A Talent for Loving

The full title is A Talent For Loving or The Great Cowboy Race. The alternative title better describes the book though.This is an example of Condon at his funniest and most bizzare. If you have not experienced a Richard Condon novel before, I suggest that you make a start with A Talent For Loving, you will get a good idea of what to expect from his other works.The cast includes, a Saloon Gambler who turns property and cattle tycoon, a Chinese cook to provide the usual threads of good food to be found in most, if not all, of his novels. A Frank Heller (this time an expert on the cheeses of the world). A Mexican aristocrat, Dr Don Jose Vicuna y Arias, (trained as a Veterinary Surgeon at the University of Edinburgh), his beautiful daughter , Maria de Lourdes Vicuna, learning to whistle the classics (a tradition of the women of her family). Bandits, Tequila, an Ancient Aztec curse (see the title) and several tribes of Native Americans.In a review of the The Venerable Bead to be found in these esteemed pages, the writer suggests that you save your money by not buying this Condon work. I would say then, spend what you save, on A Talent For Loving. If you can find it that is!