Robert Harris' "An Officer And A Spy": Dreyfus affair, a turning point in European history

Robert Harris has a talent for creating a good suspense stories. This book describes in vivid details how Dreyfus Affair unfolded in 1890s in France.

Dreyfus was an young French military officer of Jewish origin from German-occupied Alsace. In 1894 he was arrested and charged with spying for Imperial Germany. He denied any involvement in any conspiracy against French Republic but due to widespread antisemitism then in France he was found guilty anyway.

Robert Harris begins the story with Dreyfus conviction in military court and then slowly and methodically exposes all the inconsistencies and prejudices found in this affair. 

This is a remarkable story and anyone should know about it.    

posted by David 

Tweet

"A German Requiem" by Philip Kerr -- Vienna 1948

This is a 3rd book in a Bernie Gunther's series. It is set in post-WWII Berlin and Vienna. 

The Countries of Europe occupied by Red Army following Nazi defeat end up in a very precarious position. Now, in people's opinion Europe represents a a place of plenty and security but for a few years after WWII it was a dark place. No Food, no medicine, no security. People could be abducted by Russian security, military or any number of unofficial paramilitary services for no reason at all and they could do whatever they wanted with them.

How to survive in this situation? Black market, crimes, prostitution flourished. Culture norms shifted to tolerate new environment.

So it is in such situation Gunther takes a job to investigate death of American military in Vienna. His former Nazi-friend is accused for this crime and Bernie's job is to clear his name and of course, he wonders why he wants to do that. In reality however Bernie's job is a cover up to catch a bigger fish without Bernie even knowing about it until it is too late.

posted by David

      

Tweet

Robert Harris' "Fatherland" - What if novel - 1964 - Awakening

After reading few books from Philip Kerr's detective Gunther's series it was quite easy to transition to Robert Harris' "Fatherland".

This is a serious book. Though it is set in an alternative universe where Nazi Germany dominates half of the Europe following WWII and competes with USA, almost all the major events described in this novel are historically correct in a sense that it describes how people in Nazi Germany and then in Soviet Union lived and interacted with outside world. The author simply combined two actual totalitarian regimes into hypothetical victorious Nazi Germany.  

We erroneously think that either Nazi Germany or Soviet Union were monolithic states when citizens were fully committed to its respective ideologies. In reality, however, vast majority of people in both states were lived in a state of fear and indifference, actively avoiding knowledge of what's been happening around them. But what if citizens become aware of real facts? How they will react to real facts individually or as a nation? This novel shows result of such awakening when one person is capable of altering the fate of the nation.

posted by David  

Tweet

"The Pale Criminal" by Philip Kerr - A Review

This is a second book in Bernie Gunther's series. This time Bernie is recruited by Nazis to investigate murders of German girls. There is a secret plan by some fanatics in Nazi party to blame these murders on Jews and provoke hatred and animosity towards them. Of course, we know from real history Nazis were successful in creating anti-Jewish sentiments in Germany in 1930s that snowballed into unimaginable, industrial-scale slaughtering of Jewish population in early 1940s.    

This novel is a the author's attempt to show remnants of humanity in Germany under Nazis. That there were some people who did not share anti-Jewish sentiments and wanted to stop the coming avalanche that would go to devour Jews and eventually German people and its identity.

Bernie is one of them. He uncovers the plot against Jews but he is too late to save them.

posted by David      

Tweet

Will Adams' "The Exodus Quest" - from Akhenaten to Bible

This is a second book in archeologist Daniel Knox series. In this book he uncovers hidden treasures that supposed to show that Egyptian Pharaoh of 18th dynasty, Akhenaten (Ikhnaton) and his wife, Nefertiti, were actually original Adam and Eve of the Bible and that monotheistic religion of the Sun, Aten/Aton, introduced by Akhenaten in Egypt during his reign were adopted by his followers and after they were declared heretics and were forced to leave Egypt as in exodus became ancestors of modern day Jewish nation.

posted by David

      

Tweet

Philip Kerr's "March Violets" - Detective story set in Germany in 1930s

This is a great book. A fictional account of private investigator, Bernie Gunther, working in Nazi Germany in 1930s. It nicely shows how totalitarian system is established in free country slowly, step-by-step. 

This book is a first novel in the series about Bernie Gunther. Bernie's character reminds me of Humphrey Bogart's character as private detective. Takes no bullshit. Although he tries to accommodate the regime to survive but he does it without losing his integrity. 

posted by David

Tweet

Robert Harris' "Conclave" --- a Review

I liked this book. The ending is completely unexpected.

The book opens with the death of old Pope. Dean of Cardinals, charged with organizing a Conclave to elect new Pope, has been finding out that those members of conclave who are leading candidates for new Pope are having questionable past that practically prevent them to be a Pope.  

So, it is now up to Dean to make decision how to handle the situation. In addition, a new person appears just before a conclave begins who claims he is a new cardinal elevated in cardinal position by late Pope in secret.

What other secrets are out there? It is a good read.

posted by David  

Tweet

Judge Dee's first case by Robert van Gulik

This book about Golden Buddha is part of detective stories whose main character is Judge Dee set in 7th century China. It is said Judge Dee's character is based on real historical Chinese statesman and magistrate. 

In this book Judge Dee is investigating murder of another Judge in a port town. 

Even though it is well written novel, I was not very impressed. Judge Dee is open-minded and curious personality but I did not see anything remarkable in his character to make me to want to read other stories.

posted by David

  

Tweet

Review of Paul Sussman's "The Lost Army of Cambyses"

This is another historical detective set in modern day Egypt. When I started reading it I thought it was one of Will Adams' books. It had a very similar opening as in Adams' "The Alexander cipher" I reviewed few weeks back (in reality, it is likely Adams borrowed book "structure" from Sussman as latter's book was published at earlier date). 

Anyone who is into ancient history may know about the army of Persian King Cambyses lost in a desert storm following successful campaign to conquer the ancient Egypt in 6th century BC. 

When a fiction novel is about subject known to be inaccessible in reality one can immediately assume that by the time of its ending it should return to status quo. Indeed, this novel describes a rare, once in a life time archeological discovery of the lost Army and in the end the Army is lost again. 

The novel is a typical mystery detective story but the ending is actually very surprising and quite unexpecting.       

posted by David Usharaul

Tweet

"Vredens Dag" by Kurt Aust - a historical fiction set in Denmark

Recently I started watching a lot of Scandinavian TV series. Most of them are very good (Borgen, Anno 1790, Dicte, Rita, 1864, Vares). 

Later I came across of a historical crime novel written by Scandinavian author and decided to read it to acquire some light introduction to their history. It is a historical detective set in Denmark at the eve of 1700 A.D.

The story is focused on crime investigation by Danish Professor who is also a royal judge and his assistant. They are traveling to another city but due to a heavy snow storm were forced to stay at some remote guesthouse in the middle of nowhere and there witnessing several gruesome murders. 

It is well written novel. Some of the real historical facts are briefly mentioned. It depicts the period in Western Europe when science is rapidly advancing and widening people's understanding of the world. 

posted by David Usharauli

     

Tweet

"The Alexander Cipher" - secret of the tomb of Alexander the Great

This novel is part archaeology part political thriller. The territory of ancient Macedonia covers modern-day Greece, Bulgaria, FYR of Macedonia and Albania. Wealthy Greek Macedonian Father and Son want to unify these separate territories into one country and resurrect old Macedonia. But to accomplish this goal they need something that make ordinary Macedonian people to rise up. 

They think the goal can be achieved if the tomb of the Alexander the Great is discovered. So they finance archaeological excavations in Egypt to find it.

Indeed, Daniel Knox, becomes involved in its discovery, by chance.

I liked this book. It has some some history, some realism, some fantasy. Egypt is shown with its powerful ministry of Antiquity, its wealthy, cruel but 'patriotic' magnates and ordinary Egyptians who try to do their best.       

posted by David Usharauli

Tweet

Iain Pears' "Stone's Fall" - review

After reading Pears' "An Instance of the Fingerpost" and liking it I decided to read next book I came across from this author and surely it was another quite remarkable piece of fiction.

The story in "Stone's Fall" spans time period of 40 years from 1860s till 1908. It is divided into three sections and goes backwards in time to tell the history behind the story of main characters.

Interestingly, when first part ended I thought book was finished because story came to some natural conclusion. But I was mistaken. To my surprise not even the second section of the book could truly explain the reasons behind the first section. Only after reading the 3rd section of the book and basically only reading the final pages one can realize how deep and unexpected way it is connected to the first pages. 

It is quite remarkable story. Moreover, writing style is so easy to follow. I liked both of his books I read. Highly talented writer.

posted by David Usharauli   

Tweet

Lem's "Solaris" remains true to its concept

I remember reading this famous book when I was teenager but could not recall much of it so I decided to re-read it. 

I got two impressions out of it: 

The first half is quite "scary" especially if you like to read books before going to sleep and it is dark around. 

The second half is incomprehensible. I did not understand it and lost interest. Thankfully it is a short novel so I finished it quickly.

In the end I will say that this novel copies its narrative and remains true to its core idea that people are not equipped [yet] to understand behavior of an alien life form. Unintended side effect of it is that reader will find herself/himself at a loss after reading this book.

posted by David Usharauli

     

Tweet