Sons of Adam [Paperback]

Harry Bingham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2004

An epic tale of brothers divided, family rivalry, fortunes lost and won, set against the dramatic background of the early days of the oil industry. Two boys are raised as brothers. Alan is the son of the lord of the manor, with all the privileges which come with that birthright. The other, Tom, is the son of the gardener. Together, they learn to argue, fight and bond in friendship. Social difference divides their paths as adults but nothing can break their bond until a tragic misunderstanding occurs in the trenches of World War I. Now instead of the closest of friends they will be the bitterest of rivals in a burgeoning industry: oil. From the early days of drilling in Persia, to wildcatting in Texas, to the corridors of Whitehall and Washington, this is the story of two remarkable men and the very different women who loved them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

SWEET TALKING MONEY: 'This excellent, pacy thriller is set in the hundred-billion-dollar world!the thrilling plot is underpinned with masses of convincing detail' Daily Mail 'Bingham's style is distinctively his own and his characters more rounded and credible than average' Mail on Sunday THE MONEY MAKERS: 'A thrilling grown-up fairy tale' Evening Standard 'An incredible story.' Radio 5 Live 'A fast-moving story of greed and redemption' Daily Telegraph 'A pacy, diverting romp' The Times

About the Author

Harry Bingham is an ex-City trader who has worked for major British, American and Japanese firms but who now writes full-time. He lives near Oxford with his wife and their three dogs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Harper Collins Pod (July 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007157932
• ISBN-13: 978-0007157938
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,262,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fast mover, ready for the screen, October 31, 2008

By 

Matt Hinds "Matt" (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sons of Adam (Paperback)

This is a novel about big dreams and the price paid for achieving them. It brings to life two men (Matt Damian and Ben Aflack should star in the movie), the search for oil in Iran and America, the WWI trenches on the Somme (I felt transported there), love, honesty and redemption.

It begins slowly with the mens childhood. This part, which is slightly boring, couldn't have been moved to the middle of the work as some kind of flashback because of other necessary divisions in the novel. Perhaps some further historical details would make it more interesting. From there the story picks up a real head of steam. I like stories which tell you something about the times, give insight into deep feelings and still tell an exciting adventure yarn.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Bingham Masterpiece, January 11, 2005

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Sons of Adam (Hardcover)

Bingham's third novel does not disappoint and like his first The Money Makers is a sheer masterpiece of literature. This book is also two and a half to three times the size of your average novel so is also excellent value for money. Like his two previous novels this one is also a great motivator, inspiring you to go out there and make money or at least achieve your dreams.

This is the first Bingham novel to be a period piece. It starts off in 1893 with the journey set over the next fifty years or so spanning the two world wars, depression and everything else in between. The wealthy Adam Montague's wife is giving birth to his second son as is by pure coincidence the wife of his gardener. Unfortunately the gardener's son Tom is not an easy birth and with Tom's sister pleading for help at the Montague house she is told by Adam's oldest son Guy that the doctor will be by shortly. Of course Guy sees no reason why their family doctor should assist the help, tells no one and goes to bed leaving Tom's mother to die a painful death. Wracked with guilt the Montagues discipline Guy, adopt Tom and raise him alongside their new son Alan as if they were twins. The boys are inseparable but not Guy, he sees Tom as the enemy.

As the years go by it becomes apparent to Tom that he will not in fact get the same privileges when he is older that the biological boys will. His promise of a Persian oilfield is taken away from him by Adam and events in World War I highlight the divide so much that he decides to have nothing to do with the Montagues. Nothing however will stop him from achieving his dream of being an oil baron. This also becomes Alan's dream and nothing will stop him either. There can be only one oil king and sparks will fly.

Sensational novel. If you haven't read The Money Makers buy it now. Sweet Talking Money although not quite the masterpiece of this book and The Moneymakers is also brilliant. Get it too.