{"product_id":"book-g4h1","title":"The Improvised Life of Polycarp Jarvis","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn exuberant, life-affirming novel of taking your chances\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter a spur-of-the-moment day out with his boss' daughter in celebration of his 21st birthday, \u003cstrong\u003ePolycarp Jarvis\u003c\/strong\u003e decides to quit his Bristol-based junior government worker job. Newly emboldened, he embarks on an erratic, engaging and not always strictly legal course through life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGoing from bus driver for the Red Dragon Motor Company to co-owner of a flying company, to seller of quack medicines, and eventually to media tycoon, Polycarp makes much of his luck along the way. Through ups and downs, his exuberance and charm carry him through.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut what kind of person will he be by the end?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis gentle coming-of-age story was hugely popular on first publication in the 1930s and retains a timeless appeal today.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePraise for Victor Canning:\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Quite delightful … with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that \u003cstrong\u003ecannot fail to charm\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'There is \u003cstrong\u003esuch a gentle humour\u003c\/strong\u003e in the book.' \u003cem\u003eDaily Sketch\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and \u003cstrong\u003ethe lovable oddities of the English character\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'His delight at the beauties of the countryside and his\u003cstrong\u003e mild astonishment at the strange ways of men are infectious.\u003c\/strong\u003e' \u003cem\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A swift-moving novel, \u003cstrong\u003ejoyous, happy and incurably optimistic\u003c\/strong\u003e.' \u003cem\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e 'His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. \u003cstrong\u003eRarely does one come on so satisfying\u003c\/strong\u003e an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing.' \u003cem\u003ePunch\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"INAudio","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49417220686128,"sku":"BDg4h1","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/g4h1-Square-cover.jpg?v=1779284174","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-g4h1","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}