The Victoria System
Published on 3. July 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
480 pages
978-0-241-14559-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Victoria System is Eric Reinhardt's novel of sex, power, capitalism and deception.
LONGLISTED FOR THE IMPAC DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIX RENAUDOT, THE PRIX GONCOURT AND THE GRAND PRIX DU ROMAN DE L'ACADEMIE FRANCAISE
David Kolski is overseeing the construction of the largest tower in Paris. A highly stressful job with numerous complications, it keeps him from his wife and children. Then, by chance, he encounters Victoria de Winter.
Victoria is a ruthless high-flyer who knows what she wants and always gets it. She shows David a luxurious life of decadence and desire, and together they explore the limits of who they are and what they want.
At the same time, David finds he is more driven at work. He seems to be a better, more complete man. Yet he has doubts. What kind of dark, a-moral world is Victoria leading him into? Can he really trust her? Can he even trust his own perceptions any more - or is the intense pressure turning him paranoid?
And should you, the reader, trust his account?
'Erotic, raw, violent and vertiginous . . . We often accuse French writers of navel-gazing and ignoring the world around them, but Eric Reinhardt is one of those who gives the lie to this cliche' Emmanuel Carrere, author of Limonov
'Bold, arresting, accomplished, complex, sensual, sexual, intriguing, heady' Le Monde
'An ambitious and tragic novel which weaves together sex, power games and imagination. An ultracontemporary anti-fairy tale' Les Inrocktibles
'Finally, a sexy book by someone who appears to have had sex' Dazed and Confused
LONGLISTED FOR THE IMPAC DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIX RENAUDOT, THE PRIX GONCOURT AND THE GRAND PRIX DU ROMAN DE L'ACADEMIE FRANCAISE
David Kolski is overseeing the construction of the largest tower in Paris. A highly stressful job with numerous complications, it keeps him from his wife and children. Then, by chance, he encounters Victoria de Winter.
Victoria is a ruthless high-flyer who knows what she wants and always gets it. She shows David a luxurious life of decadence and desire, and together they explore the limits of who they are and what they want.
At the same time, David finds he is more driven at work. He seems to be a better, more complete man. Yet he has doubts. What kind of dark, a-moral world is Victoria leading him into? Can he really trust her? Can he even trust his own perceptions any more - or is the intense pressure turning him paranoid?
And should you, the reader, trust his account?
'Erotic, raw, violent and vertiginous . . . We often accuse French writers of navel-gazing and ignoring the world around them, but Eric Reinhardt is one of those who gives the lie to this cliche' Emmanuel Carrere, author of Limonov
'Bold, arresting, accomplished, complex, sensual, sexual, intriguing, heady' Le Monde
'An ambitious and tragic novel which weaves together sex, power games and imagination. An ultracontemporary anti-fairy tale' Les Inrocktibles
'Finally, a sexy book by someone who appears to have had sex' Dazed and Confused
Reviews / Votes
Erotic, raw, violent and vertiginous . . . We often accuse French writers of navel-gazing and ignoring the world around them, but Eric Reinhardt is one of those who gives the lie to this cliche -- Emmanuel Carrere, author of Limonov Bold, arresting, accomplished, complex, sensual, sexual, intriguing, heady * Le Monde * An ambitious and tragic novel which weaves together sex, power games and imagination. An ultracontemporary anti-fairy tale * Les Inrockuptibles * Part classic, part tragedy, part thriller: Eric Reinhardt merges genres and invokes elusive echoes in this highly contemporary novel of a rare depth * Liberation * Finally, a sexy book written by someone who would appear to have had sex * Dazed & Confused * Those who harp on about the decline or end of literature in France, stuck in its formalism, nihilism or narcissism, are advised to read The Victoria System. It will give them a good wake-up slap * La Quinzaine Litteraire * A fantastic and sensual modern thriller, like nothing I've ever read -- Christian Louboutin Ambitious, complex, sparkling, to be devoured in one sitting * Telerama * Reinhardt is a fine and subtle psychologist . . . with a keen eye for the perverse ways in which capitalism exploits all levels of society and leaves behind smoking ruins. Anyone who begins this book will not quickly put it down * Trouw (The Netherlands) *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
570 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-14559-3 (9780241145593)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Eric Reinhardt
The Victoria System
E-Book
07/2013
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€8.99
Available for download
Persons
Born in 1965, Eric Reinhardt is the author of four previous novels and a freelance publisher of art books. He lives and works in Paris. The Victoria System is his first novel to be translated into English.
Sam Taylor is the English-language translator of HHhH, by Laurent Binet. He lives in France and the United States.
Sam Taylor is the English-language translator of HHhH, by Laurent Binet. He lives in France and the United States.