The Misadventures of Oliver Booth: Life in the Lap of Luxury
Greenleaf Book Group Press, October 2008
A satirical look at the inner workings of high society
Oliver Booth wants
nothing more than to join the ranks of Palm Beach's high society. But
with his arrogant personality, garish wardrobe, and incompetent
stewardship of an antique shop filled with gaudy reproductions, he
doesn't have a chance.
Oliver's luck takes a turnabout when
the society doyenne Margaret Van Buren sends him and his assistant,
Bernard, to Paris on a shopping spree to furnish her new estate. What
ensues is a series of hilarious, Voltaire-esque misadventures as
Oliver bumbles his way through the milieu of the elite.
A
satirical look at the lengths some people will go to in order to
enter the insular circle of the privileged, David Desmond's novel is
a witty glimpse into a world few of us know.
paperback | ISBN: 9781929774562 | Publication Date: October 2008
Reviews:
"David
Desmond has written a hilarious tale based on his insider's knowledge
of life in Palm Beach and Paris. It should be a big success."
--
Donald Trump
"Can we talk? The Misadventures of Oliver
Booth is filled with intimate details about the you-know-whos
doing you-know-what in Palm Beach and Paris. You're going to love it!
It's a fast and fun read!"
-- Joan Rivers
"A
hilarious and sweet satire of Palm Beach so-called society, sprinkled
with an equally critical and amusing look at the world of antiques. A
must, fun read, even more so if you like Paris or wish to go!"
--
Florence de Dampierre, Author of French Chic and other
books
"Insightful and wickedly funny, David Desmond
writes with an insider's knowledge of Palm Beach society and the
world of antiques. Beware of those Oliver Booths when designing your
home -- they do exist -- and Desmond captures that persona
beautifully."
-- Zaniz Jakubowski, Interior Designer to the
Stars
"The Misadventures of Oliver Booth takes a
lightly analytical, highly satirical look at the human flora and
fauna of Palm Beach."
-- Alison Lurie, Pulitzer Prize-Winning
Novelist
"The Misadventures of Oliver Booth is the
perfect social satire and perfectly hilarious. We learn that great
social pretension can lead to equally great disaster and one cannot
help but lovingly follow the main character's slow-motion downfall.
With an insider's view, David Desmond reveals the ever effervescent
ins and outs of social mountaineering. Following the main character's
journey from Palm Beach to Paris is like watching a beautiful car
accident: Oliver Booth is the acquaintance one loves to hate and his
story had us in stitches from start to finish. We certainly cannot
wait for the continuation of the tale."
--Bernd Dams and
Andrew Zega, Authors of Versailles, Chinoiseries, and other
books
"As a New Orleanian, I instantly felt like Ignatius
J. Reilly of A Confederacy of Dunces had been reincarnated in
the form of Oliver Booth. I had no idea how much I missed Ignatius
until I found myself finished with the book in two sittings. Now I
miss Oliver! I can only imagine what he'll get into next. Hurry,
David, we're waiting!"
-- Ti Adelaide Martin, Proprietor of
Commander's Palace Restaurant
