This scandalous novel had been pilloried upon its release, its qualities only appearing later. When cooler heads prevailed, the world finally saw how accurate the author actually was. Politics, money, sexuality, capitalist frenzy, over-consumption: the book was a portrait of contemporary America against the backdrop of the West’s decline.
The writer portrays Patrick Bateman, a young wolf of Wall Street by day and a serial killer by night. The violence and the crudeness of the description of his murders deeply shocked the readers. Not to mention the racist, homophobic, misogynistic ranting, hatred of the poor and of children that the author forces his audience to hear without restraint through his character's mouth.
The writer withstood death threats, calls to boycott by feminist organizations, cancellation of promotional tours, lambasting by critics (with very rare exceptions such as Norman Mailer or John Irving)... The release of Bret Easton Ellis' novel in 1991, then its destiny until it became a cult work, adapted twice for the cinema and then in the form of a musical on Broadway, could provide enough material by itself for yet another novel.