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A review by charliepritchard1996
The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith
5.0
'He felt blameless and free, despite the fact that he consciously controlled every move he made.'
Here lies the intrigue of Highsmith's anti-hero, Tom Ripley. In this fantastic Everyman's Library trilogy, Highsmith's Ripliad plays out with beautiful fluidity; each story suspenseful and sublime in their own right.
The first novel of the trilogy is as exotic as it is intriguing. The narrative was electrifying, superbly evoking some of Europe's most picturesque cities, yet it was juxtaposed by Ripley's sordid behaviour. Ripley is a man without a plan, but his adaptability and scheming talent keeps us hooked throughout. Ripley's love for Italy and seamless slinking from hotel to hotel make him an appealing, stylish protagonist. Highsmith achieved something special by retaining Ripley's charismatic appeal despite his innate immorality.
Graham Greene memorably said of Highsmith that she is a poet of apprehension. To refer to Grey Gowrie's introduction of the hardback for the Ripliad, the issue of guilt is at the forefront of Ripley's adventures. Gowrie questions whether Tom's leisurely life in the second and third novels leaves him with a lack of adrenalin, hence the petty scams and full-blown murders.
In Highsmith's Ripliad, moral characters are few are far between. Even the minority of characters with a conscience fail to slip through the net of Ripley's conniving and seedy endeavours. For his victims, Ripley is a man who tempts and destroys. Seen by some as a psychopath, Ripley is still capable of understanding the feelings of others, something which Gowrie points out and in retrospect, appears the most fascinating aspect of his character.
Highsmith herself spoke about the juxtaposition between the frenetic prose of the Ripliad and Ripley's own self-assuredness. "I often have the feeling Ripley was writing it and I was merely typing." Highsmith did not believe that there was anything spectacular about the plots of the Ripley novels and that readers were enthralled by Ripley's insolence and audacity. He is not a "monotonous or stupidly brutal" character, which makes his adventures so intriguing.
Having not read any other Highsmith novels, I certainly look forward to dipping into her other stories. Gowrie claims that she ranks with Raymond Chandler among the greatest crime novelists of modern times. Indeed, her legacy is cemented by the Ripliad, and rightly so. There is doubtlessly so much more to appreciate aside from these novels. This hardback collection is definitely the best place to start, with a bizarre array of glamour, evil, and deceit to keep you attached to Ripley's fate with each turn of the page.
Here lies the intrigue of Highsmith's anti-hero, Tom Ripley. In this fantastic Everyman's Library trilogy, Highsmith's Ripliad plays out with beautiful fluidity; each story suspenseful and sublime in their own right.
The first novel of the trilogy is as exotic as it is intriguing. The narrative was electrifying, superbly evoking some of Europe's most picturesque cities, yet it was juxtaposed by Ripley's sordid behaviour. Ripley is a man without a plan, but his adaptability and scheming talent keeps us hooked throughout. Ripley's love for Italy and seamless slinking from hotel to hotel make him an appealing, stylish protagonist. Highsmith achieved something special by retaining Ripley's charismatic appeal despite his innate immorality.
Graham Greene memorably said of Highsmith that she is a poet of apprehension. To refer to Grey Gowrie's introduction of the hardback for the Ripliad, the issue of guilt is at the forefront of Ripley's adventures. Gowrie questions whether Tom's leisurely life in the second and third novels leaves him with a lack of adrenalin, hence the petty scams and full-blown murders.
In Highsmith's Ripliad, moral characters are few are far between. Even the minority of characters with a conscience fail to slip through the net of Ripley's conniving and seedy endeavours. For his victims, Ripley is a man who tempts and destroys. Seen by some as a psychopath, Ripley is still capable of understanding the feelings of others, something which Gowrie points out and in retrospect, appears the most fascinating aspect of his character.
Highsmith herself spoke about the juxtaposition between the frenetic prose of the Ripliad and Ripley's own self-assuredness. "I often have the feeling Ripley was writing it and I was merely typing." Highsmith did not believe that there was anything spectacular about the plots of the Ripley novels and that readers were enthralled by Ripley's insolence and audacity. He is not a "monotonous or stupidly brutal" character, which makes his adventures so intriguing.
Having not read any other Highsmith novels, I certainly look forward to dipping into her other stories. Gowrie claims that she ranks with Raymond Chandler among the greatest crime novelists of modern times. Indeed, her legacy is cemented by the Ripliad, and rightly so. There is doubtlessly so much more to appreciate aside from these novels. This hardback collection is definitely the best place to start, with a bizarre array of glamour, evil, and deceit to keep you attached to Ripley's fate with each turn of the page.