Rage of Angels
 First edition | |
| Author | Sidney Sheldon |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Thriller novel |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
Publication date | 1980 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 978-0-446-35661-9 |
Rage of Angels is a novel by Sidney Sheldon published in 1980. The novel revolves around young attorney Jennifer Parker, as she rises as a successful lawyer after being framed for threatening the chief witness against a Mafia boss by mistakenly giving him a dead canary with a broken neck which in turn leads to a situation that promises to break her life's dreams. As the story progresses, the protagonist is romantically torn between a famous politician, who helps her rise again and a Mafia boss, the man that framed her, swearing to destroy her after he finds out about her affair with the politician that had short-lived though long enough to gift her a son.
Plot summary
Jennifer Parker, an Assistant District Attorney for the State of New York, is a beautiful, inexperienced criminal defense attorney who foils a plot by Michael Moretti, the rising star of one of the most powerful organized crime families in America. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Di Silva, believing that Jennifer is truly responsible, fires her and vows to destroy her for her part in the fiasco with Moretti. Di Silva arranges for young lawyer Adam Warner to meet Jennifer in an attempt to persuade him that she is truly responsible for the bribe. Adam immediately realizes that she is not guilty at all, and falls for her. With Adam's help Jennifer begins to rise again; meanwhile Moretti, inspired by her determination to succeed, decides he would like to induct her as the Family consigliere (a mafia lawyer).
Adam, despite being married and groomed for the United States Senate, cannot help falling in love with Jennifer. When he tells her that his wife Mary Beth has asked for a divorce, Jennifer meets with her. Being so close to the Senate election, the two women decide it is best for Adam to wait until after the election. But Mary Beth sleeps with Adam one last time, in the process tricking him into impregnating her. Adam learns that his wife is pregnant, wins the election and Jennifer ends their affair. Jennifer, having previously discovered that she too is pregnant and not wanting to be hurt by Adam, accepts but does not reveal to him that she is carrying his child.
Jennifer gives birth and names her son Joshua Adam Parker. Only her assistant Ken Bailey knows of Joshua's existence. Jennifer returns to her practice and soon makes headlines as a successful lawyer. Meanwhile, Moretti constantly tries to spark friendship with Jennifer, which she rebuffs at every attempt, reminding him of his earlier tricks. Nevertheless, when her son is kidnapped by a criminal Jennifer is defending, she, in desperation, turns to Moretti for help. After helping her, he seduces her and Jennifer becomes the Family consigliere. Jennifer's son Joshua dies in a skiing accident. Jennifer and Moretti are soon being hunted down by the government; he shoots her, wrongly thinking she has betrayed him, and is killed himself in an FBI raid of his house. Adam is able to use his position to save Jennifer. Soon Jennifer watches on television as Adam is sworn in as President of the United States. [1]
Adaptations
The novel was adapted into a miniseries in 1983, directed by Buzz Kulik and starring Jaclyn Smith, Armand Assante and Ken Howard. It was followed by a sequel, Rage of Angels: The Story Continues in 1986.
In 1986 an uncredited Malayalam film version loosely based on the novel was released in India titled Rajavinte Makan, with Mohanlal, Ambika, Ratheesh and Suresh Gopi in the lead roles. The movie went on to become a huge box office hit, and turned Mohanlal into a superstar overnight. The film was remade in Tamil as Makkal en Pakkam with Sathyaraj, Ambika, Rajesh, Nagesh and Raghuvaran. Kodi Rama Krishna made a film named Ahuthi with Rajasekhar, Jeevitha and Prasad also loosely based on the novel. It went on to become a huge hit and one of Rajasekhar's more successful movies.
References
- ↑ Rage Of Angels ; The Book
| Preceded by Bloodline |
Sidney Sheldon Novels 1980 |
Succeeded by Master of the Game |