The Complete Ripley Novels [Hardcover]

Patricia Highsmith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2008

No lover of American literature should be without this stunning boxed set of all five Ripley novels.

The Complete Ripley Novels—a first-time, boxed collection of the entire Ripley series—is a cause for critical and popular celebration. Its publication reflects the fact that Patricia Highsmith, "no more a practitioner of the murder mystery genre ... than are Dostoevsky, Faulkner and Camus" (Joan Smith, Los Angeles Times), has finally entered the American literary canon. Marginalized throughout her career as a mere thriller writer, Highsmith has experienced a remarkable renaissance since her death in 1995. Now Highsmith fans and new readers alike can find these five novels—The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water—all housed under one roof in this brilliantly designed, highly collectible edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

More than 50 years after Highsmith first introduced him in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955), fans of the dashing and dangerous Tom Ripley can enjoy all his adventures in one set—The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley and Ripley Under Water. Highsmith (1921–1991) first gained prominence with her 1950 novel, Strangers on a Train, adapted a year later to film by Alfred Hitchcock. But it was Ripley who cemented her name in the burgeoning genre of psychological suspense. From his first murder—of rich playboy Dickie Greenleaf in Talented—to his graceful fade into anonymity in Under Water, Ripley is everything crime fiction fans love in an (anti)hero: a charmingly slick killer who can worm his way out of anything. (Oct.)
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Review

“[Highsmith] forces us to re-evaluate the lines between reason and madness, normal and abnormal, while goading us into sharing her treacherous hero's point of view.” (Michiko Kakutani - New York Times )

“[...] fans of the dashing and dangerous Tom Ripley can enjoy all his adventures in one set...” (Publishers Weekly )

“[...] Novel after novel, the waters are troubled, masks rearranged on the face, as Highsmith shows us an individual unencumbered by constraints of legality or morality. Ripley is truly a self-made man, bringing us to silent recognition of the selfsame treacherous longings coiled and waiting in our hearts....” (Los Angeles Times )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1520 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Norton Ed edition (October 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393066339
• ISBN-13: 978-0393066333
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) was the author of more than twenty novels, including Strangers on a Train, The Price of Salt and The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as numerous short stories.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Set, Damn Good Books November 18, 2008

By D. Porter

Format:Hardcover

Based on my reading of the first book alone in paperback, I splurged for my birthday and picked up this set, and it was definitely money well spent. Housed in stylish blacks and grays with splashes of red, it looks great on the bookshelf, and the books themselves feel great to hold and have a comfortable size font for reading.

My few complaints are so minor it's almost being finicky, but there are a few sections with missed punctuation in the narrative and the books themselves don't have dust jackets, which just seems slightly odd. I also can't tell if the books are printed on acid-free paper (to prevent yellowing with age). Otherwise, it's tip-top perfect for the Ripley fan.

Includes all five Ripley novels: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955), Ripley Under Ground (1970), Ripley's Game (1974), The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980) and Ripley Under Water (1991), as newly published by W.W. Norton and Co (Oct. 2008-first ed.).

The spine of the novels spell out R-I-P-L-E-Y when lined up together, and the box features a picture of author Patricia Highsmith and some favorable reviews of her work, as well as the word "RIPLEY" ominously going down the side...

An extravagant price, but certainly one of the most endearing editions to my library in some time. I absolutely treasure mine and it's quickly become the pride and joy of my collection. As no personal library, or home, for that matter, is complete without a set of the Ripley books, this functions as the best edition to both snuggle up with and show off to company.

From murder to mystery, high suspense, psychological head games and exhilarating adventure, it's all here. If you've yet to read Ripley, you're in for one hell of a treat.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great set of Books May 27, 2009

By Brad S. Ramsey

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Patricia Highsmith is a great writer and her Ripley novels are proof of that. Tom Ripley has a way of making you like him then takes you to the very depths of human depravity. The locals are wonderful and the twists and turns are unexpected. The best mystery novels I have read in years

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift December 24, 2008

By Carol Singer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I gave this boxed set to an avid mystery/suspense reader for Christmas and all she has done is talk about it for days. The packaging is terrific and although I have never read any of the novels my friend is just loving it -- so much so she just had me order the DVD of The Talented Mr. Ripley for her husband for Christmas.