A Dangerous Fortune, by Ken Follett (1993)
A Dangerous Fortune was the first book that I read on an e-reader. I don’t believe, however, the medium used to read this book influenced my feeling of the book. I was disappointed in this Follett novel. I found it too much of a formula book ~ the villain with no conscious, who takes what he wants without regard for others, the wealthy family with its poor relatives, and the humiliation of those with less.
The novel begins at a wealthy private English academy by the mysterious drowning of Peter Middleton in a quarry near the school. Edward Pilaster and Mickey Miranda, a South American, who are two years older than Peter know more about his death than they let on. The death sets the backdrop of the rest of the novel.
The Pilasters are a wealthy banking dynasty. Hugh’s father was the black sheep of the family, who went off on his own. When his business went bankrupt, he killed himself, leaving his family as the poor relations of the Pilaster family. Hugh, however, is a talented banker in his own right. He goes to work for the family business, but is given no favors for being a family member. Edward, however, is a different story. He has no head for business, but is ultimately made a senior partner.
Edward’s mother, Augusta, is very social conscious and schemes have her husband become a Lord. She is sexually attracted to Mickey Miranda, although she doesn’t act on her impulses. Mickey has led her to believe that Edward is responsible for Peter’s drowning, although the official story is that Edward tried to save Peter.
Follett spent a considerable focus on the romantic relationships of the major characters. There is the obligatory anti-Semitism with a rival banker who is Jewish. Augusta schemes to see that he is denied a place in parliament due to his religious background. In addition, Follett spends a considerable amount of time spent on sexual relationships between the major characters and the women of the brothel. The major characters are in loveless marriages so frequent the brothels. Edward, it seems is a closet homosexual, who is only able to have relations when Mickey is present.
A Dangerous Fortune does not hold a candle to Follett’s sagas, Pillars of the Earth, or The World Without End.
Read: December 7, 2010
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