A Green Desire (Paperback)

by Anton Myrer (Author) "THEY MOVED HURRIEDLY down Church Street in the late afternoon chill..." (more)
Key Phrases: green desire, bell buoy, gold certificates, Aunt Serena, Annabella Gaspa, Jack Darcey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Two brothers, as different as night and day: one, charming and ruthless, buys his way into Harvard, Wall Street, and high society; the other brother remains by his mother's side and makes his way to the top without the influence of money or prestige.

Raised in separate worlds, these brothers are bound by a bitter rivalry for riches and power, but mostly, for the exciting, wildly captivating woman they fight all their lives to possess, a woman whose passion for one destroys her love for the other.

Their story consumes an American century, spanning decades of splendor, struggle, upheaval, and war. It's an absorbing saga of innocent dreams and green desire corrupted by gilded temptation.

About the Author
Right after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Anton Myrer enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for three years in the Pacific.Wounded on Guam, he returned to Harvard, graduated, and began an illustrious literary career in which he wrote such memorable novels as The Big War, The Last Convertible, and A Green Desire. He died in 1996.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (December 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060934638
• ISBN-13: 978-0060934637
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #248,179 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine novel, April 5, 2003

By	Mr Peter G George (Ellon, Aberdeenshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Green Desire starts with two young brothers being separated. The younger brother, Tipton, stays with his mother and a life of poverty, the older brother, Chapin, goes off with his rich aunt to live a life of privilege. It is this separation which defines them as the story progresses from 1911 to its conclusion over forty years later. The two boys grow up to be fierce rivals. They compete in business, but most of all they compete for Jophy, a beautiful woman of Portuguese descent, who is as passionate as she is desirable.

Tipton and Chapin resemble the main characters in Myrer's famous novel of military life, Once an Eagle. Tipton is like Sam Damon, honourable and straight, a natural leader, leading by example. Chapin is similar to Courtney Massengale, devious and cunning, selfish and amoral. But here the resemblance between these two novels stops. A Green Desire focuses on civilian life. The story passes through two world wars, but its emphasis is on the battles of civilian life. Tipton fights to get ahead and raise himself from poverty through his own efforts. Chapin fights to maintain his life of privilege and to acquire power in the world of business. To do this both have to get though the Crash and the Depression.

Myrer shows that he was a wonderful storyteller, because he makes this story just as exciting as his stories about the military. The characters are vivid and believable and the story is full of incident. His description of life during the Jazz Age and the Depression is full of convincing details. A Green Desire is a well-written novel, pleasant and quite easy to read. Myrer has realised that he no longer needs to use obscure words to show off his talent as a writer. Now he just shows with clear memorable sentences that, at his best, he could be a very fine writer indeed. This is a powerful and moving novel. It may well be Myrer's best.

4.0 out of 5 stars I disagree with the two-star guy, totally!, June 13, 2009

By	Geoff Brandt "JackFrostNFL" (Quintana Island, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Patience was lacking? Or he was having a bad day?
Some great history is included within this book. No, it wasn't "Eagle," but was a pretty good read -- and the Depression of the 30's was recaptured rather well -- especially for the thinking person who observes the banking crisis, TARP, and the socialist Obama...
Or, is it Marxist?
In any event, not his greatest, but, good book.

2.0 out of 5 stars I'm a little ashamed of myself, February 13, 2009

By	S. Van "skating11" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I did something this morning no self respecting book lover should do. After investing myself into 1/4 of this book, I just gave up waiting for more. I turned to the back and read the last 15 pages just to get it over with. Thank god.