A cult classic novel used a fictional serial killer to satirize 1980s corporate greed
Bret Easton Ellis used the persona of an obsessed investment banker to critique the shallow consumerism and cutthroat corporate environment of New York City during the 1980s financial boom.
Published in 1991, American Psycho serves as a biting critique of the 'yuppie' culture that defined 1980s Wall Street. The protagonist, Patrick Bateman, represents a literal interpretation of cannibalistic capitalism, mirroring an era where cocaine use among finance professionals peaked at ten percent.
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