In Teddy Wayne's latest novel "The Winner," a young man pursues an ugly version of the American dream.

Teddy Wayne is a master at immersing readers in the thoughts of young men. While his works "Capitol" and "The Love Song of Johnny Valentine" featured nuanced character portraits from the outset, the novel "Loner" opened on a darker note after an impressive initial scene that showcased Wayne's comedic talents. In his new book "The Winner," the author largely abandons humor, painting a scathing picture of life in one of America's privileged gated communities and introducing us to a working-class protagonist who gradually and thoroughly becomes immersed in this environment.

Conor O'Toole is the son of an Irish immigrant who worked in construction and passed away when Conor was just 11 years old. He was raised by a devoted widow and matriarch. At the beginning of the story, she finds herself unemployed and drowning in overwhelming debt due to medical expenses for diabetes treatment.In the health insurance market, which replaced the insurance provided by her employer, the cost has risen to $672.78 instead of the previous $25.— another detail that Wayne highlights the economic inequality). The year 2020 has arrived, and it's unlikely that anyone will hire his 60-year-old mother, who is at risk and stuck at home due to the pandemic.

Forced to, Conor takes a job as a tennis coach in the summer in Cutters Neck, an area "two miles long that juts out from the southern coast of Massachusetts." His tennis skills, initially developed at a local handball wall with a worn-out racket found in a trash can, earned him a full college scholarship, but he has already accumulated$144,000Debt from law school, and after graduating from the less prestigious New York Law School, not a single job offer.

Teaching tennis is a temporary measure while he prepares for the bar exam; Conor is striving for a stable job and the middle class that his mentor Richard, a retired lawyer, once spoke about in a friendly manner. He explained to Conor that a patient and consistent player holds a more confident position than a flashy player who bets on risky shots."The ideal option is to be one or two steps below the big 'players' and not worry about having an essential role in the game.".

But as soon as Connor gets his first glimpse of life high up on the ladder of American society, his modest expectations seem insignificant. He can roll his eyes when a client forgets to pay, or feel anxious at a party where no one is wearing a mask, because the host assures him:COVID is "a class issue... I don't even think anyone here will catch it."However, when he goes into a nearby bar to find more suitable company and spends the night with a local girl named Georgia, he leaves her after the first evening."He was confident that all his efforts were leading him to a better future. It was sadly obvious that Georgia would remain in this city or one like it.".

Georgia, not forgetting the grievances, responds to his offensively soulless farewell message, wishing her "all the best," with a sharp comment:“You probably think of yourself as a good guy, but in reality, you’re just [an unacceptable word].”Readers may agree with this assessment when Wayne skillfully demonstrates how Connor sinks deeper into the quagmire of deception, self-discovery, and ultimately, criminal behavior.

From this moment on, everything begins with Catherine Havermeyer, a wealthy yet more than persistent lady who treated Connor like a servant while simultaneously flirting with him on the court and in her stunning McMansion, sliding a check in front of him and declaring that she was ready to pay for sex.

The complexity of "The Winner" lies in the fact that Connor is aware of how morally reprehensible his actions are, not to mention the high risks involved, yet he continues to engage in them. Wayne masterfully creates a tension in the protagonist's mind between condemnation and dirty self-justification. This rift becomes increasingly noticeable in the second half of the novel, after a brutal scene where "The Winner" takes on a thriller genre, raising difficult ethical questions for both the reader and Connor.

Creating the image of a simple guy who finds himself among extremely wealthy people—some are good, while others abuse their privileges—except for Emily, who shows no selfishness, Wayne invites us to empathize with Connor and simultaneously makes us feel embarrassed as he starts to lose our sympathy. The indicators in the text signal that Connor is susceptible to the dazzling temptations of money and power, but before the shock, we hear his sharp insult directed at Richard, the man who paid for his tennis gear, helped him get on the junior league team, and financed his 529 education plan."He's just a petty real estate lawyer... his unwritten code of ethics doesn't apply here."The complicated ending only adds to our confusion.

Class is a topic that is rarely discussed in contemporary American literature, probably because racial and gender issues dominate much of the national conversation. This year, just a few months before "The Winner" was published, Adelle Waldman's book "Need Help" was released, and Teddy Wayne's new work is a significant contribution to this overlooked aspect.

WINNER

Author: Teddy Wayne

Publisher: Harper, 320 pages, $30

Wendy Smith is the author of the book "Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre and America, 1931-1940."