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Godchildren
All the godchildren, looking back on that fateful dinner, remembered it in the same the vacant wooden throne at the head of the table, the huge array of wine glasses and water glasses that were always a feature of dining at any of Marcus� houses, the sense of expectation and dread that hung over them like a cloud of mustard gas.
In his magnificent island home overlooking the sea, the great tycoon Marcus Brand plays host to his six godchildren. But soon, secrets will be revealed that dramatically alter the tone of this holiday weekend, and all will have to confront a web of betrayals and lies spanning four decades�
Each from a different background, the godchildren grew up enthralled by their Charlie, fascinated by Marcus's wealth; Mary, whose life is blighted by tragedy; Jamie, feckless but utterly charming; Saffron, stunningly beautiful but unaware of her power over men; Abigail, insecure and gauche; and Stuart, who is torn between admiration and hatred for his capitalist godfather.
Godchildren is an epic tale; powerful, engrossing, and impossible to put down. With his trademark blend of wicked satire and impeccable writing, Coleridge has created gloriously jaw dropping portrait of the British upper crust.
In his magnificent island home overlooking the sea, the great tycoon Marcus Brand plays host to his six godchildren. But soon, secrets will be revealed that dramatically alter the tone of this holiday weekend, and all will have to confront a web of betrayals and lies spanning four decades�
Each from a different background, the godchildren grew up enthralled by their Charlie, fascinated by Marcus's wealth; Mary, whose life is blighted by tragedy; Jamie, feckless but utterly charming; Saffron, stunningly beautiful but unaware of her power over men; Abigail, insecure and gauche; and Stuart, who is torn between admiration and hatred for his capitalist godfather.
Godchildren is an epic tale; powerful, engrossing, and impossible to put down. With his trademark blend of wicked satire and impeccable writing, Coleridge has created gloriously jaw dropping portrait of the British upper crust.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
13 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Coleridge
26Ìýbooks29ÌýfollowersNicholas David Coleridge CBE is the Managing Director of the magazine publishing house Condé Nast in Britain. He was awarded the 1982 prize for British Press Awards Young Journalist of the Year when he was a columnist at the Evening Standard, and the Mark Boxer Lifetime Achievement Award for magazine journalism by the British Society of Magazine Editors in 2001.
He has written twelve books, both fiction and non-fiction, based largely upon either his professional life (The Fashion Conspiracy, Paper Tigers, With Friends Like These) or social novels (Godchildren, A Much Married Man, "Deadly Sins"). He has been Chairman of the PPA - the magazine publishers' association - and Chairman of the British Fashion Council. He was founding Chairman of Fashion Rocks, the fashion and rock music annual extravaganza, which has raised more than £3 million to date for the Prince's Trust charity. He was on the Advisory Board for the Concert for Diana, Wembley Stadium 2007. He has been a member of the Council of the Royal College of Art, and a member of the Trading Board of the Prince's Trust and is Deputy Chairman of The Campaign for Wool, 2009-. He is a Director of PressBof, the parent organisation of the Press Complaints Commission. As a journalist, he has been an irregular contributor to the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Spectator and the Financial Times.
He is the great-great-great-great-great nephew of the poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge where he studied Theology and History of Art.
He is married to the author and children's book reviewer Georgia Metcalfe. His enthusiasms include India and Indian art, gardening, sunbathing, hillwalking and photography.
He has written twelve books, both fiction and non-fiction, based largely upon either his professional life (The Fashion Conspiracy, Paper Tigers, With Friends Like These) or social novels (Godchildren, A Much Married Man, "Deadly Sins"). He has been Chairman of the PPA - the magazine publishers' association - and Chairman of the British Fashion Council. He was founding Chairman of Fashion Rocks, the fashion and rock music annual extravaganza, which has raised more than £3 million to date for the Prince's Trust charity. He was on the Advisory Board for the Concert for Diana, Wembley Stadium 2007. He has been a member of the Council of the Royal College of Art, and a member of the Trading Board of the Prince's Trust and is Deputy Chairman of The Campaign for Wool, 2009-. He is a Director of PressBof, the parent organisation of the Press Complaints Commission. As a journalist, he has been an irregular contributor to the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Spectator and the Financial Times.
He is the great-great-great-great-great nephew of the poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge where he studied Theology and History of Art.
He is married to the author and children's book reviewer Georgia Metcalfe. His enthusiasms include India and Indian art, gardening, sunbathing, hillwalking and photography.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 4, 2011
If Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had been written by Jeffrey Archer, the result would probably have been very much like this book. That's not a criticism. Spanning nearly four decades, the book follows the six godchildren of a successful but morally bankrupt tycoon. I liked the way the book dipped into their lives at various stages, kept the momentum going, a mammoth juggling act given that there are six of them to keep up with. They can all be readily characterised (druggie, chancer, toff etc) but stay the right side of being caricatures.
There is a boldness about the writing, a willingness to incorporate real people (Margaret Thatcher turns up at one point, as does David Blunkett - the second book in a row that I've read with him in it, how weird is that?). Also an interesting theory about whether or not Mikhail Gorbachev likes Marmite.
I thought at some points the motivations of the characters were having to be manipulated to an extent that was positively gymnastic, just to make sure the plot stayed on track. Given the events in the story, there was no way some of the godchildren would have maintained links with their godfather, but there they were every time there was a meet-up. In spite of this, I was gripped, and had to read the last sixty pages locked in my bedroom to prevent any interruptions! Coleridge has a really really good writing style - lively, confident, easy to follow, and I'm amazed he is not a bigger name on the literary stage.
There is a boldness about the writing, a willingness to incorporate real people (Margaret Thatcher turns up at one point, as does David Blunkett - the second book in a row that I've read with him in it, how weird is that?). Also an interesting theory about whether or not Mikhail Gorbachev likes Marmite.
I thought at some points the motivations of the characters were having to be manipulated to an extent that was positively gymnastic, just to make sure the plot stayed on track. Given the events in the story, there was no way some of the godchildren would have maintained links with their godfather, but there they were every time there was a meet-up. In spite of this, I was gripped, and had to read the last sixty pages locked in my bedroom to prevent any interruptions! Coleridge has a really really good writing style - lively, confident, easy to follow, and I'm amazed he is not a bigger name on the literary stage.
June 4, 2012
I've read two other books by Nicholas Coleridge, but this was my favorite. It is the story of a wealthy man who has no children of his own, but does have 6 godchildren. This is a highly readable story of his relationships with them, how the different godchildren react to his money and power, and how he influences and manipulates their lives. This is a great summer read, although I have to say, as with the previous book of his that I read "A Much Married Man," I was a bit disappointed at the end. The reader languishes in a well-told story all throughout, as it slowly reveals itself. In both books, the endings seem to negate all the nurturing the author put into telling the stories. The endings both seem abrupt and hurried, and not in the least bit satisfying. What I am giving 4 stars to is the body of the book. The theme is not new, the story of absolute power destroying absolutely, but it was so much fun to get to the end, I really can't discount it on the basis of the ending alone.
August 30, 2012
This was a tricky one to rate - had to think hard about what I thought and why. Marcus Brand is a wonderfully evil, manipulative spider at the centre of the web he traps his godchildren in. There are clever twists in the story and it kept my interest to the end. The characters and locations were handled well enough they felt real to me. But I do have a few reservations.
It took me several weeks to read because my life has been so hectic, but I had no trouble remembering who was who and what they were getting up to. I started off with the same feeling I have at the start of a series - I'll give the first episode leeway while I get to know the people. Obviously the godchildren made quite an impression as I quickly felt I was getting to know them well. They also developed throughout the work, as people do over the timespan of this novel. Or did they? Thinking back, was it just that they got older, retaining a child-like awe of their godfather when they were in his presence?
I can't help wondering if anyone would really let Marcus get away with what he did. And if he was really that brilliant with his business obfuscations, why did he allow it to all fall apart at the end? At the very least, if he were to stay in character, he would have long since made arrangements that everything illegal could only be pinned on someone else.
But I did enjoy it tremendously!
It took me several weeks to read because my life has been so hectic, but I had no trouble remembering who was who and what they were getting up to. I started off with the same feeling I have at the start of a series - I'll give the first episode leeway while I get to know the people. Obviously the godchildren made quite an impression as I quickly felt I was getting to know them well. They also developed throughout the work, as people do over the timespan of this novel. Or did they? Thinking back, was it just that they got older, retaining a child-like awe of their godfather when they were in his presence?
I can't help wondering if anyone would really let Marcus get away with what he did. And if he was really that brilliant with his business obfuscations, why did he allow it to all fall apart at the end? At the very least, if he were to stay in character, he would have long since made arrangements that everything illegal could only be pinned on someone else.
But I did enjoy it tremendously!
March 6, 2020
I really struggled what rating to give this book. After reading and digesting, I still can’t figure out if I actually liked the book.....yet, I found it hard to put down. The book is well written. The characters are vibrantly real. This is a book about relationships, power, dependencies and the struggles one finds within the relationships and within the individuals themselves.
Perhaps my liking or not liking the book isn’t so much rooted in the book itself, but in the characters that he created. In that case, I probably should consider four stars.
Perhaps my liking or not liking the book isn’t so much rooted in the book itself, but in the characters that he created. In that case, I probably should consider four stars.
June 16, 2021
I had trouble putting down this 'light' (540 page) summer read. The book follows the six godchildren of a wealthy then very wealthy businessman as their lives weave in and out of his and each others'. While he is snakelike charmer, the rest of them are flawed people trapped in his orbit until his end. Although the ending was rather abrupt and one or two of the storylines too neatly wrapped, it was oddly enjoyable to see the godchildren's lives slowly unfold and take their weaving paths. This book doesn't have big emotional moments (okay maybe 1), their lives just sort of laconicaly flow.
May 10, 2020
Some contrived plot twists, he created 6 to 7 complex characters for them to start interacting and playing off each other. Intricate relations, with descriptions of opulence which weren't quite believable.
March 5, 2023
It’s been a while since I’ve read this. Coleridge writes of a certain time and place in England. This book has a horrible monster at the center of everyone’s lives and I reflected that it was not entertaining after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2009
A great summertime book. You do have to pay attention in the beginning to get all of the godchildren and their families straight but after that it was a very entertaining read. My only comment is that there are some disturbing relationships and since the author is British, there is an awful lot of Brtish slang. Most of them I could easily figure out...but I'm hoping that Nipples has a different meaning in England since a girl nicknamed Nipples really annoyed me.
December 11, 2012
This book took me awhile to get through because its so epic, but it was a wonderful story about these six kids growing up under the strings of their unsavory godfather.
I liked how you see how the influence of the godfather changes the kids and the choices and consequences that impact each one.
This is definitely a book that shouldn't be rushed when reading or you might get lost.
I liked how you see how the influence of the godfather changes the kids and the choices and consequences that impact each one.
This is definitely a book that shouldn't be rushed when reading or you might get lost.
May 11, 2009
Super scandalous and a fun read. The fact that the main character's motivations are never explored kept this from rating higher. He's just pure evil with no redeeming qualities (kinda like the main character in Serena, which kept that book from rating higher as well).
April 28, 2010
I give this 3.5 stars. I started off really slow, but I really became interested in where the lives of the six godchildren would go and how Marcus would eventually factor into all of them. It probably could have been trimmed down a lot, but it did read pretty quick.
September 1, 2013
finished 'Godchildren' by Nicholas Coleridge and really liked it. It's big book but reads like a highspeed train. I liked the way it covered four decades and was full of betrayals and wickedness. Nice style too.
December 10, 2007
excellent book - it has everything ! highly recommended
April 5, 2008
This book is great fun, filled with people you recognise and places you know. I read it in bed with flu and it was perfect, amusing and easy.
August 11, 2008
The first U.S. edition of Colderidge's snotty, addictively wonderful page-turning tour of the British class system.
May 12, 2009
Liked it but OUCH. Some sick people/episodes.
June 21, 2009
This book was slow and confusing at the start, but got interesting as it went along. I wanted to finsh it to see how it ended, but I won't be looking up this author for more from him in the future.
February 16, 2012
It was actually a fairly interesting book. Great for a dollar store find and a winter stuck in the house book.
July 12, 2012
I really liked this book as I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed getting to know the lives of the godchildren and their godfather, the terrible Marcus. Very intriging! I would highly recommend it.
February 22, 2013
It was a long, dragging book. I finished it, but wasn't impressed. It was sick that the godfather slept with his goddaughters.
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February 24, 2013
I'd read it on a plane, or on a train, but would I read it for my brain? No, I would not deign.
October 4, 2013
Good to read while travelling, very easy reading but tempting. The finishing could have been a bit more constructive.
November 11, 2013
Good book
June 3, 2014
Great fun, and you definitely want to finish to find out what happens.
February 20, 2012
One of his best, a stellar tale of life among England's upper (mostly) class.
May 25, 2014
A great romp, ripping yarn, and total brain holiday.
I loved it!!!!
I loved it!!!!
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