I bought an old 1970's secondhand copy to read for a challenge a year ago ( obviously that didn't happen) - in more recent publications the title is simply Julius. First published in 1933 it was Daphne Du Maurier's third book and was not particularly well-received being regarded as close to anti-Semitic.
It's about: Julius Levy sacrifices everything to a ruthless ambition. After a childhood in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War and in Algiers he arrives in England as a young man where his dreams come true with a swiftness that would have frightened a man less sure of his destiny. As he claws his way to wealth, he cares for no-one - until Gabriel is born. The dark passion she inspires in her father will eventually destroy them both.
My thoughts: I don't think I've ever read a book so unremittingly dark - a horrible story about a horrible man. I didn't like it at all!
I thought I'd read all of Daphne Du Maurier's books so it was interesting to hear of this one. Sounds as though I can give it a miss, though.
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What a bizarre conclusion to have reached. It's not a book that ever pretends to be nice or kind, but an intense look at a character who is almost a psychopath in how he pursues things. He is not likeable, nor the things that he does, but the reading of it is instead a grim fascination of a man who builds himself and then knocks himself down again. Julius is unashamed about being distasteful, and because of that I don't think that's a valid reason to not like it at all. It would be like not enjoying Les Misérables because the story is a bit sad.
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