The Talented Mr. Ripley

by Patricia Highsmith

Paperback, 288 pages

English language

Published June 2, 2008 by W. W. Norton.

ISBN:: 978-0-393-33214-8
OCLC Number:: 181139157

(31 reviews)

The first of the acclaimed Ripley novels, this clever psychological thriller introduces the reader to Tom Ripley and his extraordinary modus operandi. Accepting a commission from a wealthy businessman to travel to Italy in an attempt to convince his wayward son to return to the United States, Ripley gradually develops a plan to assume the young man’s identity along with his bank account.

Since his debut in 1955, Tom Ripley has evolved into the ultimate bad boy sociopath, influencing countless novelists and filmmakers. In this first novel, we are introduced to suave, handsome Tom Ripley: a young striver, newly arrived in the heady world of Manhattan in the 1950s. A product of a broken home, branded a "sissy" by his dismissive Aunt Dottie, Ripley becomes enamored of the moneyed world of his new friend, Dickie Greenleaf. This fondness turns obsessive when Ripley is sent to Italy to bring back his libertine pal but grows enraged by Dickie's ambivalent feelings for Marge, a charming American dilettante. A dark reworking of Henry James's The Ambassadors, The Talented Mr. Ripley—is up to his tricks in a 90s film and also Rene Clement's 60s film, "Purple Noon."

22 editions

Erin reviewed The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Review of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This wasn’t quite what I expected, but I enjoyed it overall. I thought it’d be a quiet story until the very end, but things come to a head before the halfway point. There’s a different kind of tension for the rest of the book.

My main complaint is that there’s quite a bit of tedium in here. The travel details and logistics get tiresome. This would’ve been better tightened up!

Tom I enjoyed a lot. This feels a bit like The Great Gatsby from Gatsby’s perspective. There’s a lot of class commentary and class envy. I like a drama of manners, where subtle behaviors or words hold a lot of meaning, and you get that here.

The queer part of the story surprised me. It’s certainly dated and, given what Tom does, could be seen as “bad representation,” but I think the reader ends up kind of rooting for Tom, …

martina.pugliese reviewed The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Review of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The edition I had (first one I think) was weirdly peppered with some typos. All in all a great read, I've particularly enjoyed it because it is largely set in places I'm from (an inexistent but highly similar to real towns in the South of Italy, near Naples).
A psychological thriller immersed in beautiful, coloured and full of life landscapes, under the sun of course. It also gives you an interesting overview of Italy during the '50s, when after the war Americans coming to the country for leisure or business were largely regarded as very appreciated guests.
Unlike most cases, I thought the movie is as good as the book.

Marsha Woerner reviewed The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith (Everyman's library -- 262.)

Review of "The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game" on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I don't know what to say; as I stated to my son and husband, it was totally boring until the murders started. But then again, it was still totally boring. Well, I suppose not TOTALLY boring, but as an American the thought of jumping around from one country to another in Europe is foreign, confusing, and really unbelievable in general, and it leads to totally boring stories.
No, that's really not why it was so boring. Nothing happened. I had hoped that the murders would lead to some sort of action or activity, but no. Overall, it was boring and disappointing.

Cari Fisher reviewed The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith (Everyman's library -- 262.)

Review of "The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The book and the movie work together to form a great story and picture in my mind. Usually books and movies compete, and these are different, however I find myself using them to complete each other.

perfischer reviewed The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Review of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Exceptionally good read!

Sharyl reviewed The talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (Vintage crime/Black Lizard)

Review of 'The talented Mr. Ripley' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A great page-turner! And the movie with Matt Damon and Jude Law was very faithful.

*recently realized that I'd tagged the wrong edition of this book--it's not a trilogy

barbara fister reviewed The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Review of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' on 'LibraryThing'

No rating

A classic - in which a man who has no sense of connection to other people (other than rampant jealousy) becomes a murderer. A curious, ice-cold novel.