Desire and Pursuit - Hardcover

Delaney, Frank

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002253992 ISBN 13: 9780002253994

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1998

Synopsis

A mystery story of great emotional power, told in rich language and crackling dialogue.

Ann Halpin always believed she was born into the wrong family. The nouveau-riche values of her bookmaker father, Joss, and his name-dropping wife, Moya, disturb and embarrass her. To exact revenge for her ‘snobbery’ they manoeuvre her into an abusive marriage with her father’s brutish, wise-cracking business manager, Joey.

But at her wedding reception in February 1972, she is observed by an English journalist, Christopher Hunter, who is lunching at the hotel. He, a turbulent and withdrawn man, blooded in the savage intrigues of the Troubles, instantly falls in love with her.

Thereafter, Christopher obsessively pursues his vision of possessing this beautiful and grave girl whom he has only glimpsed one bright winter day, though she does not even know he exists.

Multi-layered and unpredictable, a psychological mystery of yearning and loss, Desire and Pursuit is also a painful and deeply rewarding allegory, whose truth is provocative and rich.

About this title

Review:

‘When you invest in a Frank Delaney novel you get more than your money’s worth.’
Daily Mail

‘He is a storyteller in the purest Irish tradition and proud of it.’
Irish Post

‘A wonderful writer.’
The Times

‘A superb storyteller.’
Sunday Express

From the Back Cover:

Frank Delaney’s 'tour de force, Desire and Pursuit' is a mystery story of great emotional power, told in rich language and crackling dialogue.

Ann Halpin always believed she was born into the wrong family. The 'nouveau- riche' values of her bookmaker father, Joss, and his name-dropping wife Moya, disturb and embarrass her. For her aloofness and superior air her parents punish her – she is trapped into marriage with her father’s brutish, wise-cracking business manager, Joey, who devastates her. After enduring horrors, she decides upon revenge – and then discovers it is curiously unfulfilling.
Parallel with Ann’s story speaks the voice of an Englishman, Christopher Hunter, Ireland correspondent for a London newspaper. In February 1972 he sees Ann – on her wedding day – and falls violently in love with her. He discovers where she lives and watches her from a distance. When she disappears, he is distraught. Then he stumbles upon a bizarre story about a dead child. As he investigates, it becomes clear to the reader – but not to Christopher – that the solution to this mystery may bring him his heart’s desire and bring Ann the respectability she craves.
DESIRE AND PURSUIT

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0002253992
• ISBN 13: 9780002253994
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400