novels I've ever read!

1 like · like · see review

Sep 17, 2012 Townsend rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. It's basically the best written trashy romance novel that's based on a lot that is true and accurate about american history. I learned a lot about the US when I read this, and it was totally fun to read.

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Apr 05, 2009 Ronuel Diaz marked it as to-read

i would really like to read this book it sound interesting its like a close version to the out sides because of the power and fight. its basically about wealth but that's just the review i read about it.

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Oct 20, 2012 John Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yes, I got hooked! This was the first pulp fiction novel I ever read. I followed it up by turning my mind into a sausage grinder by reading several of this man's books. Help!

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Sep 28, 2011 Anne Payne rated it 1 of 5 stars

I read a number of sixties potboilers when I was in junior high and early high school. I knew even then they were extremely trashy, much as I might have enjoyed them.

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Jan 03, 2010 Andrew rated it 2 of 5 stars

Gave up on this one after 280 pages or so. Just was not interesting to me at all. Predictable, sexist, and full of unsympathetic characters.

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Jan 30, 2013 Sagnik Ghosh rated it 4 of 5 stars

A weird fascinating tale!!Harold was the master.Only minus point of this novel was it's slow pace that forced me to deduct 1 star!

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Jun 29, 2012 Tirtha Pratim rated it 4 of 5 stars

must say its a good book...an interesting storyline with added 'harold spice',some endearing characters....the best from Robbins

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Jan 14, 2013 Prem Rao rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this as a teenager and it made a big impression on me. I have always admired Harold Robbins for his story lines.

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Mar 07, 2013 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is an old book - but an enjoyable one. It is pre-world war II thru WWII, telling about the building of airplanes, the movie business. The characters are vivid and convincing. while the content is raw- it is a story of redemption. I will remember this one.

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Aug 21, 2012 Divyesh Sejpal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Could not read more than 55%, as my patience ran out for finding something interesting.

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Aug 19, 2010 Myeyessee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: guilty-pleasures

Move over, JR Ewing, because Jonas Cord Jr. makes you look like a saint.

1 like · like · see review

May 19, 2012 Dreamer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Read this back in the 70s, made no impression on me I'm afraid..

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About Harold Robbins

Born as Harold Rubin in New York City, he later claimed to be a Jewish orphan who had been raised in a Catholic boys home. In reality he was the son of well-educated Russian and Polish immigrants. He was reared by his pharmacist father and stepmother in Brooklyn.

His first book, Never Love a Stranger (1948), caused controversy with its graphic sexuality. Publisher Pat Knopf reportedly bought Never...more

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