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The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley

ClassicsCrime
Pages
256
Published
1955
Language
English

Synopsis

Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to convince a wealthy young man to return home. Instead, he becomes fixated on the man's privileged life and hatches a dangerous scheme to take it for himself. This chilling tale explores deception and the dark side of ambition.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

DarkTenseMysteriousThought-ProvokingComplexAtmospheric
Morally GreyAnti-HeroBetrayalSecret Identity

Genres

Classics Crime Literary Fiction Mystery Psychological Thriller Thriller Drama Suspense

About the author

P
Patricia Highsmith

Patricia Highsmith (January 19, 1921 – February 4, 1995) was an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers, including her series of five novels featuring the character Tom Ripley. She wrote 22 novels and numerous short stories throughout her career spanning nearly five decades, and her work has led to more than two dozen film adaptations. Her writing derived influence from existentialist literature, and questioned notions of identity and popular mora...

Characters

Tom RipleyProtagonist
Marge SherwoodSupporting
Freddie MilesSupporting
All characters in The Talented Mr. Ripley

Frequently asked questions

  • Is this book part of a series?

    This novel is the first of five books featuring the character Tom Ripley, followed by Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game, The Boy Who Followed Ripley, and Ripley Under Water.

  • Are there film adaptations of this story?

    The novel has been adapted into several films, most notably the 1960 French production Plein Soleil and the 1999 film directed by Anthony Minghella.