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A Conspiracy of Paper : A Novel

A Conspiracy of Paper : A Novel

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $10.47
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Unsatisfying
Review: This is what happens when graduate students indulge in work avoidance. If you are interested in the history of the South Seas Bubble, Chancellor's "Devil Take the Hindmost" is a better read. If you are interested in the 18th century milieu, then Mount's "Sam (and Jem)" and Unsworth's "Sacred Hunger" bracket the times and mores. If you are interested in what Soro's calls "reflexivity", how financial innovations influenced the period and vice versa, then perhaps wait for Liss's disseration... and if you just want historical mystery, Bruce Alexander works better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a gripping story with intrigue, real characters, and history
Review: There are few books in which the stock market figures heavily that are both gripping novels and accurate protrayals of business. First time David Liss has succeded on both fronts. His portrayal of London in 1719 makes me glad I'm alive today. The difficulty day-to-day reminded me of Dicken's writings.

While there is much history here, it almost never gets in the way of a great story. I defy anyone to figure out who is doing what to whom. Meanwhile, his explanation of the stock market, which figures heavily in the story, is first rate.

Buy this book for yourself and for your friends who complain they can't relate to most characters in novels

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A fun, Intelligent book!
Review: I just finished "A Conspiracy of Paper" - it is one of the most enjoyable, entertaining, and enlightening books I've ever read.

100% recommended!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Missed my metro station twice while reading this book!
Review: Much has already been written about this book (41 reviews to date) and I whole-heartedly endorse the positive adjectives used in earlier reviews. Because this book has been reviewed so often, I confine myself to a few general comments. Absorbing and entertaining spring to mind as the two words most appropriate to describe the reading experience. As noted in the headline, I missed my metro stop twice on consecutive nights because I was too engrossed to hear my station announced. Liss has done a wonderful job creating a powerful living image of early 18th-century London. I could hear the rats scurrying by Benjamin Weaver's feet as he walked along the Thames. Liss has created a compelling character in Benjamin Weaver. The details of Weaver's life, and those of his father and uncle, ring true. Liss' evocation of the state of Jewish-Gentile relations in 18th century London, particularly the prideful ignorance of the latter for the ways and mores of the former, also rings true. (Actually, based on my 5 years experience in the U.K. in the 1970's a lot less has changed than some people may like to believe). Liss takes a difficult topic, the emergence of the world's earliest stock markets and its economic underpinnings, and made it interesting, readable, and understandable. The machinations behind the operation of the stock market are woven seamlessly into the novel's plot line. The plot is well thought out and very effectively executed. A potential reader should not hesitate to read this book simply because the operation of stock markets seems out of their realm of knowledge. I am not a stock market buff, but that did not hinder my appreciation of the story. Finally, the stage appears to be set for future novels involving Benjamin weaver. I look forward to reading them.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Terrific historical mystery
Review: It always amazes me when an author's first novel is as well written as is this book. I hope Mr Liss has a long and successful career. He has written an absorbing and intricate thriller with a lesson for today's stock market investors. The more things change....Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Step Back Into A World Becoming Modern
Review: David Liss takes his readers to the 18th century. Not only does he capture, from extensive and detailed research, the ethos, color, and texture of the time, but his novel, written in the first person voice of Benjamin Weaver, is a near mirror of the writing style and tenor of 18th century British literature.

In this first novel, Mr. Liss educates about the beginnings of the modern financial world--did you ever wonder how and why poeple started attaching value to paper? But, he does so with the intrigue of murder, clandestine meetings, brawls, and the dark alley mysteries of London life. He paints great pictures of the sights and sounds of 18th century London, and yes you can almost smell the stench of the open sewers which were the streets.

His characters come alive. They are well drawn and vigorous. Benjamin Weaver, his narrative protagonist, is not only likeable, but he is extremely interesting, worldly, and persceptive of human nature and human condidion. (We definitely need another novel with this character as our guide to life and times in London.)

This book is without doubt worth the reading. Although it begins a bit slowly, you are committed to discover with Weaver why his estranged Father has been murdered and what that has to do with potential damaging financial scandals.

Mr. Liss is a gifted writer and scholar of the times in which he sets his very good story. Enjoy, his work. It is a labor of love.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: If you would like to visit 18th century London...
Review: "A Conspiracy of Paper" is a page-turner. The novel unfolds in 18th century England as an intricately woven character, Weaver, investigates the death of his forlorn father. He enters almost all aspects of London's life (the law, the stock market, the taverns, gentlemen life etc..). And to top it all off there is a love story. Overall, it is a wonderful historical novel.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An Exciting Adventure
Review: This is an exciting historical mystery. It has intriguing characters, an intricate story and is full of realistic detail of the period. The language is intelligent and the major issues are as relevant today as they were nearly 300 years ago. A wonderful book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fun Getting Lost in Another Time
Review: It is hard to add much to the favorable reviews already written. I would add however if you enjoy well written books where you can get lost for a few hours (days) in another time, where you want to learn more about the main character, hopefully in another novel, and where you can't predict the final resolution in the first chapter then this is the book for you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fantastic Historical Novel
Review: Fantastic historical novel and timely, that is, the South Sea Bubble and the 2000 Bubble. In addition to the financial lessens of history, the story, characters and place, especially place are excellent. Liss has done a wonderful job evoking early 18th century London with all its squalor and stench. I enjoyed every aspect of the novel.


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