The Adventurers (published in 1966) - By Harold Robbins, story of a remarkable man

Harold Robbins was one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus out came “Never love a Stranger” which courted controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which are translated in 32 languages and estimated to sell over 750 million copies.
Many of his books were made in to successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



The Adventurers, published in 1966 is the tale of a South American President who rises to the numero uno position in his country surviving a deprived childhood and other battles. All he has is, his amazing sex drive (no pun intended) and close friends. So, getting to the plot, in the continent of South America there is a country named “Courtuguay” which is an amalgamation of Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay etc. Diogenes Alejandro Xenos or DAX as he is popularly known as, is the son of the soil. So at the outset DAX is uprooted by the revolution and witnesses innumerable murders and rapes which Robbins describes to a sickening detail.
DAX moves to different capitals of the world making tonnes of money through lot of shady deals and exchanging arm candies for each country. He goes on to having unlimited sex with women with all races, although blondes are preferred. Harold as the inventor of blase sex has graphic descriptions thrown with every move and position explained. Actually the book is 700 pages long and can be said to be an ode to porn. Where you do not have orgies you have murders and rape.
The book is said to be inspired by Dominican diplomat Pirfirio Rubirosa, who was renowned as a ladies man and his life ended in a car crash. But you may be sure that DAX is too clever to end up in a ball of flame. The Adventurers is typical Harold Robbins, racy, and graphic. It was made into a movie starring Charles Aznavour and Candace Bergen. If one is a Robbins fan, used to his books, it definitely does not disappoint. But keep it away from young children.

Stiletto (published in 1960) - A book by Harold Robbins, silencing the witnesses against the mob

Harold Robins is one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal Pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted a controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The world's favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which have been translated into 32 languages and estimatedly selling over 750 million copies. Many of his books were made into successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood was often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.
Stiletto has the usual ingredients of a Harold Robbins pot boiler, a mafia hit man, a special agent, voluptuous blondes who are deemed intelligent by the author but having the IQ of a dodo and graphic sexual encounters. This book also boasts of graphic violence and descriptions of the thrill of killing. Cesare Cardinali is a young aristocrat who is a pervert, disturbed sociopath. But for Harold Robbins he is a young aristocrat with a penchant for killing.



He kills using a stiletto which is a knife not something which the ladies crave for. Cesare, being Italian is tall dark, muscular and handsome with incredible love making prowess that the ladies flock to him asking for more.
Cesare is a race driver and a hit man who enjoys a kill. He is given the job to silence four witnesses by the mafia bosses which he does with aplomb. The scrunch of the stiletto on his victims body gives him a high. But soon his party is over as the mafia gets cold legs about his trustability. Soon they want him dead and also pursuing him is George Baker, a nice guy special agent who had given his prime years marching up the witnesses. The cat and mouse encounters with lot of sexual encounters and bone chilling violence covers the rest of the book.
Stiletto is vintage Harold Robbins. From the man who invented sex, stiletto is full of erotic content and this might be the reason for its popularity. The book has nothing original to offer, no new twists, no great insights as it is a typical hit man on the run from the mafia story. But for Harold Robbins fans this might be entertaining as the typical racy potboiler. So it gives you the expected and since it never promises to be a literary masterpiece, I think there is no scope for complaints.

79 Park Avenue (published in 1955) - Authored by Harold Robbins

Harold Robins was one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted a controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery.
The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which are translated in to 32 languages and estimated to be selling over 750 million copies. Many of his books were made in to successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



79 Park Avenue is one of most depressing book one can ever encounter. Robbins usually has a high erotic content in his books, but the terrible sexual abuse the heroine Marja Fluujincki (and that's a real crazy name, even it is Polish) has to encounter is completely tasteless. Marja is a long legged, well endowed polish beauty who has a loveless childhood. She is molested and raped by all the men in her life and even by her stepfather. After being impregnated by her stepfather she is imprisoned and not allowed an abortion. She escapes and reaches the land of opportunities, New York and rises on the rungs as a model.
As one expects a respite in the abuse saga, she is again raped and then forced in to prostitution. From a teenage prostitute Marja goes on to be a highly paid call girl and ultimately a mob boss's mistress. But the house of cards come down as the mob man husband is bumped off. She becomes a mob mistress and as a top madam she is arrested for procurement, thus fate bringing her the first nice guy in her life, the prosecution attorney, Mike Keyes. So after a couple of encounters Marja is all set for her happily ever after.
Even after this happy ending this book leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. The graphic rape scenes actually just keeps the bile rising up. It is depressing and tiring on ones nerves. The kissing scenes and love makings scenes are actually a blink and go which is usually against the Robbins ethos. An highly improbable story, graphic disturbing sexual content and a diabolic characters leave a bad after taste. Not very recommended, and to think that Harold Robbins dedicated this to his wife makes it highly amusing.

Where Love Has Gone (published in 1962) - a book that resembles a murder story

Harold Robins is one of the most prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures, which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus out came “Never love a Stranger” which courted controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which are translated into 32 languages and are estimated to sell over 750 million copies. Many of his books were made in to successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



Where Love has Gone is a roman-a-clef about the real life Lana turner and her lover John Stompanato's killing. Stompanato was stabbed by Lana's daughter Cheryl Crane and the media had gone on a blitzkrieg, covering the unfortunate murder. The protagonist in this novel is Colonel Luke Carey who is living his humdrum life with wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth is expecting a baby and Luke is an insurance sales person. Out of the blue, Luke gets the call that his daughter Danii is being tried for murder. As he dashes to his baby girl whom he had not seen for years, Luke reminisces about his earlier life. The book is entirely based on the flashback which forms the bulwark of the book. Luke, fresh in to life meets the seductress Nora Hayden who is a sculptress and the heir to a wide fortune. Nora, a spoilt child of a wealthy single mother, who just cannot control her daughter, is a nymphomaniac. A stubborn nymphomaniac, Nora goes through men as she changes clothes and gets what she sets her mind on to. Luke with his military persona is soon on her list and after a whirlwind romance are married.
But marriage brings forth the real Nora who is cruel and wayward. Soon her sexual escapades are too much for Luke who tries to stay for his daughter Danii. But Nora bringing in more men, files for divorce and uses all her clout and money to get Danii's custody and phases out Luke out of her life. A heart broken Luke descends in to drunkenness and chaos until a lucky break brings in Elizabeth. But Danii with a rich spoilt mother whose boyfriends abuse her goes through hell. Her sessions with her psychiatrist throws light in to her deprived childhood. So Luke has to get her out from the clutches of a dysfunctional sexed up mother and her own demons.
Robbins for a change changes track to delve in to the issue of child psychology and is really successful. The are graphic sexual encounters but the story over powers you by its vulnerability. The reader actually feels for Dani and Luke and of course Nora is the devil incarnate who gets no sympathy. A good book, worth a look.

The Carpetbaggers (published in 1961) - Written by Harold Robbins

Harold Robins was one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which were translated into 32 languages and are estimated to be selling over 750 million copies. Many of his books were made in to successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



Carpetbaggers is an homage to the roaring twenties and the terrifying thirties. The characters of Jonas Cord, Rina Marlow, Jeannie Denton, Charles Sandhurst etc depict that fearlessness of the twenties where possibilities abound at your every step and is soon turned to dust by the next decade by war and depression. Carpetbaggers is a roman a clef which chronicles the life of Howard Hughes through the protagonist Jonas Cord. Jonas Cord is the son of a wealthy industrialist who accumulates wealth with his interests branching in to aviation and Hollywood. The entire novel is divided in to chapters bearing the character's names where in Jonas Cord gets 3 chapters followed by chapters chronicling Rina's and others bumping on to him.
Cord lives by his own definitions, builds and pilots airplanes, makes costly movies and has umpteen orgies with Hollywood starlets. Carpetbaggers is a teenage boys fantasy come true and has graphic sexual details. Apart from oral and homosexual encounters, the novel describes rape, abuse and other sexual encounters in detail which almost put you off. But the saga of Cord and others is spell binding as Robins describes their rise and fall. Rina Marlow, said to be based on Jean Harlow is described as a bisexual having encounters with Jonas, his father, brother and even a girl friend. This book may not be raising an eyebrow today, but was said to be a bold attempt in the 60's. The most disturbing characterization is that of Jennie Denton who has every possible horror perpetrated on her, that it makes one sick. But then one has to remember that the book is Robbins at his best. If one can forget the graphic sex, then the saga of a rich man and his cronies and mistresses hold your breath. A splendid book and its no wonder that this book is still one of the best sought after paperbacks. Best of Robbins and worth a read.

The Pirate (published in 1974) - A book about the conflict between jews and arabs

Harold Robbins is one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted a controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which is translated in to 32 languages and estimatedly selling over 750 million copies.
Many of his books were made as successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



The pirate is Baydr Al Fay, the rich globe trotting, prostitute seeking, cocaine snorting millionaire who is given a promise by the prince of an unnamed Arab state that his son would inherit the oil rich kingdom. Baydr so is desperate for a son and therefor divorces his poor Arab wife to hook up with blond bombshell Jordanna who bears him two sons. Baydr is an anti father himself, never looking up his children, abandoning his wives and family for pleasure seeking adventures. Schooled in western thought he is more European than Arab except for his antisemitism. Unknown to him he has a Jewish heritage, being the son of a Jewish resistance fighter. Cut to circa 1930, where Samir Al Fay would meet Ben Ezra in the desert with pregnant wives in tow. Both the wives deliver in the desert storm and Ben gives his son to Samir as his wife dies at child birth. Samir raises Ben Ezra's child as his own and gives him the name Baydr.
Baydr with his money and education makes oil riches, as his personal life spirals. His wife Jordanna also experiments with sex with multiple partners and cocaine snorting and application is the norm of the day. But Baydr's estranged Arab daughter, channelizes her rage in to being a Jihadi and kidnaps her fathers family and hold them to ransom. Baydr is helped by the one counter intelligence officer, Ben Ezra, his real father. Soon its terrorist vanquished, and grand reconciliation takes place which is sort of an anachronism after such a racy life. Well its Harold Robbins at his corny best again. So expect graphic sex scenes, female anatomy descriptions, the big O's and homosexual encounters. The drug usage and other paraphernalia may be too much to bear, but still that’s what makes Robbins the most widely published author. The movie was made in to a film starring Franco Nero and Ann Archer. Keep it away from children please!!!!!

The Betsy (published in 1971) - A book on the automobile industry, written by Harold Robbins

Harold Robbins is one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants, although he claimed to be of Jewish heritage. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures, which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “never love a Stranger” which courted a controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which is translated in to 32 languages and estimatedly selling over 750 million copies.
Many of his books were made in to successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



A fictional take on the dwindling Detroit Automobile Industry, this book chronicles the days when American car makers had only past laurels to rest on to. With profits plummeting and the public taste leaning to low cost small Japanese cars, many had shut shop during the 60's and 70's. An ode to Henry Ford, Harold Robbins presents “Loren Hardeman I”, the patriarch who was the pioneer car maker presiding over a company which was once the premier automobile maker. Now his grandson Loren III has diversified and to the senior Loren's distaste is now a major Auto spare parts maker. Loren I enlists the talents of a race car driver Angelo Perino to once again make a car that the world would love. He plans to name it after Betsy, his Great Grand daughter.
Angelo, is the narrator of the novel and the narrative swivels back and forth in time. Being a race car driver Angelo is blessed with looks and money and with his shrewd business acumen steers the company to make “The Betsy”. True to Harold Robbins style the protagonist enjoys wealth, women and wine in copious quantities. The affairs and sex drives are graphically described, but still the story of the car Betsy focuses on all the emotions. It tries to understand the apathy among the Lorens and the distaste of Loren III for his grand father for having an affair with his mother. Angelo also tries to juggle the affections for a British lady and the real Betsy who would inherit millions of dollops from her grand father, not to mention the car named in her honor.
Unlike Harold Robbins' gritty dark novels, this book is a tad more cheerful. The tone and the plot makes it a pleasant read, the most important aspect being that you actually believe it. The same is made in to a wonderful movie with young Tommy Lee Jones essaying the role of Angelo Perino. So watch the movie and read the book.