The Man Who Rode Ampersand

By Ferdinand Mount

Book Overview

Aldous (Gus) Cotton--the asthmatic hero of Ferdinand Mount's critically acclaimed series A Chronicle of Modern Twilight, including his recent Booker Prize-nominated novel Fairness--has a problem: Its name is Harry, a carouser, an amateur jockey, a compulsive gambler, a charmer with an unfortunate penchant for excess. He also happens to be Gus's father. Dead set on detaching himself from any paternal and all real-life responsibilities, Harry begins his descent from the heady realm of the racing set--which afforded him the sweet experience of riding Ampersand, the legendary Gold Cup winner, and champagne by the magnum--to an unglamorous but not undramatic existence in a grim world of lice-infected brothels and gambling houses. At the same time, Harry is thrown into the maelstrom of the Second World War, where comedy meets tragedy to ill-fated effect. In all, Harry's career vibrantly reflects the downward spiral of a once-vigorous nation, and leaves the sometimes amused and frequently appalled Gus trying very hard to love his father.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786710071
• ISBN13: 9780786710072
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.0"