First published 2002
Mortimer Griffin works as an editor in 1960s London, surrounded by people who abandon principles for profit. The Canadian finds himself isolated among colleagues who chase the same rewards while pretending to hold different values. His world includes Polly, a woman who treats her existence like a film with convenient cuts during intimate moments. Rachel Coleman moves through bedrooms with the intensity of a Black Panther activist. Star Maker, a Hollywood mogul obsessed with himself, believes he has unlocked immortality's secret. Even the local schoolchildren embrace the Marquis de Sade's disturbing philosophies. Mortimer watches television, movies, and entertainment executives destroy authenticity for money. He must decide whether to compromise his beliefs or remain an outsider in this corrupt landscape. Richler creates a biting examination of media culture where moral boundaries dissolve and genuine human connection becomes nearly impossible.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: moral-dilemma, outsider
Setting: London
Period: 1960s
224 pages · Paperback · Emblem Editions
Content warnings: explicit-sexual-content