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Arigato
Strong spine with light creasing. Bright clean cover has slight shelf and edge wear. Text is perfect. Same day shipping from AZ.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Richard Condon
88 books108 followersRichard Thomas Condon was a satirical and thriller novelist best known for conspiratorial books such as The Manchurian Candidate.
After service in the United States Merchant Marine, Condon achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer and Hollywood agent. Condon turned to writing in 1957. Employed by United Artists as an ad writer, he complained that he was wasting time in Hollywood and wished to write a novel. Without Condon's knowledge, his boss, Max E. Youngstein deducted amounts from his salary then fired him after a year giving him the amount of money he had deducted in the form of a Mexican bank account and the key to a house overlooking the ocean in Mexico. Youngstein told him to write his book. His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), featured a dedication to Youngstein. The movie made from it in 1962, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.
Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history. And Then We Moved to Rossenara is a humorous autobiographical recounting of various places in the world where he had lived and his family's 1970s move to Rossenarra, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
After service in the United States Merchant Marine, Condon achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer and Hollywood agent. Condon turned to writing in 1957. Employed by United Artists as an ad writer, he complained that he was wasting time in Hollywood and wished to write a novel. Without Condon's knowledge, his boss, Max E. Youngstein deducted amounts from his salary then fired him after a year giving him the amount of money he had deducted in the form of a Mexican bank account and the key to a house overlooking the ocean in Mexico. Youngstein told him to write his book. His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), featured a dedication to Youngstein. The movie made from it in 1962, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.
Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history. And Then We Moved to Rossenara is a humorous autobiographical recounting of various places in the world where he had lived and his family's 1970s move to Rossenarra, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 28, 2025
Captain Huntington was a successful officer in the Royal Navy, in command of an aircraft carrier, when he was discharged because his addiction to gambling made him a security risk. Being also a connoisseur of food and wine, he now operates a wine business in London. He has a beautiful and very rich American wife called Bitsy, and a possibly even more beautiful mistress called Yvonne, the estranged daughter of a successful Sicilian Mafioso now resident in France. His personal cook, Francohogar, whom he discovered in a little restaurant in the Pyrenees, is now respected as one of the best chefs in the world.
Although the Captain still misses his aircraft carrier, in other respects his life is ideal; but he cannot stop gambling. His wife loves him, but she loves money more, and regretfully requests a divorce when he runs out of his own money and starts gambling with hers.
In desperation, he puts together a bold and eccentric criminal operation to steal enough money to repay his wife and save his marriage and lifestyle. He provides the idea and the leadership; an ex-naval friend who now runs a think tank provides the detailed planning; Yvonne’s father agrees to provide the criminal workforce; and a Japanese friend agrees in advance to buy the stolen goods. These associates are already rich, but greedy.
The first half of this book exists to provide the necessary background for the characters and the rationale for it all. The second half concentrates on the criminal operation, which is fascinating and absorbing. Although not everything goes according to plan, the operation itself is a success; but afterwards the various personal defects of those involved assert themselves, and only in a most unexpected way does the Captain emerge with the money he needs.
The Captain would have made an honourable naval officer but for his addiction to gambling. He turns to crime reluctantly, with no desire to harm anyone, but Condon takes care to point out all the deaths and ruined lives that he unintentionally and sometimes unknowingly leaves in his wake. They weren’t planned, but could realistically have been expected in this kind of operation.
Condon’s writing makes a rather rich diet, full of plausible details, but all of it vivid and saturated, the characters and their lifestyles larger than life. He dwells lovingly on descriptions of food and wine. Despite the cover design of this edition, there is not really much sex in the story, but we gather that the Captain is capable of satisfying the two women in his life without difficulty.
The book was first published in 1972, and it’s mildly amusing that Condon includes computers in it without having much idea of how they work or what their limitations are. However, this is not important and doesn’t spoil the story.
I find it an enjoyable roller-coaster ride. I appreciate a good plot, and this one runs like clockwork, everything falls into place.
Although the Captain still misses his aircraft carrier, in other respects his life is ideal; but he cannot stop gambling. His wife loves him, but she loves money more, and regretfully requests a divorce when he runs out of his own money and starts gambling with hers.
In desperation, he puts together a bold and eccentric criminal operation to steal enough money to repay his wife and save his marriage and lifestyle. He provides the idea and the leadership; an ex-naval friend who now runs a think tank provides the detailed planning; Yvonne’s father agrees to provide the criminal workforce; and a Japanese friend agrees in advance to buy the stolen goods. These associates are already rich, but greedy.
The first half of this book exists to provide the necessary background for the characters and the rationale for it all. The second half concentrates on the criminal operation, which is fascinating and absorbing. Although not everything goes according to plan, the operation itself is a success; but afterwards the various personal defects of those involved assert themselves, and only in a most unexpected way does the Captain emerge with the money he needs.
The Captain would have made an honourable naval officer but for his addiction to gambling. He turns to crime reluctantly, with no desire to harm anyone, but Condon takes care to point out all the deaths and ruined lives that he unintentionally and sometimes unknowingly leaves in his wake. They weren’t planned, but could realistically have been expected in this kind of operation.
Condon’s writing makes a rather rich diet, full of plausible details, but all of it vivid and saturated, the characters and their lifestyles larger than life. He dwells lovingly on descriptions of food and wine. Despite the cover design of this edition, there is not really much sex in the story, but we gather that the Captain is capable of satisfying the two women in his life without difficulty.
The book was first published in 1972, and it’s mildly amusing that Condon includes computers in it without having much idea of how they work or what their limitations are. However, this is not important and doesn’t spoil the story.
I find it an enjoyable roller-coaster ride. I appreciate a good plot, and this one runs like clockwork, everything falls into place.
August 9, 2025
The characters lack depth in this supposed farce, and its conclusion lets the man who envisioned the crime escape justice after being indirectly at fault for something like 45 deaths. But "he's lucky," per the author.
A weak ending for a less-than-tense "thriller" from a sometimes-good author of the old school.
A weak ending for a less-than-tense "thriller" from a sometimes-good author of the old school.
April 2, 2024
Very good and hilarious in parts.
Condon was a great satirical writer.
Condon was a great satirical writer.
May 20, 2016
Good cast of characters for a satire
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews