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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Charles Bradshaw is an ageing tycoon haunted by his past. When he suffers a heart attack, he abruptly retires and announces that he will give his fortune to charity, which leads to conflict with his wife and adult children. An old girlfriend, Anna, returns unannounced, and brings with her memories of a terrible secret that they share from their youth. Unnerved by their renewed affection for each other, Charles and Anna struggle to overcome their remorse and to make amends, but tension inevitably flares. Meanwhile, Charles's son is taking over the company and becomes intoxicated with his newfound power, intent, it seems, on self-destruction.
'His last prayer was more than forty years ago, and it went unanswered, so there is no use trying again. He can see his home in the distance: the marquee in the garden, his yacht at anchor. It is all like a simple parable. The rich man, the fat man, gets his comeuppance. Absurd, that he will be found dead wearing nothing but Speedos - it almost makes him laugh.' (From the publisher's website.)
Notes
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Dedication: For Dinusha, and in memory of my parents, Eric and June.
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Epigraph:
That the best portion of a man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and love.Wordsworth
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Dyslexic edition.
- Braille.
- Large print.
Works about this Work
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Fall Guy
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , February no. 328 2011; (p. 36)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Son of Privilege's Gilt-Edged Guilt
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 15-16 January 2011; (p. 21)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Pick of the Week
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 18-19 December 2010; (p. 24)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Off the Shelf : Fiction
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 11 December 2010; (p. 29)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Hot off the Presses
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 4-5 December 2010; (p. 22-23)
— Review of Five Bells 2011 single work novel ; The Best Australian Essays 2010 2010 anthology essay ; The Body in the Clouds 2010 single work novel ; The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel ; The Best Australian Poems 2010 2010 anthology poetry ; The Best Australian Stories 2010 2010 anthology short story extract ; The Rest on the Flight : Selected Poems 2010 selected work poetry
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[Review] The Philanthropist
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Bookseller + Publisher Magazine , September vol. 90 no. 2 2010; (p. 33)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Take Three
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Sunday Canberra Times , 31 October 2010; (p. 26)
— Review of What Is Left Over, After 2008 single work novel ; The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Hot off the Presses
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 4-5 December 2010; (p. 22-23)
— Review of Five Bells 2011 single work novel ; The Best Australian Essays 2010 2010 anthology essay ; The Body in the Clouds 2010 single work novel ; The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel ; The Best Australian Poems 2010 2010 anthology poetry ; The Best Australian Stories 2010 2010 anthology short story extract ; The Rest on the Flight : Selected Poems 2010 selected work poetry -
Off the Shelf : Fiction
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 11 December 2010; (p. 29)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel -
Pick of the Week
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 18-19 December 2010; (p. 24)
— Review of The Philanthropist 2010 single work novel
- Melbourne, Victoria,
