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SIDNEY SHELDON
MASTER OF THE GAME
HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by Collins 1983
This edition published in 2010.
Copyright © Sheldon Literary Trust 1982
Sidney Sheldon asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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This novel is entirely a work of fiction.
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Source ISBN: 9780006472612
Ebook Edition © APRIL 2012 ISBN: 9780007370610 Version: 2016-03-17
For my brother,Richardthe Lion-Hearted
‘And hence one master-passion in the breast, Like Aaron’s serpent, swallows up the rest.’
– ALEXANDER POPE
Essay on Man, Epistle II
‘Diamonds resist blows to such an extent that an iron hammer may be split in two and even the anvil itself may be displaced. This invincible force, which defies Nature’s two most violent forces, iron and fire, can be broken by ram’s blood. But it must be steeped in blood that is fresh and warm and, even so, many blows are needed.’
– PLINY THE ELDER
CONTENTS