Inheritance

Nefelibata

by Nicholas Shakespeare

Andy Larkham is late. He is due at the funeral of his favourite school teacher, who once told 'It's hard work being anyone.' It's especially hard for Andy - stuck in a dead-end job, terminally short of cash and with a fiancée who is about to ditch him. When the funeral leads to unexpected consequences, Andy has to ask how far will he go to change his life?From early-twentieth-century Turkey to modern day London, Nicholas Shakespeare takes us on an extraordinary journey that explores the temptations of unexpected wealth, the secrets of damaged families and the price of being true to oneself. At once a love story spanning many decades and a tragedy of betrayal and missed opportunities, it is a romance for our times.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Australia, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Social, Historical

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 2010

About the author

Nicholas William Richmond Shakespeare is a English novelist and biographer.

Born to a diplomat, Nicholas Shakespeare grew up in the Far East and in South America. He was educated at the Dragon School preparatory school in Oxford, then at Winchester College and at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He worked as a journalist for BBC television and then on The Times as assistant arts and literary editor. From 1988 to 1991 he was literary editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph.

Since 2000, Shakespeare has been Patron of the Anita Goulden Trust, helping children in the Peruvian city of Piura. The UK-based charity was set up following an article that Shakespeare wrote for the Daily Telegraph magazine, which raised more than £350,000.

He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He is married with two small boys and currently lives in Oxford.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful and moving story about an inheritance… one bequeathed to whomsoever sits through the final prayers of the deceased man's funeral service. At the service only two people are present during the prayers, neither of whom were related to the deceased. This is about what ends up being an investigation, initially in to why someone would make such a strange will, and then becomes a lot more. A tale about isolation, entitlement, direction, Armenia, intolerance, growth, love, pain, betrayal, survival and understanding, but more so than anything else, it is a wonderful story about 'belonging'. Recommended read. A 9 out of 12, very firm Four Star read!

2011 read

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. A man goes to the wrong funeral and it results in him inheriting an impossibly large amount of money. This might sound unpromising as a plot development but it really works. We follow two stories simultaneously; the inheritor's, and his searching out of the story behind the man from whom he inherited. Powerful exploration of the way a man's character can be destroyed or at least manipulated to be deep in dark shadow. Romance, temptation to be other than yourself and a wonderfully horrible villain who stalks through the story spitting out his poison at every opportunity. A thriller, a romance, a tale of failure, of loneliness and of embittered sadness but running through it all is a thread of something good and hopeful and human that all the other mess can't eradicate. It is not a crass revenge novel, misunderstandings and misjudgements are shown as unavenged, uncorrected in life. Opportunities for love once lost are not always re-attainable it tells us but you leave the story at a moment of real hope burgeoning

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the premise, which was based on a true story: Guy shows up at the wrong funeral and as one of only two atenders, becomes heir to a millionaire's fortune. What followed was a let down.

Main character, Andy, is a right soggy pain in the rear end, and although he changes his lying, snivelling ways somewhat, I never warmed to him. The story within the story (that of the millionaire) is interesting, but waffled on far too long.

I don't know what the problem with this one is (I suspect it has more than one), but I think my biggest issue is with voice: Shakespeare uses emotional words, yet I felt none of the intended emotion. I couldn't have cared less aout any of these characters--with the possible exception of Madigan, the millionaire.

However, this wasn't wasted reading time. Given Shakespeare's previous literary acclaim, I am once again left feeling that my own literary efforts are perhaps not so unworthy after all.

[Judith Yeabsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book following a guy who by a twist of fate inherits millions of pounds. It was a reasonable yarn but the characters were too one dimensional and too gullible for me !!

[Joni Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy Larkham is running late for his beloved teacher’s funeral. He’s in a dead-end job as editor of self-help books; he’s in debt and has borrowed money to take a taxi to the Crematorium. When he realizes that he is in the wrong chapel and one of only two ‘attenders’, he remains, as it’s too rude, even sacrilegious to sneak out when it was almost over . After the ceremony he’s asked to sign his name and address in the attendance book. Unbeknown to Andy the deceased, Christopher Madigan has stipulated only those attending his last prayers will inherit his wealth. His estranged daughter Jeanine turns up late and is unable to sign the attendance book and finds herself disinherited. Andy must keep up a front of knowing her father so that she won’t contest the will. So he begins to investigate his benefactor’s life aided by his journalist friend David. When he finally comes into the money, Andy resigns from his dead-end job, takes off to Europe for a dissolute life for 12 months before he’s pulled back to London and re-immerses himself in discovering who Madigan was. Half in love, Andy wants to re-unite Jeanine back with her father. He was a good man, he’d told her, in pretence…The other ‘attender’ Marel, his housekeeper, becomes the one he must turn to for the ‘truth’ and Marel is suspicious of him.

I found the plot implausible. Jeanine had been estranged from her father because her mother made up a story about his abandonment, and she grew up with her mother’s poison poured into her ears. Wouldn’t a daughter go some way to forming her own judgments than rely upon the stories of others? Before she rejects him, shouldn’t she have given him a chance to redeem himself? It is this injustice on which the narrative hinges. Andy Larkham quests to reveal the truth of Chris Madigan. When he first meets Jeanine, he casts Chris in the shadow of the beloved teacher Furnivall. The memories are of his teacher but Jeanine doesn’t know this.

[Chertsey-Reading-Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a book club, we found this book to be an easy and interesting read which didn't disappoint our expectations. Despite having a slow start, with a character who we didn't really care for, when the narrative reached the retelling of Makertich's life, we felt that the story really took off. The two parts didn't join particularly well due to the completely different tone and subject, and sometimes it was difficult to understand who was talking in the second part. Still, we much preferred the story of Makertich's life to the story of Andy's. We had huge sympathy with Makertich's plight and the sadness of his end, which stood in stark contrast to Andy's life and his attempts to deal with his own new found wealth. Our interest was piqued by the references to Makertich's Armenian heritage and the Armenian genocide and we felt that we learnt much that we didn't know before. This backstory truly made the book unique and memorable.

The moral that we took from the book was about the importance of a person being true to themselves and their real identity. We found this to be pertinent not just in the case of Makertich but also in Andy and the recurring villain of the piece. The book wonderfully detailed the journey some of the characters undertook to learn about who they and others really were. We were less sure about the moral which we could glean from Andy's acquisition of wealth. By the end he seems to get the girl, get the house and be able to while away his hours writing. Maybe money can buy you happiness? The characters, other than Andy, were interesting and we were particularly intrigued by the villain and his drive to destroy Makertich. Again, his struggle to admit who he really was and commit to his true identity caused him problems, we felt.

We particularly liked the title, which gave rise to a discussion as to the different 'inheritances' in the book- money, identities, manuscripts, and truths. The whole premise for the work- gaining a fortune by accidently attending the wrong funeral- also drew us in and gave rise to the completely unforeseen tale of Makertich's life. We did find that there were that quite a few unbelievable coincidences in the story, and there were also some elements of the book which we didn't 'get'. We particularly felt that we didn't understand the relevance of Montaigne to the work and felt that we were perhaps missing some subtle link. We also didn't quite understand how Andy fused his teacher's work on Montaigne with Makertich's life story.

Overall, this is a book that defies generic convention. It makes you laugh, cry, exclaim at the mention of eucalyptus trees and perhaps also makes you want to know more about yourself and others around you. We would definitely recommend this to other book clubs.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘It’s hard work being anyone.’

Andy Larkham is struggling: his employment at the self-help publisher Carpe Diem is going nowhere; his fiancée is about to move o; and he has debts but no money. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that he turns up late for the funeral of his favourite schoolteacher and mentor, Stuart Furnivall. Instead, Andy finds himself at the service for Christopher Madigan, a wealthy recluse who has decided to leave his estate to whoever turns up.

This chance attendance has unintended consequences for every aspect of Andy’s life. What would you do if you inherited £17 million from a complete stranger simply by attending the wrong funeral? While Andy loses himself in the pursuit of spending money at first, he eventually becomes interested in the story of Christopher Madigan. Who was Christopher Madigan, where did his money come from and why didn’t he leave it all to his only daughter Jeanine? In tracing Christopher Madigan’s life and identity Andy finds himself on a journey which started in early twentieth century Turkey. With the assistance of friends and Madigan’s former housekeeper, Andy finds out as much about himself as he does about Christopher Madigan.

‘In every man is the history of all men.’

I enjoyed this novel. With its triumphs, and its tragedies, with its opportunities and opportunism, it’s a reminder that character, like the iron ore that also appears in the story, frequently needs to be mined in order to be appreciated.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Julie Goucher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline is fairly simple. It is about a man, Andy, who leaves his uninspired job at a self help publishing house late to attend his late teachers funeral. However, he eventually realises that he is in the wrong chapel, but then does not leave.

Later, he finds out that he is one of the people to inherit Christopher Madigan’s estate, simply because he attended the funeral. That simple act causes him to become a millionaire many times over, a fact that goes to his head, as he enjoys holidays and cars. Andy is though becoming increasingly curious about the man who provided his inheritance.

I did not like the character of Andy although I understand though the point the author is trying to make about how money changes us and perhaps steers us from who we are to who we believe we aspire to be. I felt that Andy was a weak man and for me his character drifted. He became selfish and openly lies to the daughter of Christopher, simply because he liked her.

The story of Christopher was more engaging, but for me this book didn't work and I think it could have been developed more, and there were many storyline opportunities missed.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sitting on my shelf for a long time. And then one day, I just picked it up & read it in 2 days. This book is very much written with a cinematic vision in mind. It's richly layered. Most of all I enjoyed the link between London, Armenia & Australia. I was swept away by the story. Top-notch storytelling.

[Bronwyn Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read and good escapism. I noticed how he changed his style of writing when he told Madigan's story though. Some clever metaphors but sometimes I struggled with his floating sentences. Also, what was with the spiel on God and religion toward the end of the book? The voice was far too educated to be that of his grandma - even if it was in Armenia.

[Catherine Davison · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting premise, poorly developed. At times it was like reading a writer's jottings for a story. Annoying confusion in later parts of the book about who was speaking. i found it extremely long winded, boring and wondered what his editors were thinking by letting this novel out without rigorous re-working.

[Barbara Guner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read. Shakespeare's (!) writing took a little getting used to. It's a story about a young man unexpectedly inheriting £17'000'000 and the story behind it. There is lost love, unexpected wealth, broken families and missed opportunities involved. Not everything worked for me. Also a lot of deep thoughts towards the end which were totally lost on me!

[Sally Anfilogoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. I wasn't sure at first but it was a slow burner with a compelling story. Split between Australia and the UK ( with Armenian history thrown in) it examined live, loss, loyalty and what we pass on.

Well written with a non linear narrative it was a story viewed through different characters' lenses. Recommended

[Helen Goltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clever book. It is so nice to read something original and quirky. I think the cover was the only thing that let it down. It seems to portray the book as female literature, when it was anything but. Convincing characters, a great back story and a really enjoyable read.

[Drachen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

[Ann Tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a soft, gentle book that sometimes veers a little too far to the comic but one that kept be completely absorbed in the layers of story telling.

[Liz Mellor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much like a soap opera.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

They had crossed the provincial border and were driving east into Saskatchewan when his father gripped the steering wheel and said , 'I've had a marvellous life, I don't regret a moment of it.'
George Larkham was not a demonstrative or confessional man. Simply a romantic one. His obituary in the Blackmore Vale would say of him,
'When he left school he went to RAF Chilmark with a letter from the Prime Minister extolling him as an astronaut, with Winston Churchill spelled Winstin Cherchill.'
About his life he rarely talked. Once, Andy overheard his sister question him about his brief first marriage, to a woman called Avril. He had looked glumly away.
'The past is a door you don't want to bang on, love, not unless you've got a good meat cleaver in each hand.'
He had the secrecy of a cat who crept from trouble and yet caused a lot of it.
'Your father, he was a character,' Andy's mother would say, and give a short laugh and start looking around for her secateurs.

Although the plot was intriguing enough - a rather flat, doormatty young man sits through a sparsely-attended funeral and signs the guest book, and learns later that he had not only attended the wrong funeral, he'd inherited the fortune of the man whose funeral he had signed in at - it was the character and background of Christopher Madigan, and the woman Maral Berhhard, who floated this story along and kept me reading. Madigan's daughter Jeanne however, who could have been fascinating, didn't seem to be quite completely coloured in, and comes off as a shallow, vacillating wraith, which make the romancy pairing-up at the end completely false. The author even refers to her as "sober-dressed" as if he couldn't even extend himself to giving her a complete adverb. I'm left with questions here, 14 years after the book was published: what exactly is/are/were "Nifelibata" (see title above) and what was the original inheritance story the book was supposed to be based on?

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw Inheritance in the bookstore and was intrigued by the black and white cover (who says cover art doesn’t play a role?) and the blurb on the back looked pretty good too. What made me put it back was the price. Fortunately, the ebook version was much cheaper and I sacrificed the lovely cover art for more book-buying money.

Although the author is based in the UK, Inheritance has a link with Australians (and particularly West Australians). It opens to a young man searching for iron ore deposits out from Marble Bar and has several chapters describing Perth very realistically (although I hope the bushfire part doesn’t come true).

After the mysterious miner in the prologue, we meet Andy who has a dead end job at a self-help publishing house and who runs very late for his late teacher’s funeral. Unfortunately for Andy, he has the wrong funeral but doesn’t leave. Later, he finds that he is one of the people who inherit Christopher Madigan’s estate, simply because he attended the funeral. He is now a millionaire many times over.

Of course it goes to Andy’s head- women, cars, holidays- but he is increasingly intrigued to find out about his mysterious benefactor. We then move into Christopher’s backstory and find out about his life.

I found Christopher a more engaging character than Andy, who seems a bit driftless and lacking. The ending is a little ambiguous but I can’t think of any other conclusion.
Inheritance dragged for me at times (mainly Andy’s story- I felt the teacher and book link was a bit underdeveloped) but the backstory of Christopher was interesting, maybe because of the Australian link. Probably not the best book I’ve read, but interesting enough and I like the interweaving of stories.

[Ilyhana Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel but I think somehow it failed to reach its full potential. It's a complex story and I'm not sure that I feel at all convinced by its too-easy resolution. People who've grown up estranged from a parent they've learned to deeply resent, do not cave so quickly, nor would I expect such a softening of attitude by the character Jeanine to the protagonist Andy who has proven to be a deceptive liar.
There is a subtle undercurrent throughout the book that doesn't really face this fact head-on. The character of many names is held up to be the villain, but there's a disguised truth when his actions are overshadowing the deceptions that Andy is willing to commit and I think to some degree his author is willing to subtly corroborate as being not so bad by comparison. Curly stuff.
I also found it hard to accept early in the novel, the fast turn-around by Andy in response to his accidental inheritance. Where was the ground for that? But then people do strange things around big money.
The novel however, does have a great story to tell. The motif of repetitive patterns in people's lives makes for an interesting theme.
The opening chapter is five star writing. It's wonderfully well written and a crafted device setting the novel up for a mystery trail. It then gears down a notch to enter storytelling mode, but with quite some wit and humour.
Maral's story is a novel within the novel, and I would have liked to see the thoughts and feelings of her audience, Andy, woven through the telling to hold this character's presence within the novel as in the long run, the author is working through Andy's issues with his father.
The book has a lot going for it but ah, that let-down ending.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent novel from Nicholas Shakespeare, though Inheritance did not quite impress me as Secrets of the Sea, mostly because of the far fetched premise, rather than the natural one of the earlier book.

Still a page turner with great characters in the past part of the storyline, while the narrator and the rest of the modern cast are reasonably well outlined.

A bit wish fulfillment, the story of Andy Larkham, the young poorly paid editor who seems to have a miserable day when he misses a funeral and later is dumped (for a well paid young banker to boot) by his materially inclined American fiancee on the eve of their wedding, only to share by chance in a huge fortune rolls well and the second part redeems the weaker beginning; of course there are a few problems like a disinherited daughter who may contest the will and the mystery of the rich dead man who made all the attendees to his funeral part of his will (well there were only 2, his longtime housekeeper and the narrator who confused the funeral chapels)so after a wastrel period spending money like crazy, Andy decides to get to the bottom of the story of his coincidental benefactor - and that story, by turn uplifting and tragic is excellent

There is comic relief with Andy's adventure in publishing, the small company he works and which specializes in self-help books and his boss, the owner of the company, while a book on Montaigne offers the required "seriousness"

Another superb read from the author that kept me late turning pages

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first encounter with Nicholas Shakespeare, so I wasnt really sure what to expect of the novel. After a pretty shaky start - the prologue is pretty long and rambling and seemed to be going nowhere, I soon got into the story of Andy Larkham.

Andy is a really likeable character - he's a bit of a loser really, his girlfriend has dumped him, he is in debt, his job is rubbish and his family are weird. He is always late and the first chapter is no exception. He's late for the funeral of his favourite school teacher - a guy who really made an impression on him in his youth and who Andy really admired.

Being late for that funeral changes Andy's whole life. He soon finds himself £17 million richer!

To say much more would give away the plot, which is a really good storywith some wonderfully crafted characters. As Andy comes to terms with his new-found wealth, he also learns a lot about the man that left the money to him, and this story goes back to Armenia, Turkey and Australia - following the character as he makes his fortunes.

With lots of colourful characters, some great historical references and some real sadness about mixed up families, heart break, and dishonesty.

Not a long novel at around 270 pages but a really good read that I'd recommend.

[Banafsheh Serov · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first saw this book on the new release shelves and later found it on the Independent booksellers’ bestsellers list. When a member of our bookgroup whose turn was to choose did not show, I made a split decision and picked Inheritance.
Any Larkham is a bumbling young (Hugh Grant like) Englishman working as an editor in a small publishing house with a dubious list of self-help titles. Recently dumped by his fiancé and about to be evicted from his flat, he faces a dim future until he accidently stumbles into a funeral and embarrassed by his mistake, feels compelled to stay to the end. At the end of the service, Andy reluctantly signs the guest list only to discover a few weeks later that he has inherited 17 million pounds. Encouraged by his best friend David, Andy seeks to discover the man he never met who has changed his life forever.
A delicate tapestry of woven lives, Inheritance is an ambitious tale executed with perfection and filled with characters that command our attention. 4 stars

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistakenly turning up at the wrong funeral after being dumped by his materialistic girlfriend, Andy Larken finds he is heir to the dead man's fortune - 17 million pounds. At first he takes advantage of his good fortune, quitting his job in publishing and travelling through Europe. His best friend pesters him, though, and says he will never be fulfilled with the money until he learns the story of the man who left it to him. Through his friend's research and conversations with the man's housekeeper, Andy learns about an Armenian refugee, Marketich, who made a fortune in Western Australia but lost his daughter to his scheming and faithless wife, who fell victim to a scam. It was through Marketich's scheme to prevent his daughter from also falling victim to the scheming man who ruined his wife that Andy became beneficiary. After learning the story, he tells Marketich's daughter, and they begin a relationship. Two completely different stories, but charming, heartfelt, and a real novel about fortune's wheel, loss and living in the past.... Lovely.

[Our Library Mornington · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you do if you unexpectedly inherited 17 million pounds? This is the dilemma facing Andy Larkham who is sprung out of the doldrums of an ordinary life in a dead end publishing job.

When Andy attends the funeral, at the Richmond crematorium in London, of a favourite childhood teacher he finds himself in the wrong chapel and has to sit through a complete stranger’s funeral. He signs the book of condolences and then later realises that by doing so he qualifies for a huge legacy left by the deceased Christopher Madigan. These great riches become a test of character for Andy as he initially squanders huge sums of money on travel and the high life. The realisation slowly dawns that he must find out about the life of Madigan, an Armenian, who made a fortune from iron ore in the Australian outback.

The novel is riveting in parts as Andy finds himself in very funny situations. It is an appealing tale of family secrets, great human tragedy and romance.

[Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

It just didn't know what book it wanted to be. I think it would have had much more impact if it had just stuck with the story of Makertich and concentrated on father/son and father/daughter relationships as well as identity and heritage. It's a shame as I enjoyed some turns of phrase and wanted more about Andy and his father. Disappointingly, lots of scenes seemed gratuitous and stuck in as an afterthought to serve a purpose (shoe-horning Montaigne and Furnivall into some otherwise ok sections) which spoiled the flow of the narrative. And I agree with other reviewers that you just don't care about Andy and I don't think that was Shakespeare's intention. Plodded on to the end just to finish it and be able to speak about it to a colleague who had also read it but was equally confused and disappointed!

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's no such thing as money for nothing. When Andrew unexpectedly inherits a lot of money, he gradually learns the cost. Who was his benefactor? Was he the ogre his daughter believed him to be or is this a false construction? Can money buy happiness?

This is an interesting exploration of the effects of sudden and unexpected wealth on the lives of those who inherit and their friends. And of unlooked for friendship and the longing of a people whose country no longer exists. The first part of the story is present day with the next section stepping between the past and present as Andrew and Maral find common bonds in discovering who Christopher Madigan was and why he left such an unusual legacy.

Thoughtful and intelligent, I really enjoyed my first introduction to the work of Nicholas Shakespeare. (And he's got such a cool name!)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read, the book blurb got me from the start 'What would you do if you suddenly and unexpectedly inherited £17 million? '
This is what happens to the main character, Andy Larkham, recently jilted lover, and resentfully underpaid publishing minion. Arriving late to the funeral of his favourite schoolteacher, he ends up in the wrong chapel with one other mourner, too embarrassed to leave. Pressured to sign the register, little does he realise what effect that signature will have upon his life. The extraordinary story that follows tells of one man’s failed love, the temptations of unanticipated wealth, the secrets of damaged families and the price of being true to oneself.
It is a fascinating read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and when it ended I wanted to know more of Andy's story.

[Melanie Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, and would have given it five stars, had it not been for the unwieldy opening and the sometimes juddery prose which left me wondering who was speaking and/or where we'd jumped to. Nevertheless, NS is clearly a master storyteller, who writes with great slight of hand, so that I continually found myself thinking, oh yes, of course! Chock full of ideas and historical insights. I'm only sorry I wasn't able to read it all in one go, as it is the sort of books that probably rewards the reader who can give it her full attention.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Or at least I am sure that I must have liked it because I admire Nioholas Shakespeare's writing and I loved his 'In Tasmania'. On the strength of that I snatched this up when it caught my eye on the library shelves and greedily chose it as the first of my this week's selection to read only to get that nagging feeling that I had read it before. So, I didn't remember I had read it until I started, and I didn't feel inspired to read it again, but I am taking a punt on my having liked it well enough the first time around.