Items related to The Salesman
Synopsis
During the hottest summer in Dublin's history, a troubled salesman decides to take the law in his own hands when his daughter falls victim to a mysterious attacker, with frightening and often humorous results. 15,000 first printing. Tour.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
"A Good Salesman can sell anything." So says the protagonist of Joseph O'Connor's remarkable third novel, who is selling nothing less than a justification to commit murder. A divorced, middle-aged recovering alcoholic, Billy Sweeney is in a world of trouble. His beloved younger daughter was brutally beaten during an attempted robbery and now lies comatose in a Dublin hospital; worse, Donal Quinn, the ringleader of the gang who put her there, has escaped from prison before his trial, and the police can't find him. Then one day, Sweeney spots a disguised Quinn in an electronics store. He considers calling the police--even goes so far as dialing the number--before "a thought occurred to me, as clear as the moment when a migraine lifts." The bereaved salesman decides to take justice into his own hands. What follows is a clever, at times terrifying game of cat and mouse as Sweeney first stalks Quinn and then catches him--with wildly unexpected results.
Though The Salesman has elements of a noir-ish thriller, it is, first and foremost, an examination of love. Written in the form of a journal from Sweeney to his comatose daughter, the book leapfrogs back and forth in time, chronicling Sweeney's courtship and troubled marriage to Grace Lawrence, his alcoholism, and his eventual divorce--even as it describes his hunt for Quinn. The love between friends, between a man and a woman, and between a father and a child are all poignantly limned here; what sets The Salesman apart, however, is the relationship that develops between Sweeney and his nemesis. O'Connor has written a novel that brims with emotion while avoiding sentimentality. Moving, disturbing, at times grimly humorous, this is Irish fiction at its best. --Alix Wilber
From the Publisher
"Mesmerizing...The honesty and bravery of O'Connor's writing make emotions authentic and redemption almost credible." --The Observer
"Gripping and moving...A taut, expertly crafted plot...He captures brilliantly changes of mood and unexpected quirks of behavior." --The Guardian
"Excellent...brilliant...The book, of its kind, is very well done." --Irish Independent
"[A] superbly written novel...The story of how Billy sets about trying to avenge his daughter is so compelling and horribly believable that you'll be turning down all invitations in order to sit indoors and read." --Literary Review
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPicador USA
- Publication date1999
- ISBN 10 0312199988
- ISBN 13 9780312199982
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages393
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 24.00
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.45. Seller Inventory # G0312199988I3N00
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.45. Seller Inventory # G0312199988I3N01
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 1st Picador USA ed. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 10128810-6
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00048579888
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: Once Upon A Time Books, Siloam Springs, AR, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear . This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear . Seller Inventory # mon0001283211
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: Irish Booksellers, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 12-0312199988-G
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: HPB-Movies, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_396607694
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: Willis Monie-Books, ABAA, Cooperstown, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Printing. Seller Inventory # 39457
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: Bob's Book Journey, Austin, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. First US Edition. Very light wear. Faint erasure marking on front free endpaper. Text is clean and unmarked. Jacket is clean, crisp and NOT price-clipped. A nice item at one-third the original price. Seller Inventory # 003381
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Salesman
Seller: Booked Experiences Bookstore, Burlington, ON, Canada
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First U.S. Edition. pp.391 clean tight copy minuscule edge and corner wear but front top right corner bumped Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Seller Inventory # 024313
Quantity: 1 available