The Fall and Rise of Gordon Coppinger

The Fall and Rise of Gordon Coppinger
David Nobbs

The much-anticipated novel from David Nobbs is the spiritual follow-up to The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin and is as witty as it is prescient.When revelations about the scandalous relationships and less than honest business practices of Sir Gordon Coppinger – infamous financier and devotee of excess – are made public, the glamorous façade of his London life begins to crumble and those around him fear the worst.But, much to Sir Gordon’s surprise, all he can feel is relief.In this brilliant and funny examination of modern British values, where success is governed by the principles of wealth and celebrity and driven by the insatiable desire to attain more and more, we meet the perfect anti-hero: Gordon Coppinger, a man going quietly sane.

DAVID NOBBS

The Fall and Rise of Gordon Coppinger

For Briget, Mark and Max

Table of Contents

Title Page (#ub32532d4-602c-58fd-9d86-56db6349f840)

Dedication (#u7fea2611-a24d-5585-8bf7-dd5e0c46b3e1)

So it had come to this (#u26eaff7a-f0a4-5c83-896f-36c91ca8acf0)

The suspicions that would overwhelm him (#uf8c8e17c-fd1c-57e9-bfb3-ec7f8e87bdb8)

It was going to be one of those days (#u54d38cb0-4503-593f-b223-885b2471b851)

‘I really have shocked myself’ (#u318b7289-d458-5656-968c-4cbf6cd6c01e)

Can we be absolutely certain that they can’t lip-read? (#u3893433e-9af9-58f4-ab8f-b324f5dd78ce)

We never said a word about Jack (#u8b9bcf77-6e33-5a15-8895-de985e27d3b5)

The evening ended, as it had begun, in silence (#u8a470029-8c74-5274-91e5-e39a4383a185)

A great deal nearer than the Solway Firth (#ud68e2dcb-6759-5a34-8584-61e58c7cc0a3)

Those insidious doubts (#u4af6b38e-5375-5c43-8594-5b85f516946f)

Perhaps we have intruded enough (#uea687643-fefa-5ec4-b1f5-26bdb5d0750a)

Staring at himself with astonishment (#u9fa7ded6-5d04-584c-9aab-6b4a0ab42475)

Not such a useless lump of a nun after all (#u5bac633d-c9b6-54c4-93f9-630acf0f3096)

‘Shame’ (#litres_trial_promo)

His night’s work is done (#litres_trial_promo)

A serious mistake (#litres_trial_promo)

‘A perfect memento’ (#litres_trial_promo)

That didn’t make Sir Gordon happy at all (#litres_trial_promo)

It began to rain (#litres_trial_promo)

A great deal of pain (#litres_trial_promo)

He was gone (#litres_trial_promo)

He might yet be able to save his fortune (#litres_trial_promo)

‘Siobhan,’ said Sir Gordon, ‘you’re a genius.’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Flat, flat, flat (#litres_trial_promo)

Back into the real world (#litres_trial_promo)

An opportunity had been lost (#litres_trial_promo)

He would need a long, hot bath (#litres_trial_promo)

There was no chance (#litres_trial_promo)

It’s wasted already (#litres_trial_promo)

She is even more astonished (#litres_trial_promo)

‘I do not listen to your calls. Ever.’ (#litres_trial_promo)

And felt an answering squeeze (#litres_trial_promo)

What hope is there? (#litres_trial_promo)

I hope we haven’t (#litres_trial_promo)

Beyond Gravesend (#litres_trial_promo)

Fred Upson went pale (#litres_trial_promo)

What the letters SFN actually stood for (#litres_trial_promo)

He rather liked bees (#litres_trial_promo)

A thing that they had never done before (#litres_trial_promo)

‘I can’t afford to get rid of him’ (#litres_trial_promo)

‘Decision time’ (#litres_trial_promo)

A magic moment (#litres_trial_promo)

He didn’t think that problem would be any easier (#litres_trial_promo)