The Vertical Smile

The Vertical Smile follows the unexpected romance between the 68-year-old mother of a political candidate and a 70-year-old man with a scandalous past. The story unfolds against the backdrop of American politics in the early 1970s. The novel combines elements of political satire, romance, and social commentary as it explores the intersection of public politics and private relationships. Politics, sex, and greed emerge as central themes throughout the narrative. Richard Condon presents unconventional characters who challenge societal norms about age and romance while exposing the machinations of political life. The story maintains a satirical edge while examining human relationships and power dynamics. The book stands as a commentary on American political culture and social attitudes of the 1970s, using humor and romance to critique established institutions and conventional morality.

Readers describe The Vertical Smile as absurdist satire that ranges from bizarre to offensive. Multiple reviews mention struggling to follow the convoluted plot involving organized crime, politics and sex. Readers appreciated: - Dark, irreverent humor - Commentary on American politics and capitalism - Fast-paced action sequences Common criticisms: - Gratuitous sex scenes that feel dated and crass - Hard-to-follow narrative with too many characters - Offensive portrayals of women and minorities - Lack of character development "The plot is chaotic nonsense but that's part of the fun," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another calls it "vulgar shock value without substance." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.2/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 3.0/5 (6 ratings) The book appears to have limited reviews online compared to Condon's better-known works like The Manchurian Candidate. Most discussions date from its 1970s release, with few recent reader responses.

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🔹 Richard Condon also wrote "The Manchurian Candidate" (1959), which became a classic political thriller film starring Frank Sinatra and later remade with Denzel Washington. 🔹 The book's publication in 1971 coincided with a period of significant political upheaval in America, including the Vietnam War protests and the Pentagon Papers controversy. 🔹 The title "The Vertical Smile" is a playful double entendre, typical of Condon's satirical style and the era's emerging sexual openness in literature. 🔹 Before becoming a novelist, Condon worked in Hollywood as a movie publicist and advertising executive, which influenced his understanding of image-making and public manipulation that he explores in his books. 🔹 The novel's portrayal of elderly romance was groundbreaking for its time, challenging societal taboos about senior sexuality that were rarely addressed in 1970s literature.