Customer Reviews

The Tontine (2 Volumes)

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4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read this book when it was first published in 1955. Long out of print, it is a fascinating story, superbly told by a gifted writer, about the participants in a lottery (the tontine). In a tontine, the money is paid out to the sole survivor; and this can take a lifetime to accomplish, as first one, then another of the many original participants dies. The reader is instantly caught up in the lives of the characters, and is kept in marvelous suspense until the end. Costain has crafted a brilliant and beautiful novel. I can't wait to read it again!!

Since I've had these 2 volumes on my shelf for almost 30 years, I thought I'd read them. Costain, author of The Silver Chalice, et al, has a good sense of a panorama of history; his characterizations are generally well-drawn, if oftentimes drawn from stock. The plot is not as swashbuckling as I thought it would be, but it certainly kept the attention for 900+ pages. My only quibble with him is that while I see he needs to stretch out the story from 1814-1870 something, (the dates are seldom clear, intentionally), there are characters that come and go, hundreds of them, 90% of whom you never hear of again--others you need to remember for a 400 page gap when they pop up again. The text could have used either a list of characters or a family tree to help the poor reader out. The story involves wresting a tontine from a blackguard and legitimizing it--a tontine is a sort of insurance policy annuity and a lottery all in one, whereby one receives money every year from it, and as people in the 'class' of tontine die off, one received more and more each year. The climax of the story is the intrigue that happens when the tontine is down to 3 old players, who know each other and who coincidentally live near each other. But to get to that point it takes forEVer to set up, with characters that are not exactly Dickensian, but which you can tell Costain hoped would be perceived as such. There are moments of adventure, but otherwise many subplots that aren't terribly interesting and go nowhere. I am sure that with some telescoping, the book could be 300 pages less at least and have the same impact. Nonetheless, if you have the time and like this kind of quasi-adventure story, it's a classic of its kind.

Dickens meets Delderfield. The first two-thirds of this sprawling novel, which covers most of the 19th century, easily holds one's interest. However, the momentum begins to slow in the final third as the original characters begin to make room for their children and then their grandchildren and, yes, then their great-grandchildren. As another reviewer pointed out, a family-tree of characters would have been most helpful. If you're fond of multi-generational family sagas -- the sort of book you can really lose yourself in -- then "The Tontine" may be just what you're looking for. Be sure, however, that you have plenty of time to devote to it because it does tend to go on and on. And on.

I picked up this two volume book at a used bookstore based upon it being mentioned in another book. Stories taking place in 19th century England are not my usual fare, but the author has created generations of very memorable characters and my attention was held for 900 plus pages.

It would not be appropriate to divulge too much of the story, but there are characters from all types of backgrounds and the author superbly keeps track of each of them, weaving their lives together when appropriate.

I strongly recommend the book to anyone interested in 19th century history or just a story about well developed characters.

Nick
[...]

I tried to climb Mt. Hood with Phil. He was a member of the Mazamas and a skilled guide to have in our grouop of 4. But the weather was against us so we gave up. I loaned Phil my copy of the 2 volume story "THE TONTINE". Phil was in poor health from a car accident and died before I got my book back.
50 years later I find the book at Amazon. I have thoroughly enjoyed rereading this fabulous story of the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and the waneing days of the slsve trade. It was worth waiting for!

Ordered and paid for the two volume set of Tontine . A historical novel. Received one volume only. Have written to the Secret Library for the second volume but have received no reply. Am annoyed and frustrated. Will not do business with them again.