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A Ladder to the Sky

by John Boyne
Compare to estimated retail price: S$19.38  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

A Ladder to the Sky
A Ladder to the Sky

Ambition's dark side, through a literary lens.

If you've ever been fascinated by the lengths people will go to achieve success, "A Ladder to the Sky" is a vivid exploration of just that. John Boyne cleverly weaves a story that's not just about the literary world, but about the moral compromises one might make on the ascent to greatness. Maurice Swift's journey is both a cautionary tale and a gripping narrative that may keep you turning pages just to see how far he'll go.

  • The Publishing Triangle Award Nominee for The Ferro-Grumley Awards (2019)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

A Ladder to the Sky

by John Boyne
Compare to estimated retail price: S$19.38  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9781784161019
Authors: John Boyne
Publisher: Black Swan
Date of Publication: 2019-02-07
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Historical Fiction
Related Topics: Literature, LGBTQ+
Goodreads rating: 4.2
(rated by 38533 readers)

Description

This is a novel about ambition. You’ve heard the old proverb about ambition, that it’s like setting a ladder to the sky. It can lead to a long and painful fall. If you look hard enough, you will find stories pretty much anywhere. They don’t even have to be your own. Or so would-be-novelist Maurice Swift decides early on in his career. A chance encounter in a Berlin hotel with celebrated author Erich Ackerman gives Maurice an opportunity. For Erich is lonely, and he has a story to tell; whether or not he should is another matter. Once Maurice has made his name, he finds himself in need of a fresh idea. He doesn’t care where he finds it, as long as it helps him rise to the top. Stories will make him famous, but they will also make him beg, borrow and steal. They may even make him do worse.
 

Ambition's dark side, through a literary lens.

If you've ever been fascinated by the lengths people will go to achieve success, "A Ladder to the Sky" is a vivid exploration of just that. John Boyne cleverly weaves a story that's not just about the literary world, but about the moral compromises one might make on the ascent to greatness. Maurice Swift's journey is both a cautionary tale and a gripping narrative that may keep you turning pages just to see how far he'll go.

  • The Publishing Triangle Award Nominee for The Ferro-Grumley Awards (2019)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.