THE TWO MRS. GRENVILLES

by Dominick Dunne ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 1985

Like The Winners (1982), this is the kind of novel where every woman's perfume precedes her, and nothing particularly surprising happens. Little Kansas farm girl Urse Mertens is pretty, has an ambitious mother, and is star-struck. She goes to New York City, changes her name to Ann Arden, becomes a showgirl and, using her by now practiced charms, marries Billy Grenville, scion of one of the wealthiest old-name families in the city. Eventually, the relationship sours and affairs ensue. When her husband finds out something about her past that will allow him to divorce her, the heroine takes her custom-made double-barreled shotgun and kills him, claiming afterwards that she thought he was a prowler. No one really believes her (her drunken rages are legendary), but the Grenvilles, anxious to avoid scandal, support her story and sweep the matter under the nearest Oriental rug. Widowed Ann Grenville globetrots on alone, a debauched outcast of high society and selfishly neglectful mother of two--until, finally, she kills herself. Anyone who dares wade into this story will soon find him/herself waist deep in dropped names of famous people, stylish places, expensive possessions and in familiar, explicit sex scenes. Even clich‚ collectors and devotees of sleaze will be disappointed by this one.

Pub Date: July 5, 1985

ISBN: 0345522214

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1985

Categories: FICTION