Richard Thomas Condon (March 18, 1915 – April 9, 1996) was a prolific and popular American political novelist whose satiric works were generally presented in the form of thrillers or semi-thrillers. More than being particularly clever genre works, however, all 26 books were written in a style nearly always instantly recognizable as Condon's, while their focus was almost always obsessively directed at monetary greed and political corruption. Fast-moving and easily accessible, they generally combined elements of political satire, bare-knuckled outrage at the greed and corruption of those in power, and were written with extravagant characterizations and a uniquely sparkling and frequently humorous style.

 

Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love.

 

 

 

 

The Oldest Confession (1958)
The Manchurian Candidate (1959)
Some Angry Angel: A Mid-Century Faerie Tale (1960)
A Talent for Loving; or, The Great Cowboy Race (1961)
An Infinity of Mirrors (1964)
Any God Will Do (1964)
The Ecstasy Business (1967)
Mile High (1969)
The Vertical Smile (1971)
Arigato (1972)
Winter Kills (1974)
The Star-Spangled Crunch (1974)
Money Is Love (1975)
The Whisper of the Axe (1976)
The Abandoned Woman (1977)
Death of a Politician (1978)
Bandicoot (1979)
The Entwining (1981)
Prizzi's Honor (1982)
A Trembling upon Rome (1983)
Prizzi's Family (1986)
Prizzi's Glory (1988)
Emperor of America (1990)