When Gordon Williams’ novel first hit shelves, it was both a bestseller and a lightning rod for criticism. It arrived just as the "Summer of Love" was fading into the gritty, paranoid 1970s.
Today, the work is often viewed as a precursor to the "sad boy" or "flawed anti-hero" tropes seen in shows like Mad Men . Peter Reaney is, in many ways, the British cousin of Don Draper—a man who can sell a fantasy to everyone except himself. The Man Who Had Power Over Women
However, beneath the polished exterior, Reaney’s life is a disaster. His marriage is disintegrating, his friendships are transactional, and he is haunted by a profound sense of emptiness. The "power" he holds over women is revealed to be a shallow substitute for genuine connection; he can attract them, but he can’t value them, and he certainly can’t keep himself happy. Why It Was Controversial When Gordon Williams’ novel first hit shelves, it