Farewell Performance

Lehman,Ernest

ISBN 10: 0070370745 / ISBN 13: 9780070370746

Published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1982

About this Item

This is a Near Fine Copy of this hardcover book in a Near Fine Dust-Jacket with NO chips or tears to the outer edges of the dust-jacket.Not price clipped and this copy has NO previous owner's names or inscriptions present.This copy was acquired from an impressive private collection of Frank Lupo American Writer and TV Producer (He wrote The 'A' Team) close attention was obviously paid in obtaining books in excellent conditionThe dust-jacket comes well protected in a removable cover sleeve.8vo 307pp First Edition 1st Impression.

Seller Inventory # 49975

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Farewell Performance
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York
• Publication Date: 1982
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0070370745
• ISBN 13: 9780070370746
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • MODERN FIRSTS

About this title

Synopsis

Identical twins, a covered-up murder, an impersonation, an insurance seam, a disappearing body: such materials have, in the past, been made into lively farce-thrillers and black comedies--usually on stage and screen. Here, however, Lehman (The French Atlantic Affair) pads out his contrived suspense-plot with pretentious overwriting, pornosex, and vile Hollywood characters--to mostly unpleasant effect. Howard Bluestern, 39, is newly-chosen top executive at a film studio. His unloving twin-brother Teddy is a ne'er-do-well actor who occasionally fills in for kidney-troubled Howard at insurance-company medical exams, But this time the switcheroo leads to major complications: Howard, posing as Teddy, is murdered by Teddy's jealous girlfriend Diane. . . just as Teddy (as Howard) is taking out a $10 million policy, with Teddy as beneficiary. For obvious reasons, then, Teddy keeps the murder a secret, puts Howard's corpse on ice, appears as both brothers--and tries to figure out how to produce an accidentally dead Howard without the twin/switch coming to light. Meanwhile, however, two interested parties are sleuthing around suspiciously: Diane, who wants to destroy the corpus delicti (she thinks it's Teddy) but can't figure out what ""Howard"" is up to; and the worried insurance salesman. So back-and-forth maneuvers ensue--with elaborate lies, thefts of the frozen body, and an airplane-chase finale, Unfortunately, however, this perhaps-promising scenario isn't given the bright, frisky treatment that could make it a breezy diversion (or a likely film/TV property). Instead, Lehman loads on pseudo-psychology, artsy-trashy prose (imitation-Joycean run-ons), and ludicrous, purple/porn sequences--featuring Teddy and his secretary/girlfriend, with occasional appearances by Howard's homosexual butler and Diane's fat-homosexual sidekick. Kirkus review