The Great Wash (UK) / The Secret Masters (US)
by Gerald Kersh
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"An extravaganza . . . fertile invention and forceful style . . . Mr. Kersh's many admirers will undoubtedly devour this highly flavoured hotch-potch with avidity." - Julian Maclaren-Ross, "Sunday Times" "[F]irst-rate Kersh, richly peopled with the odd bit roles he sketches so well and written with style and individuality." - Anthony Boucher, "New York Herald Tribune" "Sometimes funny, sometimes nightmarish, always first-class entertainment." - Basil Davenport, "New York Times" Journalist show more George Oaks and his friend Albert Kemp, a mystery novelist, are on their way to meet their friend, the celebrated philosopher Dr. Monacelli. But when a clerical mix-up leads to their meeting the American gangster Monty Cello instead, Oaks and Kemp quickly find themselves caught up in a bizarre and dangerous plot involving a murdered reporter, a missing scientist, and a group of powerful madmen with a plan to destroy the world as we know it. It's a race against time as Oaks and Kemp must infiltrate the villains' stronghold and save humanity before it's too late! Equal parts hard-boiled crime novel and apocalyptic science fiction tale, "The Great Wash" (1953) is one of the most exciting novels by Gerald Kersh (1911-1968), who is best known for his classics "Night and the City" (1938) and "Fowlers End" (1957). "Fowlers End" and four volumes of Kersh's strange and brilliant short fiction are also available from Valancourt. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The only thing that stands between a powerful secret organization and world domination are two middle-aged WW I vets. The book has strong character development and uses a method of world domination that seemed to obsess sci-fi writers in the 50s. While enjoyable, this isn’t Kersh’s strongest work. Kersh fans (there should be more) and sci-fi and thriller readers will love it anyway.
The first Kersh book I have read and it definitely makes me want to read more--but they're so hard to find, at least if you insist on doing the used book store hunt as I do. I have read that this is not necessarily a typical Kersh book. It seems a little reminiscent of, though better written than, Ian Fleming. The main joy of the book is the camaraderie and (dare I say) love between the two leading male characters as the join in the pursuit of some sort of dastardly conspiracy. Kersh writes with great talent and a keen British sense of humor that makes reading this book very enjoyable. I only give it 3 1/2 stars because when you boil it all down at the end, it seems a litte silly. But the ride was fun.
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245+ Works 1,343 Members
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- Members
- 49
- Popularity
- 612,712
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.30)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 6
