RIDERS

by Jilly Cooper ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 1986

Arriving with a thunderous clatter of hoofs and a hearty ""Hi-ho!"" is this lengthy but cheerfully cheeky British best-seller--supposedly ""adapted"" for American audiences--about the behind-the-scenes goings-on of lusty British equestrians intent on Olympic gold. Jake Lovell is an archetypical British orphan who pulls himself up by his bootstraps (partly by marrying fat, rich, and faithful Tory Maxwell) to become a figure to be reckoned with in the classy, highly competitive world of international show-jumping. Together, he and Fenella Maxwell (Tory's sister, and a brilliant show-jumper in her own right) travel to World Cup Championships all over Europe, vying with their countrymen for a ticket to Los Angeles in 1984. lake's bitter rival is also the best character in the book--the delightfully caddish Rupert Campbell-Black, who is always twitting lake on his humble origins and short stature: ""The only thing I'd use you for is to measure my tennis net."" Rupert is married to a lovely, high-strung American girl named Helen, an Anglophile who quickly becomes disenchanted when Rupert does typically Rupert things like selling her favorite horse to an Arab sheik (the animal is put to work in a stone quarry) and attempting to force her into an orgy--so naturally, she falls into the comforting embrace of lake. In the meantime, sister-in-law Fenella falls in love with American rider Dino Ferrenti, who like a good Yankee doesn't waste any time (""Quite frankly, if I don't unzip my fly and climb inside you soon I'm going to end up in the funny farm"") but leaves in a huff when Fenella has an ill-advised one-night stand with an Italian race-car driver. Where will it all end? Why, in L.A., of course, in front of millions of onlookers (including Prince Philip and Princess Anne). While Fenella patches things up with Dino, lake wins a silver medal in the individual competition and runs off with Helen--to the consternation of all of England--when Rupert discovers their affair. But (in a stunning and quite unsatisfying turnabout) Rupert turns hero and--with a dislocated shoulder, no less--leads the dazed Brits to the team gold. Non-equestrians may grow rather tired of a novel in which the horses are, in the main, more intelligent than the people (""Suddenly there was an expression of deep responsibility on Rocky's handsome, golden face""), but this is basically funny and sexy enough to make for a smooth and enjoyable canter, despite the thrown shoe at the finish.

Pub Date: July 1, 1986

ISBN: 0743297008

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ballantine

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1986

Categories: FICTION