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The Bonfire of the Vanities
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See moreSherman McCoy is a WASP, bond trader and self-appointed 'Master of the Universe'. He has a fashionable wife, a Park Avenue apartment and a Southern mistress. His spectacular fall begins the moment he is involved in an accident in the Bronx. Prosecutors, newspaper hacks, politicians and clergy close in on him, determined to bring him down.
As influential as Martin Amis's MONEY and Oliver Stone's film WALL STREET, this is an exhilarating satire of Eighties excess and a book that captures the roiling spirit of New York
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Description
An exhilarating satire of Eighties excess that captures the effervescent spirit of New York, from one of the greatest writers of modern American prose.
The Bonfire of the Vanities follows the story of Sherman McCoy, a WASP, bond trader, and self-appointed 'Master of the Universe'. He enjoys a fashionable lifestyle with a wife, a Park Avenue apartment, and a Southern mistress. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he becomes involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Bronx. As a result, prosecutors, newspaper hacks, politicians, and clergy surround him, determined to bring about his downfall.
Exuberant, scandalous, and exceptionally discerning, The Bonfire of the Vanities was Tom Wolfe's first venture into fiction and cemented his reputation as the foremost chronicler of his age.
'The air of New York crackles with an energy that causes the adrenalin to pump... The feeling is perfectly reproduced in Wolfe's novel... Electric' - Sunday Times
'The quintessential novel of The Eighties' - The Guardian
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities is a satirical take on Manhattan's Wall Street culture, praised for its readability and capturing the spirit of the 1980s. Critics have likened Wolfe to literary giants like Dickens and Balzac, noting his skill in weaving sardonic humour and keen observations into a modern morality tale. The novel vividly portrays the dynamic, frenetic energy of New York City, highlighting themes like racial tension and political opportunism. Its wit and ambition have been recognised in various reviews.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780099541271
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 January 2010
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vintage Classics
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 38.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 547g
Pages: 752
About the Author
Tom Wolfe (1930-2018) was the author of more than a dozen books, among them The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, The Right Stuff, The Bonfire of the Vanities, A Man in Full, I Am Charlotte Simmons and Back to Blood. He received the National Book Foundation's 2010 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
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