Ultimate Prizes

Ultimate Prizes
Susan Howatch

The author’s most famous and well-loved work, the Starbridge series, six self-contained yet interconnected novels that explore the history of the Church of England through the 20th century.Neville Aysgarth, archdeacon, and right-hand man of the Bishop of Starbridge, has spent his life chasing worldly success. In 1942 he has a perfect wife, a perfect family and a perfect future in the Church of England - all ultimate prizes. Then Aysgarth meets an attractive young socialite and is soon dangerously and chaotically involved in adultery, hypocrisy and obsession. Tormented and on the brink of ruin, he must at last face the truth about himself, his marriage and the mysterious past he cannot discuss as he chases the most vital prize of all - his own survival…Witty, wise and compelling, Ultimate Prizes powerfully explores both the temptations of sex and success, and the ultimate themes of sin and salvation.

Susan Howatch

ULTIMATE PRIZES

COPYRIGHT (#ulink_ff83ba5d-e828-5155-ba43-056ee5c5c0cb)

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Harper An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published in Great Britain by William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd 1989

Copyright © Leaftree Ltd 1989

The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constrains in operation at the time of publication

Source ISBN: 9780006496915

Ebook Edition © JUNE 2012 ISBN: 9780007396429

Version: 2018-10-08

PRAISE (#ulink_d1af7714-207d-5717-9c11-d56793a7cd27)

From the reviews:

‘This superbly intricate ecclesiastical tale … irresistible’

Church Times

‘A fascinating story’

Publishers Weekly

‘Howatch writes thrillers of the heart and mind … everything in a Howatch novel cuts close to the bone and is of vital concern’

New Woman

‘A mesmerising storyteller’

Daily Telegraph

‘One of the most original novelists writing today’

Cosmopolitan

‘She is a deft storyteller, and her writing has depth, grace and pace’

Sunday Times

CONTENTS

COVER (#u3012be30-ba6a-588a-9a50-68ed1f0ae6d5)

TITLE PAGE (#u95f8b38f-edbe-5ef4-9ed8-944f26942c10)

COPYRIGHT

PRAISE (#ulink_dd8eaa0b-ca93-5742-880d-58559a3cfeaa)

PART ONE: CRISIS

ONE (#ulink_fb25bd07-7a2a-5c95-86e2-697454f102b9)

TWO (#ulink_2d83b690-2208-5a24-8c5e-5cf5dad10f8f)

THREE (#ulink_b4672f74-72e1-5736-be94-c514307d1ce9)

FOUR (#ulink_fabe8b98-dc86-5b55-8b11-44d8ac4ef7a1)

FIVE (#ulink_18553d62-064b-5ef8-9396-0cdaca444ef5)

SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

PART TWO: UNDER JUDGEMENT

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TWO (#litres_trial_promo)

THREE (#litres_trial_promo)

FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

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SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

PART THREE: SALVATION

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THREE (#litres_trial_promo)

KEEP READING (#litres_trial_promo)

AUTHOR’S NOTE (#litres_trial_promo)