THE LADLES' MAN

by Max Egremont ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 1983

Inspired, perhaps, by the Profumo scandal of a bygone British administration, this short first novel leads up to a shattered politician's final crisis, with glimpses of his rise-and-fall--but with only occasional flickers of drama or insight. John Price, now ailing in late middle-age, lives in self-imposed exile in Ireland with his daughter; there are money troubles; more happily, there are visits from 40-ish mistress Clare. But, above all, there are bitter memories of the sex/corruption scandal that ended junior minister Price's promising career--a career that is traced through a series of brief flashbacks: privileged childhood, with a father obsessed by Great War recollections and ambitious plans for son John (generating ""an extraordinary vision of personal ascent""); school days, befriending pale scholarship-student David Peters; first marriage, ending with his wife's childbirth-death; Parliament/cabinet success, culminating in a diplomatic trip to America; and then Price's soon-notorious involvement with a shady South African entrepreneur, who introduced him to luscious ""photographer's assistant"" Melanie Fernandez. (Egremont interprets Price's weakness for women as a primarily non-lecherous preoccupation: ""he was not only the sexual pursuer but the seeker of information. . . a relief, a source of beautiful curiosity and its satisfaction."") Now, however, Price sees a last chance to ""save England,"" to make a political mark, by destroying old friend/nemesis Peters, a leader of Britain's most radical party: old flame Melanie has resurfaced, you see, with evidence that super-upright Peters took bribes from that shady entrepreneur. So there'll be a stagey little melodrama-finale. . . with a sort of hero's exit for Price. Sketchy fiction, uncertainly poised between morality-play and psychological study--but readers with a strong interest in Profumo-era politics will be intrigued.

Pub Date: Oct. 15, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Secker & Warburg--dist. by David & Charles

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1983

Categories: FICTION