Pearl Fridell is a truly beautiful woman; yet is she also to blame for her beauty? All she knew was that the self-indulgent but successful solicitor, Wilfred Angell would never have looked at her twice if she had been plain. Mr. Angell was a self-described lover of beautiful things, and through her relationship with him, Pearl was exposed to a fashionable lifestyle that she otherwise never would have experienced had she stayed in the background for her entire life. It was quite a satisfactory arrangement for the both of them.

That was until an ambitious boxer named 'Little God' enters their lives. Little God has earned a vicious reputation for himself - both inside and outside of the ring - and he is known as a man who consistently gets what he wants - no matter what the cost. Now, Little God has set his sights on Pearl, and he decides he wants her for himself. In the end, just what problems will arise because of Pearl's beauty?

First of all, let me say that I wasn't planning on reading this book. I was actually wanting to read something from Winston Graham's Poldark Series, as PBS will begin airing the new series on 'Masterpiece' starting in June. Mareena couldn't find any books in the Poldark Series for me on any of the swapping sites that we belong to, so she requested three of Winston Graham's other books instead. I'm so glad that she got this book for me, because it was so good.

I must admit that I wasn't expecting to enjoy reading this book as much as I did. A main component of the story involves the sport of boxing, and since I don't know the first thing about boxing - and don't find the sport interesting at all - I wasn't sure how boxing itself would figure into the story. To be perfectly honest, the story starts out slower than I expected - I was tempted to set the book aside and stop reading for a while.

I'm so glad that I stuck with the book, though, it was quite a hidden gem for me. This was quite an interesting story, with an intriguing and dramatic plot. All in all, I found this to be an unexpectedly excellent book; and I would give it an A+! ( )

Angell, Pearl and Little God is a dark and fascinating story of three people brought together by mutual need and mistrust.

Angell is a wealthy and respected lawyer, product of a public school. Pearl is a young woman from a middle-class family, working on a perfume counter, but discontented with her limited prospects. Little God has grown up in an orphanage and is trying to make his way as a boxer, while working as chauffeur to an aristocrat.

Angell, the lawyer, has intellect, wealth and social status. Little God has strength and aggression. Pearl is at first underestimated by both of them. What does she have, apart from beauty? Yet as the story unfolds, Pearl’s character emerges as stronger and more complex than even she knew.

The book was first published in 1970 and is a fascinating insight into a changing society. Three people who would normally be separated by their class are not exactly mixing as equals, but the old certainties are breaking down. They may be willing to break the rules to get what they want, but they’re no longer quite sure what the rules are.

As in all the greatest stories, the characters are not only in conflict with one another but with themselves. Angell thinks his interest in Pearl is aesthetic rather than sensual, Little God thinks he’ll never care about any woman but finds it’s not so simple after all. Pearl arguably has the greatest inner conflict of all.

Graham’s twisty plot and simple, elegant prose combine beautifully to tell a compelling story of power and desire. ( )