The Bonfire of the Vanities - Tom Wolfe

A novel where a bond salesman has a huge fall from grace - how could I not read that? It's a huge, chunky novel at around 700 pages, which lasted me an impressively long time. Rather more importantly, it's rather good. Tom Wolfe, mostly a non-fiction author, has produced a meticulously researched piece of fiction which captures 1980s New York convincingly. It has a great selection of flawed yet sympathisable characters, and well-balanced humour. It's another bash at the "Great American Novel". Looks like I'll have to read more Wolfe.

Posted 2005-03-08.