The Golden Gate (Vintage International) (Paperback)
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Staff Reviews
When Peter Ash finds out that his former Marine buddy committed suicide, he shows up at his widow’s house to help with some home repairs. Under the crawl space, he finds a mangy dog and a mysterious suitcase filled with cash. Needless to say, the contents are much desired by another party, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Nicholas Petrie has written a compelling thriller that knows all the right moves, from the loner character to the family in peril to the multiple plot turns, but infuses a fresh twist with Peter Ash, a vet with PTSD manifested in acute claustrophobia. There’s a bit of an Elmore Leonard vibe going on here, only with everyone playing at more contemporary higher stakes. And as a bonus for locals, the Milwaukee setting is distinct, but not so over-detailed to get in the way of the nail-biting plot.
— Daniel GoldinDescription
“The great California novel been written, in verse (and why not?): The Golden Gate gives great joy.”—Gore Vidal
One of the most highly regarded novels of 1986, Vikram Seth’s story in verse made him a literary household name in both the United States and India.
John Brown, a successful yuppie living in 1980s San Francisco meets a romantic interest in Liz, after placing a personal ad in the newspaper. From this interaction, John meets a variety of characters, each with their own values and ideas of “self-actualization." However, Liz begins to fall in love with John’s best friend, and John realizes his journey of self-discovery has only just begun.
“A splendid achievement, equally convincing in its exhilaration and its sadness.”—The New York Times
“Seth pulls off his feat with spirit, grace and great energy.”—The New Yorker
"A marvelous work . . . bold and splendid . . . Locate this book and allow yourself to become caught up, like a kite, in the lifting effects of Seth's sonnets."—Washington Post Book World
About the Author
Vikram Seth's books include three poetry collections, a libretto, the travel memoir From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet, and the novels The Golden Gate and A Suitable Boy. Born in Calcutta, Seth has lived in China, California, England, and India.
Praise For…
"At once a bittersweet love story, a wickedly funny novel of manners and an unsentimental meditation on mortality and the nuclear abyss. Always witty--and still profound--the book paints a truthful picture of our dreadful, comic times."
--Vanity Fair
"A splendid achievement, equally convincing in its exhilaration and its sadness."
--The New York Times
"The great California novel has been written in verse (and why not?): The Golden Gate gives great joy."
--Gore Vidal
