American Psycho

Bret Easton Ellis

American Psycho

Picador 40th Anniversary Edition

 

Celebrating forty years of outstanding international writing, Picador reissues twelve essential novels.

‘American Psycho is a beautifully controlled, careful, important novel’ Fay Weldon

Even before its publication in 1991, American Psycho captured the attention and imagination of readers. Now an acknowledged modern classic and a multimillion-copy bestseller, it continues to be one of the most talked-about books of all time. A film based on the novel, starring Christian Bale, was released in 2000.

Patrick Bateman is twenty-six and works on Wall Street; he is handsome, sophisticated, charming and intelligent. He is also a psychopath. Taking us to a head-on collision with America’s greatest dream – and its worst nightmare – American Psycho is a bleak, bitter, black comedy about a world we all recognize but do not wish to confront.


In 2012 Picador celebrate our 40th anniversary. During that time we have published many prize-winning and bestselling authors including Bret Easton Ellis and Cormac McCarthy, Alice Sebold and Helen Fielding, Graham Swift and Alan Hollinghurst. Years later, Picador continue to bring readers the very best contemporary fiction, non-fiction and poetry from across the globe.

Discover more at picador.com/40

Nick Blake
 

As Picador celebrates its fortieth anniversary the Picador team are celebrating working for the finest imprint in literary London. I haven’t been at Picador for forty years, of course, but in the spirit of The Picador Book of 40 here are twenty of the most memorable titles I’ve read, not read, or been involved with.

Rosanna Boscawen
 
When it was first published in 1991, American Psycho was one of the most controversial novels ever seen in print. It remains so today. Read on for the opening.
Rosanna Boscawen
 

When the manuscript of Less Than Zero, Bret Easton Ellis's first novel, came into the office in the early 80s, the editor sent it out to others in the business to get their opinion. There were some very passionate responses - though not particularly favourable ones. But the book's life so far, and Easton Ellis's writing career since, has proved both of these two readers very wrong. 

Joseph Marren
 
As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations our artwork team has designed a set of stunning animated covers that breathe new life into some of our classic Picador titles. 
Sophie Jonathan
 


earc luachra
earc luachra commented
Tuesday 23rd Apr 2013 10:36
I too am disappointed by the the absence of Richard Brautigan and would like to design his covers when you do decide to re-issue him. His books were for me synonomous with Picador back in the seventies. The covers are good but for me not engaging because they are curiously inorganic which is a hallmark I think of digital design processes. Design is often subjective but I would have much preferred colour rather than black and white, faces rather then shapes and forget about those clever clever ideas and go back to doing great iconic covers.
Sophie Jonathan
Sophie Jonathan replied
Monday 8th Oct 2012 01:47
I'm told this problem was fixed a while ago - thanks for the heads up.