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A review by krisrid
The Devil's Company by David Liss
5.0
I've read several of David Liss's other books and enjoyed all of them but this one is the best so far! Liss is a wonderful writer of historical fiction, combining detailed research and an accurate portrayal of the period, wonderfully engaging and complex characters, and a skillfully applied subtle overlay of the modern reader's knowledge of how the future will be to the earlier time-frame of the book.
In The Devil's Company, Liss examines the business of the British East India Company - the subject of the title - once upon a time a behemoth of not only Britain and India, but well on the way to dominating the world.
We meet former boxer, thieftaker, and outsider, Benjamin Weaver on page one of the book, as he completes what he believes to be a simple case of delivering retribution for a client who was cheated, by winning a fixed card game. On page 12, we discover, along with Weaver that it's not the client, but Weaver himself who's been cheated, but we have no more idea than Weaver why things have played out as they have. Weaver learns he's been forced by blackmail, into the position of working for someone he wouldn't voluntarily, and obliged to do tasks that make little sense, with minimal information or understanding of why.
The story takes off immediately from this point and runs full-tilt right to the end without a moment for the reader to catch their breath. One of the things I enjoy about Liss's books is that he doesn't need to bore you with a bunch of set-up. He's a talented enough writer to tell the story as you go along, giving you just enough information to allow you to keep up while leaving enough unexplained to keep you interested, excited and wanting to know what happens next.
The Weaver character is very likeable, despite being a man outside the "acceptable" worlds of 1700's London. As a con-man, a man with a shadowy past, and most importantly, as a Jew, he is considered "less" by many people of the time. Nevertheless, he is a man of integrity - as far as his profession allows - and one who tries as best he can to do what is most just given the world he lives in. The term "honourable scoundrel" would be my best description of him.
The other hallmark of books by David Liss - and this one is no exception - is that they are chock-a-block with action, intrigue and excitement. There are twists and turns, surprising betrayals and unexpected allies, and people at every turn who are not what they appear to be. As much as the book fits historical fiction it would be equally appropriately classified as a thriller or action/adverture book because it is definitely a page turner with plenty of action.
One note - I realized after reading the book that it is the third in a series of books starring the Benjamin Weaver character. I have not read the first two books, but aside from some vague references in the early pages about Weaver's past investigations, I found no issues whatsoever in fully understanding and enjoying this book so I must assume the three books are each stand-alone stories and do not require reading in order. Although having enjoyed this one so much, I do plan to go back and read the others as well.
The machinations of the East India Company, with whom Weaver is forced to become involved to complete his assignment, is very much a character in the story. Neither it, nor the men who run it are in any way honourable, and the description in the cover that this book depicts "the birth of the modern corporation" is quite accurate.
There were two passages near the end of the book that I found particularly striking for their equal wisdom and applicability to our present world as much as the 1722 England in which the book takes place:
". . . the heart of what I love in this kingdom is found in its people, its constitution,
its liberties and opportunities, not in its companies."
and,
"Politics cannot always be about what is moral and right and good for all men and for all time. It must be about what is expedient now, and what is the lesser evil." "[Weaver responds]: "That is a wretched way to manage a nation. You are no better than the Company men, thinking only from one quarter to the next."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it, not only to those who enjoy historical fiction, or 1700's England as a period, but also to those interested in politics and the politics of business, because in this book, David Liss lays out the foundations of how our current environment very likely might have had its infancy, for better or, more likely, for worse.
In any event, this is a terrific read!!
In The Devil's Company, Liss examines the business of the British East India Company - the subject of the title - once upon a time a behemoth of not only Britain and India, but well on the way to dominating the world.
We meet former boxer, thieftaker, and outsider, Benjamin Weaver on page one of the book, as he completes what he believes to be a simple case of delivering retribution for a client who was cheated, by winning a fixed card game. On page 12, we discover, along with Weaver that it's not the client, but Weaver himself who's been cheated, but we have no more idea than Weaver why things have played out as they have. Weaver learns he's been forced by blackmail, into the position of working for someone he wouldn't voluntarily, and obliged to do tasks that make little sense, with minimal information or understanding of why.
The story takes off immediately from this point and runs full-tilt right to the end without a moment for the reader to catch their breath. One of the things I enjoy about Liss's books is that he doesn't need to bore you with a bunch of set-up. He's a talented enough writer to tell the story as you go along, giving you just enough information to allow you to keep up while leaving enough unexplained to keep you interested, excited and wanting to know what happens next.
The Weaver character is very likeable, despite being a man outside the "acceptable" worlds of 1700's London. As a con-man, a man with a shadowy past, and most importantly, as a Jew, he is considered "less" by many people of the time. Nevertheless, he is a man of integrity - as far as his profession allows - and one who tries as best he can to do what is most just given the world he lives in. The term "honourable scoundrel" would be my best description of him.
The other hallmark of books by David Liss - and this one is no exception - is that they are chock-a-block with action, intrigue and excitement. There are twists and turns, surprising betrayals and unexpected allies, and people at every turn who are not what they appear to be. As much as the book fits historical fiction it would be equally appropriately classified as a thriller or action/adverture book because it is definitely a page turner with plenty of action.
One note - I realized after reading the book that it is the third in a series of books starring the Benjamin Weaver character. I have not read the first two books, but aside from some vague references in the early pages about Weaver's past investigations, I found no issues whatsoever in fully understanding and enjoying this book so I must assume the three books are each stand-alone stories and do not require reading in order. Although having enjoyed this one so much, I do plan to go back and read the others as well.
The machinations of the East India Company, with whom Weaver is forced to become involved to complete his assignment, is very much a character in the story. Neither it, nor the men who run it are in any way honourable, and the description in the cover that this book depicts "the birth of the modern corporation" is quite accurate.
There were two passages near the end of the book that I found particularly striking for their equal wisdom and applicability to our present world as much as the 1722 England in which the book takes place:
". . . the heart of what I love in this kingdom is found in its people, its constitution,
its liberties and opportunities, not in its companies."
and,
"Politics cannot always be about what is moral and right and good for all men and for all time. It must be about what is expedient now, and what is the lesser evil." "[Weaver responds]: "That is a wretched way to manage a nation. You are no better than the Company men, thinking only from one quarter to the next."
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it, not only to those who enjoy historical fiction, or 1700's England as a period, but also to those interested in politics and the politics of business, because in this book, David Liss lays out the foundations of how our current environment very likely might have had its infancy, for better or, more likely, for worse.
In any event, this is a terrific read!!