Rich Man Poor Man

This novel was filmed in the 1970s - one of the first big serials on US TV. It was enormously popular, and the book was a best seller. It is a novel starting in 1945 at the end of World War Two, a history of an immigrant family in America. Rudy, the older brother, is hard working and clever and becomes rich and successful. His brother Tom is an angry young man who becomes a boxer and mixes with criminals. Their sister Gretchen becomes a journalist and then a film maker. Rudy's life goes well for many years and he seems successful. He starts off working in a store, and builds up the business into a chain. When he has made his fortune, he decides to retire and go into politics. He is elected Mayor of Whitby, the town where he lives. He makes a foolish decision when in a stand off with some students who are protesting about the War and using drugs. He lets the police use tear gas and a student is blinded. Jean, his wife has a drink problem. He then has to resign as mayor. Meanwhile, Tom has bought a boat on the Mediterranean. He runs a small business, taking people on holiday or trips round the water. He has made a bad marriage, but has a son, Wesley, whom he brings to France to live. Tom has finally achieved peace after his years of fighting and being angry with the world. He falls in love with a good natured, simple English girl, Kate, who becomes pregnant by him. Rudy helps him to get a divorce and he is free to marry Kate. But at their wedding in France, disaster strikes. Jean, Rudy's wife, starts drinking again and goes off to a club. She is almost raped by a sleazy man. Tom goes off to rescue her. He is killed by the pimp who had attacked her. The book ends sadly with his funeral at sea.