{"product_id":"almost-perfect-gent-an","title":"Almost Perfect Gent, An","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct Description In the rich traditions of Janes and Trollope, this novel follows the escapades of young Timothy Whittaker, who is haunted by the brutal Christmas Eve murder\/suicide that left him orphaned and his proud, statusconscious family struggling for their identity. With rich prose and delectable, often eccentric characters, society in the years following WWII. Tim Whittaker matures past his privileged youth and his awkward first loves and ventures into the international world of fine art filled with unscrupulous dealers. As he ages, he cannot forget the terrible legacy of Quakers Pride, the familys estate. From Publishers Weekly In his fiction debut, former magazine editor Kelland tries to evoke the Parnassian world of wealthy New Yorkers in the early decades of the 20th century, in the manner of Edith Whartons fiction or Truman Capotes Answered Prayers. But this clumsy, clich?rich melodrama is to fiction what suburban dinner theater is to a Broadway play. Bland protagonist Tim Whitaker enjoys a pleasant and privileged childhood in the absurdly named mansion Quakers PrideAuntil his jealous father kills his blameless mother and then commits suicide. Tim is adopted by his beautiful, flamboyant Aunt Hilaria, who secretly instigated his parents quarrel. Tim grows up to be a model gentlemanAmoneyed, mannered, and handsomeAand pursues an undemanding career as an art dealer, while also pursuing his cousins, the ambitious Primrose Prim James and the artistic Leopolda Leah Payne. Tims family secret inevitably emerges, accompanied by more murder, suicide, blackmail, sex and violence among the wellbred, none of it suspenseful, remotely credible or much fun. Laughable clich?s run riot through Kellands prose: Tims father rages, The bounder!; Prim exclaims, Kiss me... kiss me hard!; and a hunky gardener looks like a Greek god. A Perfect Gent reads nothing like its obvious modelsAmore like the adaptation of an especially bad madeforTV movie. (June) FYI: Kellands father, the late Clarence Budding Kelland, wrote more than 50 novels. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From the Inside Flap A captivating view of the good life in New York between the great warsfull of wit, mischief and a certain degree of malice. Kelland turns a stuffy dinner party into a theatrical event. Horace Kellands novel captures the refined, traditionbound world of upper class New York society in the years between the great wars. The story carries Tim Whitaker through his privileged and naive youth, his awkward first loves, and his young adult ventures into the international world of fine arta world inhabited by a host of colorful, eccentric and unforgettable characters who all help shape the life of An Almost Perfect Gent. With a counturiers eye for style, an Epicurean knowledge of food and wine and an artists discriminating eye, the author provides a rare combination of the elegant styles of James and Trollope to reveal a sophisticated portrait of a highly cultured society and a young man who finds love and selfworth in almost perfect places. About the Author A Native of Long Island (NY) Horace Kelland is the author of over 50 novels. Excerpt.  Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Sounds of festivity spiraled up from the Great Hall, up the main stairs, and on up the lesser staircase to Tims room at the top of the house.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gibbs Smith","offers":[{"title":"Kelland, Horace \/ hardcover","offer_id":47842441986293,"sku":"SONG0941711439","price":25.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/5804\/8501\/files\/71HpLxqPiyL.jpg?v=1773779626","url":"https:\/\/ergodebooks.com\/products\/almost-perfect-gent-an","provider":"Ergodebooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}