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jacki_f's review
4.0
Alan Furst has written fourteen books set in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. They form the "Night Soldiers" series and they are loosely inter-connected but all are also standalone novels in their own right. This is the first book in the series and it differs from the most recent books in both length and scope. It's a sprawling novel that starts in 1934 and doesn't end until 1945. It begins in Bulgaria but takes us all over Europe: Russia, Spain, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. While centered on one character, it encompasses a host of others, many of whom only have small walk on parts but a few of which will appear repeatedly over the years. It's a book that you immerse yourself in.
The main character is Khristo Stoianev, a Bulgarian who in 1934 is recruited by the Russians to train as a spy. This takes him to Moscow where he forms tight and enduring bonds with some of his classmates. Once training is complete, Khristo is sent to Spain to support the Republican efforts in the Civil War. Around him, he sees the effects of Stalin's purges as others are called back to Russia and not heard from again. Eventually he receives a warning that he will be next and opts to escape to France, where for a time he lives under the radar as a waiter at the Brasserie Heininger. However his entanglements with the Russians are not over.
One of the distinctive features of Furst's writing is the way that he introduces so many characters, gives them full back stories and then writes them out again. He's a bit like a drunk at the bar who can't stick to the narrative. I've read several reviews from people who find this irritating and if you do, then he's probably not the writer for you. Personally, I love this feature of his writing. He's not just presenting us with the story of an individual, he's giving us an entire continent in glorious panorama, richly populated with rounded and real characters. You don't get lost in a story, you get lost in a world. Yes, at times you're not sure what's happening but things always come back together. It's a masterpiece.
The main character is Khristo Stoianev, a Bulgarian who in 1934 is recruited by the Russians to train as a spy. This takes him to Moscow where he forms tight and enduring bonds with some of his classmates. Once training is complete, Khristo is sent to Spain to support the Republican efforts in the Civil War. Around him, he sees the effects of Stalin's purges as others are called back to Russia and not heard from again. Eventually he receives a warning that he will be next and opts to escape to France, where for a time he lives under the radar as a waiter at the Brasserie Heininger. However his entanglements with the Russians are not over.
One of the distinctive features of Furst's writing is the way that he introduces so many characters, gives them full back stories and then writes them out again. He's a bit like a drunk at the bar who can't stick to the narrative. I've read several reviews from people who find this irritating and if you do, then he's probably not the writer for you. Personally, I love this feature of his writing. He's not just presenting us with the story of an individual, he's giving us an entire continent in glorious panorama, richly populated with rounded and real characters. You don't get lost in a story, you get lost in a world. Yes, at times you're not sure what's happening but things always come back together. It's a masterpiece.
adamrshields's review against another edition
2.0
I read about half of this over vacation and got board and gave up.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Atmospheric espionage novel set during the buildup to World War Two and then the actual war. The opening section in Bulgaria was probably my favorite part of the book. Most of the rest of the book though seemed a bit rushed and I think I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more focus on a particular time period and setting instead of trying to span so much time and history. So overall, I'm glad I read it but just was not as impressed as I thought I would be given my usual tastes. Listened to the audio version read by George Guidall ,who did an admirable job, but I think this may have been a book that needed to be actually read since there were so many characters, many who used aliases frequently.
barts_books's review against another edition
5.0
Absolute first class read set pre and during WW2. Reads like a hybrid of Graham Greene and Eric Ambler with a wonderful sense of place and cinematic feel. Guess I have a new author and series to enjoy :)
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
2.0
This is not a book to listen to on audio. To complex and too easy to not catch important things.
joestewart's review against another edition
4.0
While the writing was excellent, I found the story line difficult to follow at times. I’ll try another.
john_raine's review against another edition
4.0
Apparently I read this many years ago, but I don't have any memory of it. I liked it because it told a story of eastern europe during the 30s and 40s that I had not read before . The metaphor of the river is pretty strong through most of the book and I like the way that it begins and ends on the Danube.
thrillhouse57's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
eososray's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic book.
I love the perspective of the NKVD and WWII from an Eastern European point of view. The view of Khristo's life from recruitment to dissolution to survival was fascinating. A view of these era's from this perspective is not easy to find and I look forward to reading more of this series.
I love the perspective of the NKVD and WWII from an Eastern European point of view. The view of Khristo's life from recruitment to dissolution to survival was fascinating. A view of these era's from this perspective is not easy to find and I look forward to reading more of this series.