The Philadelphian

Richard Powell

ISBN 10: 0937548626 / ISBN 13: 9780937548622

Published by Plexus Publishing (UK), 2006

Missing dust jacket; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.25. Seller Inventory # G0937548626I4N01

Synopsis:

Touted by its original publisher as an exposé and indictment of blue-blooded Philadelphia society, the late Richard Powell's The Philadelphian was released to rave reviews and later became the 1959 Oscar-nominated film, The Young Philadelphians, starring Paul Newman and Robert Vaughn.

The Philadelphian was an immediate national bestseller, and in the 50 years since its debut the novel has been widely hailed as Richard Powell's crowning literary achievement. The author's acute sense of irony infuses this raw, powerful saga of a family of humble origins climbing the Philadelphia social ladder. Beginning with the emigration of a poor Irish girl in 1857, the story spans four generations and climaxes with her grandson, an ambitious young defense lawyer, holding the city spellbound in one of the most compelling courtroom scenes ever written.

Plexus Publishing, Inc. is delighted to have worked with the author's family to restore The Philadelphian to print after a long and inexplicable hiatus. This 50th anniversary edition includes a new foreword by Oscar nominee Robert Vaughn and, in a special preface, Richard Powell's previously unpublished (and not-to-be-missed) soliloquy, "The Personality of Philadelphia."

About the Author: A Seventh generation Philadelphian, Richard Powell (1908-1999) was a prodigiously talented writer whose 19 full-length fictional works included many mysteries along with several comedic, dramatic, and historical novels. Prior to retiring to Florida in 1958 to write full time, he studied history at Princeton, was a reporter for the Philadelphia Evening Ledger, served in the Army during WWII, and worked for many years in advertising and public relations.

Powell was an inventive storyteller and a keen observer of human foibles and follies who, at the peak of his writing prowess in the late 1950s and early 1960s, emerged as a master of the modern novel. No matter what fiction genre Powell turned his hand to, his wry characterizations, crackling dialog, and deft plotting made each book an irresistible page-turner. Several of his novels including The Philadelphian were made into feature films.

While most of Richard Powell's novels disappeared from publishers' lists during the 1970s, his work is currently experiencing a well-deserved revival, with at least three books in addition to The Philadelphian currently available in new editions or soon to be reprinted. More, it is to be hoped, will soon follow.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Philadelphian
Publisher: Plexus Publishing (UK)
Publication Date: 2006
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket