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From the New York Times bestselling author and the acclaimed "grandmaster" of espionage (Boston Globe) comes the taut, suspenseful story, set in Paris and Spain, of a man caught in the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War, and an operation that—with the help of FDR's secret operatives—will determine Europe's fate in the coming world war.
New York City, autumn 1938. Gregorio D'Alba, a minor noble descended from the Spanish Bourbons, is awaiting passage on a freighter to Paris after a failed attempt to convince American oil companies to support the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. In Paris, surrounded by shifting political allegiances and prying spy services, D'Alba does whatever he can to support the Spanish Republic—smuggling, gathering intelligence, running arms. But the stakes quickly escalate when D'Alba, along with the British and the Americans, undertakes a mission to infiltrate the highest levels of the Spanish government, and to determine the alliances of his country and forever alter the course of the coming world war.
With his signature gripping, heart-pounding story, Alan Furst's new novel confirms his status as "the most talented espionage novelist of our generation" (Vince Flynn).
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Release date
June 3, 2014 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781442368170
- File size: 237107 KB
- Duration: 08:13:58
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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April 21, 2014
After a slow start, this spy thriller set in 1938 from Edgar finalist Furst (Mission to Paris) settles into a lazy pace, as it charts the attempts of two part-time arms dealers, Chistián Ferrar and Max de Lyon, to serve the Spanish Republic and its beleaguered army while most of the continent has its eye on Berlin. Every clandestine mission they undertake—a prolonged quest for cannons in Poland, a nifty operation to trick Russia out of field guns and antiaircraft weaponry in Odessa—is fraught with struggle, and the pro-Franco Nazi spy apparatus always seems one step ahead. A revolving cast of secondary characters leads several plotlines that peter out, heavy on atmosphere, light on action. As usual, Furst manages to capture the fragile, itinerant nature of European life during the interwar period, dropping in hints of the horror to come, but this is one of his less memorable efforts. Agent: Amanda Urban, ICM. -
September 29, 2014
Furst’s latest historical espionage novel explores the ominous landscape of Europe in the late 1930s. Christián Ferrar, a young Spanish attorney working in Paris, undertakes a dangerous mission to purchase and smuggle arms for the desperate forces of the Spanish Republic, who are trying to hold off the advances of Gen. Francisco Franco. Furst’s material, steeped in the historical complexity of the period, may not be accessible for
casual listeners as they seek to distinguish among Ferrar’s band of outlaw
colleagues and his various romantic
conquests. Yet it remains undeniable
that Gerroll, the reader of previous productions of Furst’s titles, intimately knows the atmosphere and emotions
surrounding the author’s view of a continent on the verge of collapse. His portrayal of Marquesa Maria Cristina, a mysterious love interest of Ferrar at the center of a complex web of betrayal, is especially engrossing. The tension and sensuality are palpable, even when the events surrounding the story line are hard to follow. Fans already steeped in the genre will appreciate the experience. A Random House hardcover. -
Narrator Daniel Gerroll dials in Furst's atmospheric Paris wrapped in the ominous events of impending war, as well as the determined normality of its citizens. The story revolves around the cause of procuring and delivering arms for the Spanish Republic. With Gerroll's elegant suggestions of accents and varied speech patterns, the characters are clear to listeners and come alive in rich layers. Christi‡n Ferrar, an attorney with a prestigious firm with international connections, has a useful cover that allows him access and influence as he aids the Spanish cause during 1938. As spies, generals, police officers, and merchant seamen come on stage, listeners benefit from Gerroll's knowledge and experience with Furst's other works. A sophisticated performance--outstanding in all respects. R.F.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
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