Lovejoy by Johnathan Gash

timebug · 11-23-2015, 09:51 AM

Any members familiar with the rogue antique dealer,other
than via the diluted TV adventures? I am a huge fan of the
original books, and have read them many times.

In publication order they are:
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 01 - The Judas Pair
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 02 - Gold From Gemini
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 03 - The Grail Tree
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 04 - Spend Game
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 05 - The Vatican Rip
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 06 - Firefly Gadroon
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 07 - The Sleepers of Erin
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 08 - The Gondola Scam
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 09 - Pearlhanger
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 10 - The Tartan Ringers
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 11 - Moonspender
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 12 - Jade Woman
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 13 - The Very Last Gambado
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 14 - The Great California Game
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 15 - The Lies of Fair Ladies
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 16 - Paid and Loving Eyes
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 17 - The Sin Within Her Smile
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 18 - The Grace in Older Women
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 19 - The Possessions of a Lady
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 20 - The Rich and the Profane
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 21 - A Rag, a Bone and a Hank of Hair
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 22 - Every Last Cent
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 23 - Ten Word Game
Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 24 - Faces in the Pool

I first read one after the TV show had been running for a while.
I suppose I expected them to be just like the TV version, and I
was certainly wrong!
Ian McShane who played Lovejoy, in an early interview on TV,
had explained that the character had had to be sanitised for
general sunday night viewing.
Certainly true. In the books, Lovejoy is a ''divvy' he can sense
if an antique is genuine,merely by being near to it. He is also
a conman, a thief, a forger,and (due to circimstance, per novel)
a killer. A womaniser without moral scruple, and not above the
act of violence towards the female of the species either.
Not at all the cleaned up ,loveable rogue of the TV series.
The books are all narrated in the first person, by Lovejoy, and
the voice of the story teller is at once captivating,by the turns
of phrase used,and impressive by the great depth and love of
the antiques he deals with, craves,often steals (Borrows,as he
generally puts it) and becomes embroiled with.
Tinker Dill exists in most of the stories, but not the dandy gent
who likes a tipple as shown onscreen.No, this old reprobate is
a fully fledged alcoholic, given to sleeping in church porches
and bus shelters. We learn,as readers,that the younger Lovejoy
was 'discovered' by the then middle aged Tinker,and taught to
use his gift of divination, to 'divvy' antiques and make a living.
Lady Jane Felsham is sort of in the books; except that she is
plain 'Jane Felsham' (No title) and is a rival dealer in two or three
of the novels. Eric Catchpole does not exist in book form.There
IS a biker,who is amiable,gormless and slow on the uptake, in
some of the earlier books. His name is Algernon!
Lovejoy goes from being penniless and down and out (often!)
to being quite well set up and comfortable,then back again.
If you like a good crime based tale, with lashings of black
humour thrown in,and a great deal of background on antiques,
give the books a try.
My only caveat would be,that if you love the TV series, after the
books, you may find it hard to get back into viewing the former!
Especially after meeting a young lady,who starts life as Lovejoy's
apprentice,and goes on to altogether greater heights!

pdurrant · 11-23-2015, 11:05 AM

Yes, I know Lovejoy both from the books and the TV series. I can't remember which I came across first. Probably the books. I'm re-reading them at the moment.

I like the books, but Lovejoy certainly isn't loveable, with his violence towards anyone who gets between him and his passion - antiques. I found his casual violence towards his lovers most disconcerting in the first couple of books on re-reading them.

See here for my 'as I read them' reaction.

timebug · 11-23-2015, 12:50 PM

I remember Ian McShane saying that to bring the
part to TV,he had had to be cleaned up and more
or less sanitised,beyond belief!
And thanks for removing my accidental double post!

11-23-2015, 09:51 AM	#1
timebug Ancient Sage Posts: 14,585 Karma: 15493448 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Derby U.K. Device: Kobo Reader	Lovejoy by Johnathan Gash Any members familiar with the rogue antique dealer,other than via the diluted TV adventures? I am a huge fan of the original books, and have read them many times. In publication order they are: Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 01 - The Judas Pair Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 02 - Gold From Gemini Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 03 - The Grail Tree Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 04 - Spend Game Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 05 - The Vatican Rip Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 06 - Firefly Gadroon Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 07 - The Sleepers of Erin Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 08 - The Gondola Scam Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 09 - Pearlhanger Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 10 - The Tartan Ringers Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 11 - Moonspender Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 12 - Jade Woman Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 13 - The Very Last Gambado Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 14 - The Great California Game Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 15 - The Lies of Fair Ladies Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 16 - Paid and Loving Eyes Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 17 - The Sin Within Her Smile Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 18 - The Grace in Older Women Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 19 - The Possessions of a Lady Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 20 - The Rich and the Profane Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 21 - A Rag, a Bone and a Hank of Hair Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 22 - Every Last Cent Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 23 - Ten Word Game Jonathan Gash - Lovejoy 24 - Faces in the Pool I first read one after the TV show had been running for a while. I suppose I expected them to be just like the TV version, and I was certainly wrong! Ian McShane who played Lovejoy, in an early interview on TV, had explained that the character had had to be sanitised for general sunday night viewing. Certainly true. In the books, Lovejoy is a ''divvy' he can sense if an antique is genuine,merely by being near to it. He is also a conman, a thief, a forger,and (due to circimstance, per novel) a killer. A womaniser without moral scruple, and not above the act of violence towards the female of the species either. Not at all the cleaned up ,loveable rogue of the TV series. The books are all narrated in the first person, by Lovejoy, and the voice of the story teller is at once captivating,by the turns of phrase used,and impressive by the great depth and love of the antiques he deals with, craves,often steals (Borrows,as he generally puts it) and becomes embroiled with. Tinker Dill exists in most of the stories, but not the dandy gent who likes a tipple as shown onscreen.No, this old reprobate is a fully fledged alcoholic, given to sleeping in church porches and bus shelters. We learn,as readers,that the younger Lovejoy was 'discovered' by the then middle aged Tinker,and taught to use his gift of divination, to 'divvy' antiques and make a living. Lady Jane Felsham is sort of in the books; except that she is plain 'Jane Felsham' (No title) and is a rival dealer in two or three of the novels. Eric Catchpole does not exist in book form.There IS a biker,who is amiable,gormless and slow on the uptake, in some of the earlier books. His name is Algernon! Lovejoy goes from being penniless and down and out (often!) to being quite well set up and comfortable,then back again. If you like a good crime based tale, with lashings of black humour thrown in,and a great deal of background on antiques, give the books a try. My only caveat would be,that if you love the TV series, after the books, you may find it hard to get back into viewing the former! Especially after meeting a young lady,who starts life as Lovejoy's apprentice,and goes on to altogether greater heights!

11-23-2015, 11:05 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,948 Karma: 315160596 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Yes, I know Lovejoy both from the books and the TV series. I can't remember which I came across first. Probably the books. I'm re-reading them at the moment. I like the books, but Lovejoy certainly isn't loveable, with his violence towards anyone who gets between him and his passion - antiques. I found his casual violence towards his lovers most disconcerting in the first couple of books on re-reading them. See here for my 'as I read them' reaction. Last edited by pdurrant; 11-23-2015 at 11:08 AM.

11-23-2015, 12:50 PM	#3
timebug Ancient Sage Posts: 14,585 Karma: 15493448 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Derby U.K. Device: Kobo Reader	I remember Ian McShane saying that to bring the part to TV,he had had to be cleaned up and more or less sanitised,beyond belief! And thanks for removing my accidental double post!

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