#11. The Irresitible Inheritance of Wilberforce – Paul Torday

This book follows Wilberforce, a software developer who has built and sold a multi-million dollar company, before insinuating himself into a clique of aristocratic friends, including the eccentric wine merchant Francis Black. The story in fact begins at the end of Wilberforce's life, as he has become an alcoholic and is speedily drinking himself to death, and in subsequent sections, steps back in time two years until the root of his current dilemma is revealed. For this reason, the book is at its most depressing at the beginning, and gradually becomes lighter as you see what his life once was. So while the character of Wilberforce seems quite repulsive at first, you become more sympathetic to his fall from grace - especially as his growing addiction to (he would say love for) wine under Black's tutelage leads to the loss of his friends, the breakdown of his marriage, the death of his wife Catherine, and eventually a catastrophic financial decision clouded by delusion. Torday's writing, and in particular, his characterisation, reminds me of Mark Haddon's work in A Spot of Bother - strange little people stuck in odd situations, usually of their own making. Despite the dark spots, an enjoyable read.