The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon

Prohibition fused the amateurism and catch-as-catch-can national tendencies of the early days of the republic with a more modern, highly organized lust for violence and the quick buck. In Mile High, his eighth novel, one primarily about how a single spectacularly ruthless gangster named Eddie West imposes Prohibition upon an unwary populace, Condon sums up the theme of all his books in a single angry cri de coeur: His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), featured a dedication to Youngstein and was made into a successful film.īasic theme throughout Condon's books Youngstein, deducted money from his salary, then fired him after a year, returning the amount of money he had deducted in the form of a Mexican bank account and the key to a house overlooking the ocean in Mexico. Without Condon's knowledge, his boss, Max E. Employed by United Artists as an ad writer, he complained that he was wasting time in Hollywood and wanted to write a novel. Īfter service in the United States Merchant Marine, Condon achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer and Hollywood agent. Kilkenny, Ireland.īorn in New York City, Condon attended DeWitt Clinton High School. And Then We Moved to Rossenarra is a humorous autobiographical recounting of various places in the world where he had lived and his family's 1970s move to Rossenarra, Co.

Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history.

His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to destroy what they love.

His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and family loyalty. I'd like people to know how deeply their politicians wrong them.' Condon's books were occasionally bestsellers, and a number of his books were made into films he is primarily remembered for his 1959 The Manchurian Candidate and, many years later, a series of four novels about a family of New York gangsters named Prizzi.Ĭondon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. Condon himself once said: 'Every book I've ever written has been about abuse of power. All 26 books were written in distinctive Condon style, which combined a fast pace, outrage, and frequent humor while focusing almost obsessively on monetary greed and political corruption. Though his works were satire, they were generally transformed into thrillers or semi-thrillers in other media, such as cinema. Richard Thomas Condon (Ma– April 9, 1996) was an American political novelist.

The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon