Drayton and Mackenzie | Alexander Starritt

Drayton and Mackenzie

Accolades & Praise

• Historic Nomination: Longlisted for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year—the first work of fiction to grace the prestigious list in fifteen years.
• Critical Praise: The Sunday Times calls it, "A big, bustling novel about love, friendship, money, ambition and the 21st century, packed with humor and intelligent observations . . . I finished it tear-stained."

Extended Synopsis

James Drayton has always found things too easy. Ambitious, brilliant, and deeply disciplined, he graduates with a top first from Oxford and immediately finds himself on a fast track to becoming the youngest ever partner at the leading management consultancy firm, McKinsey. His former classmate, Roland Mackenzie, is cut from a completely different cloth. An impulsive, charming, and restless dreamer, Roland's boundless enthusiasm is matched only by his profound knack for self-sabotage.

When Roland takes a job at the same prestigious firm, the two men initially only vaguely remember one another. However, as the 2008 global financial crisis begins to unfold, a chance encounter sparks an unexpected idea, and a highly unlikely partnership begins to take shape. Sent to Scotland with the grim task of shuttering offices and laying off hundreds of workers, James and Roland begin to question the trajectory of their lives and careers.

What if they were made for more than corporate downsizing? What if they could leverage their unique talents to build something grand and lasting—something that might actually change the world? By turns intimate and panoramic, Drayton and Mackenzie is a deeply intelligent and sweeping social novel about the potent forces of ambition, the enduring bonds of friendship, and two men determined to master the changing tides of twenty-first-century history.

About the Author

Alexander Starritt is an accomplished author recognized for his sharp intellect and ability to weave complex social and economic themes into compelling literary fiction. His work offers profound observations on modern ambition, corporate culture, and the human condition.

Reader Targeting

• Readers who appreciate expansive, character-driven literary fiction exploring the nuances of lifelong friendships.
• Enthusiasts of social novels set against the backdrop of modern business, finance, and management consulting.
• Fans of sharp, intelligent prose that balances humor with deep emotional resonance.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the main characters?
The story revolves around James Drayton, a brilliant and disciplined Oxford graduate, and Roland Mackenzie, his charming but impulsive former classmate.

What brings James and Roland together?
They reconnect while working at a prestigious management consultancy firm just as the global financial crisis unfolds, leading to an unlikely partnership.

Why is this book's award nomination significant?
It was longlisted for the Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year, making it the first work of fiction to be recognized on this list in fifteen years.

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