The Birthday Present
The Birthday Present by Barbara Vine, published by Penguin Canada in 2008, is a work of fiction that delves into the complexities of a clandestine love affair. Set in late spring 1990, the narrative follows Ivor Tesham, a rising star in Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, and Hebe Furnal, a North London housewife seeking excitement beyond her mundane marriage. As their relationship intensifies, Tesham’s decision to gift Hebe something unforgettable on the eve of her twenty-eighth birthday sets off a chain of events that will ultimately lead to his downfall.
Readers will find a story rich in political intrigue and personal turmoil, exploring themes of ambition, betrayal, and the consequences of choices made in a turbulent era marked by IRA bombings and the first Gulf War. The Birthday Present presents a compelling portrait of a man whose actions reflect the hypocrisy and self-obsession of his time. With 273 pages, this edition offers an engaging exploration of suspense and the darker sides of human relationships.
Official synopsis Publisher
It’s late spring 1990, and a love affair is flourishing between Ivor Tesham, a thirty-three-year-old rising star of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, and Hebe Furnal, a stunning North London housewife stuck in a dull marriage. What excitement Hebe lacks at home, however, is amply compensated by the well-bred and intensely attractive Tesham – an ardent womanizer and ambitious politician.
On the eve of her twenty-eighth birthday, Tesham decides to give Hebe a present to remember: something far more memorable than, say, the costly string of pearls he’s already lavished upon her. Years later, Tesham’s gift will ruin his career, his family, and his life.
Set amid an age of IRA bombings, the first Gulf War, and sleazy politics, The Birthday Present is the gripping story of a fall from grace, and of a man who carries within him all the hypocrisy, greed, and self-obsession of a troubled era.
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