The Sucker's Kiss - Hardcover
Set against the first three decades of twentieth century American history, 'The Sucker's Kiss' begins during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Seven-year-old Thomas Moran finds himself accidentally embarking on a career in pickpocketing that will eventually take him all over the United States as he grows to manhood and becomes a master of his dubious craft. His picaresque journey takes him through Prohibition and the Depression accompanied by an array of richly drawn characters desperately clutching at the crumbling American Dream: Italian and Chinese gangsters, con-artists, corrupt clergy, speak-easy bootleggers and most of all Effie, the great love of his life - the woman who tries to save him from himself.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
'A gripping, entertaining and finely wrought story to match the best of his films' - Independent on Sunday
Alan Parker, distinguished director of Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express and The Committments, has turned his hand to fiction, with triumphant success . . . Alan Parker has created a splendid character, an amiable, amoral rogue whom the reader cannot help rooting for in every episode of his deceitful odyssey.' - The Mail
(A) triumphant success . . . Alan Parker has created a splendid character, an amiable, amoral rogue whom the reader cannot help rooting for in every episode of his deceitful odyssey. (Daily Mail)
'The Sucker's Kiss is a joyous, unapologetic romp through Prohibition America. It's as fast, funny and deft as its likeable narrator, Thomas Moran who, at the tender age of seven, picks his first pocket during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and goes on to enjoy a colourful life of crime on the road before realising - as all good picaresque heroes do - that love is what really matters.' Julie Myerson, Harpers and Queen
'An engaging, entertaining romp through the first three decades of twentieth century America. His rogue's story is funny, ebullient, and ultimately poignant.' -Kevin Baker, author of PARADISE ALLEY and DREAMLAND
'As he has demonstrated so prodigiously in the past, Alan Parker is a master of historical perspective. In THE SUCKER'S KISS he evokes early twentieth-century San Francisco with all the grit and ferment of a West Coast William Kennedy.' -T.C. Boyle
'Memo to Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild: Please go on strike more often. Why? Well, while you were picketing and protesting, a director and writer, Alan Parker, decided to write a hell of a novel.' - Frank McCourt
' . . . this is a cracking read. Parker has excelled with his evocation of the first three decades of twentieth century America. Great characters, a fine, flawed central narrator and set pieces that leave echoes in the mind long after the book is finished. If this were a drink it would be a rare, smoky, single malt. As a story it's no less than a picaresque piece de resistance. More please Sir Alan.' - Paul Blezard-Gymer, Oneword Radio
'Memo to Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild: Please go on strike more often. Why? Well, while you were picketing and protesting, a director and writer, Alan Parker, decided to write a hell of a novel, The Sucker's Kiss. You might expect Sir Alan to take as his territory England, particularly North London. He might have written of highwaymen and he chose instead the forty-eight states. There goes his picaresque hero, Thomas Moran, goaded into pickpocketing by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. After that the sky is the limit and two oceans his borders.' -Frank McCourt
'It is as good a historical yarn as I have read in a long time: straightforward in its essentials, but richly textured.' The Sunday Telegraph (The Sunday Telegraph)
Book Description:
Alan Parker, distinguished director of Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express and The Committments, has turned his hand to fiction, with triumphant success . . . Alan Parker has created a splendid character, an amiable, amoral rogue whom the reader cannot help rooting for in every episode of his deceitful odyssey.' - The Mail
(A) triumphant success . . . Alan Parker has created a splendid character, an amiable, amoral rogue whom the reader cannot help rooting for in every episode of his deceitful odyssey. (Daily Mail)
'The Sucker's Kiss is a joyous, unapologetic romp through Prohibition America. It's as fast, funny and deft as its likeable narrator, Thomas Moran who, at the tender age of seven, picks his first pocket during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and goes on to enjoy a colourful life of crime on the road before realising - as all good picaresque heroes do - that love is what really matters.' Julie Myerson, Harpers and Queen
'An engaging, entertaining romp through the first three decades of twentieth century America. His rogue's story is funny, ebullient, and ultimately poignant.' -Kevin Baker, author of PARADISE ALLEY and DREAMLAND
'As he has demonstrated so prodigiously in the past, Alan Parker is a master of historical perspective. In THE SUCKER'S KISS he evokes early twentieth-century San Francisco with all the grit and ferment of a West Coast William Kennedy.' -T.C. Boyle
'Memo to Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild: Please go on strike more often. Why? Well, while you were picketing and protesting, a director and writer, Alan Parker, decided to write a hell of a novel.' - Frank McCourt
' . . . this is a cracking read. Parker has excelled with his evocation of the first three decades of twentieth century America. Great characters, a fine, flawed central narrator and set pieces that leave echoes in the mind long after the book is finished. If this were a drink it would be a rare, smoky, single malt. As a story it's no less than a picaresque piece de resistance. More please Sir Alan.' - Paul Blezard-Gymer, Oneword Radio
'Memo to Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild: Please go on strike more often. Why? Well, while you were picketing and protesting, a director and writer, Alan Parker, decided to write a hell of a novel, The Sucker's Kiss. You might expect Sir Alan to take as his territory England, particularly North London. He might have written of highwaymen and he chose instead the forty-eight states. There goes his picaresque hero, Thomas Moran, goaded into pickpocketing by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. After that the sky is the limit and two oceans his borders.' -Frank McCourt
'It is as good a historical yarn as I have read in a long time: straightforward in its essentials, but richly textured.' The Sunday Telegraph (The Sunday Telegraph)
From the highly acclaimed director of 'Midnight Express' and 'The Commitments' comes a sparkling story of a pickpocket's odyssey through America.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherSceptre
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 0340828439
- ISBN 13 9780340828434
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages340
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 20.00
Shipping:
US$ 4.99
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
The sucker's kiss
Published by
Sceptre
(2003)
ISBN 10: 0340828439
ISBN 13: 9780340828434
New
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. Book condition: new. Dust jacket condition: new. 1st edition, 1st printing. Signed by author. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 318
Buy New
US$ 20.00
Convert currency
Stock Image
The Sucker's Kiss
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Next day dispatch (mon-fri). Please note orders sent to Netherlands or Sweden take slightly longer than the Amazon estimated delivery date. Same day/next day dispatch (mon-fri) all items checked before dispatch, Handled and sent out with care. Seller Inventory # mon0000232766
Buy New
US$ 9.02
Convert currency