Ruthless world! is the sense you get after reading this book.
It is a story of a boy who is jewish and he wants to be rich man. He is an orphan on streets of New York. World shapes him into something different and very one of us and other side of the society.
This book was first published in 1948. It was the first novel by Harold Robbins. Harold Robbins was criticized for using street language in his novel but people loved this novel. Later a movie with same name was made starring Steve McQueen.
It is a complete story of a man involving all stages of his life. Writer mesmerizes the readers with his down-to-earth writing.
Young Frankie becomes a man facing tough world outside, he becomes a bookie at very young age, later he explorers the power horizons. Many a times, He is hit hard with realities of the world. He faces racism at school, orphanage and at every walk of life. Nice-to-be persons leave him one by one in life. A black family accepts him but misfortune follows him there too. Finally, Frankie tries to be very man of the world. He becomes famous and rich but in bad worlds. A parallel is drawn between his world and world outside.
Wonderful thing about this novel is its language as it is spoken and used by masses. This novel was inspired by his own life.
I became his fan after reading this novel. Then, I have read his many novels, Piranha and this one is my favorite from Harold Robbins.
This is a great work from a great writer of his time. Harold Robbins died in 1997.