Alan furst is an american author of historical spy fiction. Alan furst, whom vince flynn has called the most talented espionage novelist of our generation, now gives us a taut, suspenseful, romantic, and richly rendered novel of spies and secret operatives in paris and new york, in warsaw and odessa, on the eve of world war ii. The book of spies brings us the aristocratic intrigues of the scarlet pimpernel, in which french migrs duel with robespierres secret service. Reading a furst novel is, in the best sense, like watching a classic blackandwhite movie with a. An anthology of literary espionage modern library reprint by alan furst isbn. He considers his influences to be eric ambler, graham greene, joseph roth and arthur koestler. The night soldiers series is a popular book series of historical spy and espionage thriller novels written a noteworthy american author named alan furst. After watching fascist militia stomp his brother to death, stoianev embarks on a journet through russia,barcelona and madrid in republican spain, vichy france, and eventually,back home. Drawing on acknowledged classics and rediscovered treasures, alan furst s the book of spies delivers literate entertainment and excitement on every page. With extraordinary authenticity, a superb cast of characters, and heartstopping tension as it moves from salonika to paris to berlin and back, spies of the balkans is a stunning novel about a man who.
Except for john le carre, there is really no worthy competitor for the master of the historical spy novel, alan furst. The spies of warsaw is yet another in furst s cycle of novels set in the 1930s and ww2, dealing with spies and the shadow world. Alan fursts latest novel, the spies of warsaw, will not disappoint longtime fans of the historicallybased fiction author, and it should spawn a new batch of readers. He lived in the south of franceas a fulbright teaching fellow at the faculte des lettres at the university of montpellier, then in seattle, where he worked for the city of seattle arts commission. Aug 25, 2011 alan furst is widely recognised as the master of the historical spy novel. A ladies man, costa is involved with a british agent who has the improbable name roxanne. The spies of warsaw is a 2008 spy novel by alan furst about espionage involving the major nations shortly before world war ii competing for influence and control over the future of poland. A master of the form culls from the cream of the cloakanddagger crop. Jun 24, 2004 here is an extraordinary collection of the worlds best literary espionage, selected by alan furst, a contemporary master of the genre. Furst cuts back a bit on the usual tension, but there is all of the wonderfully wistful late30s atmosphere that is his specialty. Edvard uhl, a plodding, middleaged german engineer with business in poland who on the eve of the war is seduced. Spies of the balkans by alan furst signature suspense in fursts spies alan fursts latest world war ii thriller is packed with convincing details and heartpounding plot. Alan fursts historical espionage novels, of which this is the 10th, share many characteristics. Alan furst is widely recognized as the master of the historical s.
The spies of warsaw by alan furst books the guardian. The book of spies, modern library classics by alan furst. None of fursts books have made it to the big screen, which is regrettable, since he is a firstrate craftsman of highly cinematic narratives. No one sets the tone of the dangerous shadows and the consequences of misjudgment quite like furst and he. The houston chronicle has described furst as the greatest living writer of espionage fiction. Here is an extraordinary collection of work from some of. Here is an extraordinary collection of work from some of the finest novelists of the twentieth century. Buy spies of the balkans pbk edition by furst, alan isbn.
Fursts books usually contain some oldworld sex scenes, and spies of the balkans follows suit. Full of interesting characters, and a wonderful sense of place, this work, like most of his prior efforts, does not try to exceed the limits of reality. An anthology of literary espionage by alan furst, anthony burgess, john steinbeck, john le carre at due to covid19, orders may be delayed. The spies of warsaw is fursts finest novel to date exciting, atmospheric, and erotic. Alan furst became a published novelist in 1976 with the novel your. The spies of warsaw by alan furstalan fursts spy thriller is extraordinary for his mastery of period detail, writes oliver marre. Like his other espionage novels, spies of the balkans is rich with historical detail. No one sets the tone of the dangerous shadows and the consequences of misjudgment quite like furst and he also keeps the reader guessing about who is trustworthy and who isnt, which makes for a highly entertaining read. The book of spies brings us the aristocratic intrigues of the scarlet pimpernel, in which french emigres duel with robespierres secret service. Alan furst is widely recognised as the master of the historical spy novel. The book of spies, edited by alan furst, aims for a sweet spot where fine writing and intriguing subject matter converge, exposing the often unpleasant truth about the blundering immorality of snooping and snitching.
His descriptive powers of life during ww2 and the spying industry are second to none. Now translated into eighteen languages, he is the author of novels including mission to paris, spies of the balkans a tv book club choice the spies of warsaw, which became a bbc miniseries starring david tennant and the foreign correspondent. About the book of spies an anthology of the worlds best literary espionage, selected by a contemporary master of the genre, alan furst. He is the author of night soldiers, dark star, the polish officer, the world at night, red gold, kingdom of shadows, and blood of victory, all of which are available as random house trade paperbacks. Born in new york, he has lived for long periods in france, especially paris. Inspired by the politics of tyranny or war, each of these writers. The story starts in october 1937 and ends in may 1938, with a one paragraph. The novels of alan furst are translated in 17 languages around the world.
The book of spies lee county library system overdrive. He is the bestselling author of night soldiers, dark star, the polish officer, the world at night, red gold, kingdom of shadows, blood of victory, dark voyage, the foreign correspondent, mission to paris, midnight in europe, and a hero of france. Having possibly already supplanted le carre as the most popular writer of the spy genre, furst blood of victory, 2002, etc. An anthology of the worlds best literary espionage, selected by a contemporary master of the genre, alan furst. June 2008 if there are any lingering doubts that alan furst is our premiere writer of historical spy fiction, his 10th novel, the spies of warsaw, will put them to rest. Now translated into seventeen languages, he is the bestselling author of night soldiers, dark star, the polish officer, the world at night, red gold, kingdom of shadows, blood of victory, dark voyage. None of fursts books have made it to the big screen, which is regrettable, since he is. It is comprised of a total of 14 books, which were released between the years 1988 and 2016. An anthology of literary espionage modern library classics paperback june 8, 2004 by anthony burgess author, john steinbeck author, john le carre author, rebecca west author. Jun 04, 2016 signature suspense in furst s spies of the balkans alan furst blends history and intrigue in spies a hero of france starts with one terse sentence that switches up location and season. The book of spies by anthony burgess, john steinbeck, john le. Jun 02, 2017 though furst has been making his living as a writer of spy fiction since the early 1980s, his is not a household name like that of john le carre, ian fleming, or tom clancy. Great detail goes into the history of the times, the aristocratic classes that rule the countries and how each countries militarys deal with the inevitable coming war.
Signature suspense in fursts spies of the balkans alan furst blends history and intrigue in spies a hero of france starts with one terse sentence that switches up location and season. The spies of warsaw is yet another in fursts cycle of novels set in the 1930s and ww2, dealing with spies and the shadow world. Spies of the balkans is about the sacrifices people made during fascisms push. A german engineer arrives at the warsaw railway station. An anthology of literary espionage by furst, alan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Furst highlights the little things people do with just a little nudge to make a dark world just a bit better. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The spies of warsaw is his finest novel to datethe history precise, the writing evocative and powerful, more a novel about spies than a spy novel, exciting, atmospheric, erotic, and impossible to put down. Now translated into eighteen languages, he is the author of novels including mission to paris, spies of the balkans a tv book club choice the spies of warsaw, which became a bbc miniseries starring david tennant and the foreign correspondent born in new york, he lived for many years in paris and. Check out this list for more books about world war ii.
He keeps the reader on tender hooks throughout, recommend highly. So begins the spies of warsaw, the new novel by alan furst. His novels are usually set in eastern europe before and during world war ii. The spies of warsaw combines all of these requirements. It wasnt fursts best in the series, but it was a sweet kataifi of a novel. Jun 29, 2008 fursts latest, the spies of warsaw, begins with just such a specimen. Here is an extraordinary collection of the worlds best literary espionage, selected by alan furst, a contemporary master of the genre. Alan furst is widely recognized as the master of the historical spy novel. Declared an incomparable expert at his game by the new york times, alan furst outdoes even his own finest novels in this thrilling new book. Fursts latest, the spies of warsaw, begins with just such a specimen. Now translated into seventeen languages, he is the bestselling author of night soldiers, dark star, the polish officer, the world at night, red gold, kingdom of shadows, blood of victory, dark voyage, and the foreign correspondent born in new york. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the spies of warsaw.
Night soldiers, the polish officer, kingdom of shadows, the world at night, dark star, the spies of warsaw and many others. In night soldiers alan furst takes up the sweep of wwii in europe through the eyes of a bulgarian named khristo stoianev. The book of spies carnegie library of pittsburgh overdrive. Costa zannis, a senior police official, is our protagonist, and he doesn. Aug 29, 2010 fursts books usually contain some oldworld sex scenes, and spies of the balkans follows suit. In an introduction, furst lets us know hes not after any old bond knockoffs here, but wants good writing we are here in the literary. Alan fursts a hero of france is a historical spy thriller book filled with suspense.