The Talented Mr Ripley
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First published in 1955, The Talented Mr. Ripley introduces Tom Ripley, a young American living by his wits in New York, whose talent for deception brings him an unexpected invitation to Italy. Sent to persuade the wealthy Dickie Greenleaf to return home, Tom becomes captivated by Dickie’s privileged existence: the sunlit villas, leisurely days and effortless security of a life far removed from his own. As his fascination turns into something darker, Tom begins to imagine that he might claim not merely Dickie’s friendship, but his entire identity.
Set against the elegant landscapes of the Italian coast and the uneasy social world of post-war Europe, Highsmith’s novel is a study of envy, impersonation, class aspiration and the unsettling elasticity of morality. Its extraordinary achievement lies in drawing the reader into the mind of a murderer, making his calculations and evasions as compelling as they are disturbing. The first of five novels featuring Tom Ripley, it established one of twentieth-century fiction’s most fascinating antiheroes and remains a defining work of psychological suspense.
From the book
“Anticipation! It occurred to him that his anticipation was more pleasant to him than the experiencing.”
— Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley
On The Talented Mr. Ripley
“You certainly wouldn’t want to meet him; but he is perfectly fascinating to read about.”
— Lockhart American, The Pittsburgh Press (1955)