Items related to Clubland
After his last blag, Ged Brennan's had enough. He sees young kids making a name for themselves in Liverpool. Worse still, they're making big money. Ged wants some of that for himself and he thinks a man of his standing is entitled to it. But for a man of violence, he's incredibly moralistic. Ged has a righteous streak as wide as the Mersey and there's no way he's getting involved in clubs, drugs and topless bars. So when he receives an offer to take over the clubland empire of an executed gangster, he passes the parcel to his sex-addicted cousin Moby. Mistake. Ratter's common law widow, Margo, was brought up in Toxteth and foresaw the surge in property development that came in the wake of the riots. Margo is a regeneration visionary. But after Ratter's death she is told that her landmark project, a media village, is to be taken away from her. Mistake. The council's regeneration committee headhunt Ged Brennan to steer the final stages of Margo's development. He's read with righteous horror the scare stories about bold new plans to create a 'permissive' zone in clubland - a quarter where the sex trade operates openly and controlled use of narcotics is tolerated. The last thing on his mind is that it'll be anything to do with him. Mistake. The result is an intrigue of Machiavellian proportions, with friends and relatives plotting against each other and ready to fight - to the death - for what's theirs. When analysts spoke of Thatcher's Children, they weren't referring to the urchins who survived the riots. A hard-hitting story of sex and greed, Clubland is a tale of Thatcher's other Children - the ones she left behind. (2002-10-18)
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
The Mersey might still be one of the world’s muddiest rivers, but the Liverpool depicted in Kevin Sampson’s Clubland is keen to leave its murky past behind. Brussels-bound bureaucrats toast the success of the post-Toxteth regeneration; young people are flocking to its universities and money men are clambering over each other for a slice of the lucrative club trade.
Review:
Veteran gangster – and hero of Sampson’s earlier thriller Outlaws--Ged Brennan wouldn’t normally turn down an opportunity to earn more money. He’s got a wife and kids with decidedly upmarket tastes, after all. But he’s also got strong principles. The idea of a decriminalised zone in the heart of clubland--where prostitution and drug use would be tolerated--appals him. Unfortunately, he’s not in the best position to fight a crusade. The council are head-hunting him as the figurehead for their latest scheme. He’s just handed over a string of strip clubs to his wayward--and distinctly warped--cousin Moby. And there’s Marguerite, hot-shot lawyer and Haitian ice-queen. Who, in addition to being the widow of Ged’s dead brother, has very much her own ideas about the future of clubland.
This is a highly original tale of tangled loyalties, set against a backdrop of shifting values. Ged Brennan is a protagonist to rival TV’s Tony Soprano: gentlemanly and coarse, principled yet disarmingly ruthless. His journey through the mean streets of Merseyside is sometimes shocking, sometimes disturbing, always tinged with wit. Read it--and be grateful you’re not living it.--Matthew Baylis
"His ear for the language of the street is astounding" (Linda Grant)
"Liverpool noir" (Independent)
"Kevin Sampson uses his pen like a pathologist uses a scalpel. He's the literary equivalent of filmmaker David Lynch. You may not like the world he takes you into, but his immense talent makes sure you can't look away. Brilliant" (Mike Hodges, director of Get Carter and Croupier)
"Dark but brilliant" (Heat)
"Liverpool noir" (Independent)
"Kevin Sampson uses his pen like a pathologist uses a scalpel. He's the literary equivalent of filmmaker David Lynch. You may not like the world he takes you into, but his immense talent makes sure you can't look away. Brilliant" (Mike Hodges, director of Get Carter and Croupier)
"Dark but brilliant" (Heat)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherVintage
- Publication date1999
- ISBN 10 0099548658
- ISBN 13 9780099548652
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages256
- Rating
(No Available Copies)
Search Books: Create a WantIf you know the book but cannot find it on AbeBooks, we can automatically search for it on your behalf as new inventory is added. If it is added to AbeBooks by one of our member booksellers, we will notify you!
Create a Want