House of cards (original 1989; edition 2014)

by Michael Dobbs, Stefano Tummolini

Series: Francis Urquhart (1)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
686	15	33,458	(3.84)	18
Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML: The USA Today Bestseller from the Executive Producer of the hit Netflix series House of Cards. A dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, House of Cards reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power. Francis Urquhart has his hand on every secret in politics-and is willing to betray them all to become prime minister. Mattie Storin is a tenacious young reporter who has a knack for finding the real stories hidden behind the spin. When she stumbles upon a scandalous web of intrigue and financial corruption at the very highest levels, she vows to reveal the truth. But to do so she must battle her own demons and risk everything, even her life. An explosive political thriller reinvented for a new generation. Fans of Vince Flynn, David Baldacci and Robert Ludlum will revel in getting to know Francis Urquhart, the man we love to hate. As a former advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Conservative Party Chief of Staff, and now peer of the realm and Conservative member of the House of Lords, Baron Dobbs provides an insider look at the twists and turns of British politics. Other books in the House of Cards series: House of Cards, Book 1 �? The dark, twisting schemes of a politician determined to succeed To Play The King, Book 2 �? Newly elected Prime Minister plots to take on the Monarchy to grab even more power The Final Cut, Book 3 �? The perfect finale to this twisted trilogy, Urquhart refuses to close his career quietly What readers are saying about House of Cards: "the best of modern political fiction. The reader can't help but be riveted by the lead character, even hoping for his sinister plots to succeed." "fast-paced and interesting. I couldn't put the book down" "wonderful and extremely...one of the most memorable and unashamedly wicked characters in political fiction." What reviewers are saying about House of Cards: "This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." - The Independent 'The exciting thriller that has Westminster buzzing. Here is a political thriller writer with a marvellous inside track knowledge of government.' - Daily Express 'It has pace, a beguiling authenticity and a cast of Achilles heels.' - Daily Telegraph What everyone is saying about the House of Cards books: "This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." - The Independent "...a political thriller writer with a marvellous inside track knowledge of government." - Daily Express "If you are a fan of the modern TV series than you should definitely pick up these books." "Michael Dobbs has an uncanny knack of forecasting the future. A fascinating read and a conclusion that would send a chill through Buckingham Palace." - Sunday Expres… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	lillilupe
Title:	House of cards
Authors:	Michael Dobbs
Other authors:	Stefano Tummolini
Info:	Roma, Fazi, 2014
Collections:	e-book
Rating:
Tags:	None

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House of Cards by Michael Dobbs (1989)

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Sweetums | Mar 31, 2023 |

Se lo show televisivo funziona, è anche per merito di un immenso Kevin Spacey, ma sopratutto perché alla base c'è uno stupendo romanzo originale. Con uno dei migliori personaggi di sempre. Bello. (

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L3landG4unt | Oct 11, 2022 |

I decided to read the original book that lead to the BBC series (superior in all ways to the Netflix version) and the current Netflix series and I was not disappointed. Obviously I knew the plot pretty well, the first BBC Series follows this book almost exactly, but it was interesting to see the motivations of the characters from the point of view of the person who created them. Enjoyable fluff. (

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MarkMad | Jul 14, 2021 |

I never saw the new series but recalled that my father watched the original, so I figured I should get around to this series. Wow! I must say that I very much enjoyed this novel & Francis Urquhart is captivating and seriously petrifying. I was all over the place with Mattie but ended up simply pitying her because she wanted to believe up to the very end. Roger was hapless and pathetic but I still hoped he’d make it but I knew he couldn’t. Mrs Urquhart gets total points for being just about as chilling a person as her husband. They’re perfect for one another. I very much enjoyed this one & have to admit that it’s not often one runs across so memorable a character. I wholly see what all the chatter was about & why an American version of the UK series was done.

This was a fascinating & absorbing read. I wish it were available on Kindle but I’m glad that a raid of the bookshelves at my parent’s had a copy. There was also a copy of To Play the King, so I’ll have to read that soon. I’d recommend this one, definitely.
(

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anissaannalise | Feb 28, 2018 |

I have been binge watching a number of political satires and dramas on Netflix recently: Yes, Minister; Yes, Prime Minister; The Thick of It; and latterly House of Cards, featuring infighting within a post-Thatcher Conservative government and the rise to power of the manipulative Chief Whip Francis Urquhart. This famous series was broadcast on TV at the same time in November 1990 as in the real world Margaret Thatcher's 11 year premiership was coming to an end as many of her colleagues turned against her and she resigned after a heavy loss of support in a leadership election challenge from Michael Heseltine. The series was based on this novel, presciently written by the author, a Conservative party official, in 1989, after he had been "handbagged" by the Prime Minister during the 1987 general election campaign. I previously read and enjoyed this novel in the early 1990s, but Dobbs has now rewritten it, most notably changing the ending so that Urquhart survives to be Prime Minister in the TV series sequels made in the mid 1990s, which Dobbs also novelised. In fact comparing this version with the original paperback which I still have, there are many other changes, which mostly make the rewrite a tighter narrative. In any case, this remains an excellent novel and a searing study of political and media manipulation. (

)

john257hopper | Sep 3, 2017 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Michael Dobbs	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Joyce, Peter	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

Francis Urquhart (1)

Is contained in

House of Cards | To Play the King by Michael Dobbs

The House of Cards Complete Trilogy: House of Cards, To Play the King, The Final Cut by Michael Dobbs

Has the adaptation

The House of Cards Trilogy [1990 TV mini series] by Paul Seed

House of Cards [1990 TV miniseries] by Paul Seed

Is abridged in

House of Cards [Abridged Audiobook] by Michael Dobbs

Inspired

House of Cards: Season 1 by Beau Willimon

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House of Cards (1990 | IMDb)

House of Cards (2011 | IMDb)

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Nothing lasts, not for ever.

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Disambiguation notice

Please DO NOT combine the ABRIDGED audiobook version (10-ISBN: 0001047132) with the following unabridged versions

10-ISBN:
0002234505;
0006176909;
0061000159;
0286133024;
0745133657;
0745174221;
079271105X;
0792711068;
1854963643 (unabridged audio book);

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▾Book descriptions

Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML:

The USA Today Bestseller from the Executive Producer of the hit Netflix series House of Cards.

A dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, House of Cards reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power.

Francis Urquhart has his hand on every secret in politics-and is willing to betray them all to become prime minister.

Mattie Storin is a tenacious young reporter who has a knack for finding the real stories hidden behind the spin. When she stumbles upon a scandalous web of intrigue and financial corruption at the very highest levels, she vows to reveal the truth. But to do so she must battle her own demons and risk everything, even her life.

An explosive political thriller reinvented for a new generation. Fans of Vince Flynn, David Baldacci and Robert Ludlum will revel in getting to know Francis Urquhart, the man we love to hate.

As a former advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Conservative Party Chief of Staff, and now peer of the realm and Conservative member of the House of Lords, Baron Dobbs provides an insider look at the twists and turns of British politics.

Other books in the House of Cards series:
House of Cards, Book 1 �? The dark, twisting schemes of a politician determined to succeed
To Play The King, Book 2 �? Newly elected Prime Minister plots to take on the Monarchy to grab even more power
The Final Cut, Book 3 �? The perfect finale to this twisted trilogy, Urquhart refuses to close his career quietly

What readers are saying about House of Cards:

"the best of modern political fiction. The reader can't help but be riveted by the lead character, even hoping for his sinister plots to succeed."

"fast-paced and interesting. I couldn't put the book down"

"wonderful and extremely...one of the most memorable and unashamedly wicked characters in political fiction."

What reviewers are saying about House of Cards:

"This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." - The Independent

'The exciting thriller that has Westminster buzzing. Here is a political thriller writer with a marvellous inside track knowledge of government.' - Daily Express

'It has pace, a beguiling authenticity and a cast of Achilles heels.' - Daily Telegraph

What everyone is saying about the House of Cards books:

"This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." - The Independent

"...a political thriller writer with a marvellous inside track knowledge of government." - Daily Express

"If you are a fan of the modern TV series than you should definitely pick up these books."

"Michael Dobbs has an uncanny knack of forecasting the future. A fascinating read and a conclusion that would send a chill through Buckingham Palace." - Sunday Expres

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