Gentlemen and Players 绅士与玩者

GentlemenANDPlayersAudere,agere,auferre.Todare,tostrive,toconquer.Forgenerations,privilegedyoungmenhaveattendedSt.Oswald'sGrammarSchoolforBoys,groomedforsuccessbythelikesofRoyStraitley,theeccentricClassicsteacherwhohasbeenafixturethereformorethanthirtyyears.Butthisyearthewindofunwelcomechangeisblowing,andStraitleyisfinallycontemplatingretirement.Heisjoinedthistermbyfivenewfacultymembers,includingonewhoholdsintimateanddangerousknowledgeofSt.Oswald'swaysandsecrets.Harboringdarktiestotheschool'spast,thisyoungteacherhasarrivedwithoneterriblegoal:todestroySt.Oswald's.Asthenewtermgetsunderway,anumberofincidentsbefallstudentsandfacultyalike.Beginningassmallannoyances,theyareinitiallyoverlooked.Butastheincidentsescalate,itsoonbecomesapparentthatadarkerundercurrentisstirringwithintheschool.WithSt.Oswald'sunraveling,onlyStraitleystandsinthewayofitsruin.Theveteranteacherfacesaformidableopponent,however—amasterplayerwithabittergrudgeandastrategythathasbeenmeticulouslyplannedtothefinalmove,asecretgamewithveryreal,verydeadlyconsequences.Aharrowingtaleofcatandmouse,thisriveting,hypnoticallyatmosphericnovelshowcasesNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorJoanneHarris'sastonishingstorytellingtalentasneverbefore.