Hopeless Life Of Charlie Summers

A modern A TALE OF TWO CITIES by the bestselling author of SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN.'A beautifully told tale - we loved it!' BELLA 'A brilliant, page-turning read' GRANTA Hector Chetwode-Talbot, Eck to his friends, spends his days charming his wealthy contacts with large gin and tonics at Ascot or Wimbledon. He is a 'greeter' for an investment fund and it seems everyone has money to invest.It is on a golfing trip to France that Eck first meets Charlie Summers, a fly-by-night entrepeneur who is hiding out in France after a misunderstanding with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Despite their different backgrounds Charlie and his dodgy schemes reappear in Eck's life with surprising regularity. And when, with almost no warning, Eck's world is turned upside down he has to ask himself, between he and Charlie, who has the most to lose?'Charlie is a wonderful creation, at once sad and heroic, whose search for redemption attains real pthos at the end of this affecting, skilfully crafted novel' FINANCIAL TIMES A modern A TALE OF TWO CITIES by the bestselling author of SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN.'Brilliantly and sympathetically drawn...this wonderfully written, clever book does not miss a single trick' DAILY MAIL'Funny, touching and ultimately surprising' SCOTSMAN 'A brilliant, page-turning read' GRANTAHector Chetwode-Talbot, Eck to his friends, has left the army and is slightly at a loss as to what to do next, when he is approached by an old army pal, Bilbo Mountwilliam. Bilbo runs an investment fund company and business is booming. Bilbo persuades Eck to join the company as a 'greeter' for moneyed clients. All Eck has to do is supply the contacts with entertainment and large G&Ts and then the fund managers will do the rest.Soon Eck is able to buy himself a luxury sports car and decadent flat. It is on a golfing trip to France that Eck first meets Charlie Summers, a fly-by-night entrepreneur whose latest scheme is to import Japanese dog food into the UK.But one day Charlie lands on Eck's doorstep with his suitcase, intent on staying and relaunching his dog food business in the area. But with the financial crash looming, Eck begins to ask himself if they are so very different...