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Man from St Petersburg
His name was Feliks. He came to London to commit a murder that would change history. A master manipulator, he had many weapons at his command, but against him were ranged the whole of the English police, a brilliant and powerful lord, and the young Winston Churchill himself. These odds would have stopped any man in the world-except the man from St. Petersburg...
The Man From St Petersburg is a dark tale of family secrets and political consequences. Ken Follett's masterful storytelling brings to life the danger of a world on the brink of war. A Secret Negotiation 1914. Tensions are rising as Europe finds itself caught in a web of alliances and dangerous warmongering. To help tip the balance in their favour, Britain aims to draw Russia into an alliance with them instead of Germany. Czar Nicholas’s nephew, Prince Aleksei, is sent to London for secret naval talks with Lord Walden. A Play for Power Walden has a personal connection to Aleksei; his wife is Aleksei’s aunt. And they are not the only ones interested in the Russian's arrival; so too are Walden’s willful, idealistic daughter, the head of Special Branch, and a ruthless Russian anarchist. A World at War With the British desperately needing a signed treaty and the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the destinies of these individuals become inextricably linked, as tragedy threatens to shatter the Waldens’ complacency . . .
The Man From St Petersburg is a dark tale of family secrets and political consequences. Ken Follett's masterful storytelling brings to life the danger of a world on the brink of war. A Secret Negotiation 1914. Tensions are rising as Europe finds itself caught in a web of alliances and dangerous warmongering. To help tip the balance in their favour, Britain aims to draw Russia into an alliance with them instead of Germany. Czar Nicholas’s nephew, Prince Aleksei, is sent to London for secret naval talks with Lord Walden. A Play for Power Walden has a personal connection to Aleksei; his wife is Aleksei’s aunt. And they are not the only ones interested in the Russian's arrival; so too are Walden’s willful, idealistic daughter, the head of Special Branch, and a ruthless Russian anarchist. A World at War With the British desperately needing a signed treaty and the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the destinies of these individuals become inextricably linked, as tragedy threatens to shatter the Waldens’ complacency . . .
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1982
3635 people are currently reading
18887 people want to read
About the author
Ken Follett
598 books59.3k followersKen Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,782 reviews
September 23, 2018
My first Ken Follett. Although no pirates are involved, the word “swashbuckling” comes to mind. The story is set in London in the early 1900’s. It’s fiction, but enough real-life characters and events are involved that is has an aura of a historical novel.
A Russian anarchist is trying to assassinate a Russian Price, the son of Czar Nicholas. The Prince is in London trying to negotiate an alliance between England and Russia against Germany in what is assumed to be an upcoming war. A very young Winston Churchill is involved in the negotiations. The Prince is staying at the London home of his cousin who married a British Lord. Amazingly, the anarchist used to be her lover back in Russia 17 years ago! And he learns she has a daughter who is 17…. Could it be? The anarchist re-ignites the old flames to earn entrance into the home to try to assassinate the prince.
Woven into the story are true historical events. The daughter hears Emmeline Pankhurst speak and joins the suffragette movement. We are given readings from Russian revolutionary pamphlets. Archduke Ferdinand is assassinated near the end of the story.
So we have a fast-moving kind of made-for-TV thriller. The coincidences are astounding. We have several just in the nick-of-time escapes and a brave main character managing to catch and disarm a nitroglycerine bomb.
The characters are well-developed, especially the anarchist, his Russian former lover, and the daughter. But there is little depth to the writing. It’s more like a historical romance than a historical novel. So I’ll call it a fun story and good entertainment.
Photo of Emmaline Pankhurst from theguardian.com
Photo of the author from ken-follett.com
A Russian anarchist is trying to assassinate a Russian Price, the son of Czar Nicholas. The Prince is in London trying to negotiate an alliance between England and Russia against Germany in what is assumed to be an upcoming war. A very young Winston Churchill is involved in the negotiations. The Prince is staying at the London home of his cousin who married a British Lord. Amazingly, the anarchist used to be her lover back in Russia 17 years ago! And he learns she has a daughter who is 17…. Could it be? The anarchist re-ignites the old flames to earn entrance into the home to try to assassinate the prince.
Woven into the story are true historical events. The daughter hears Emmeline Pankhurst speak and joins the suffragette movement. We are given readings from Russian revolutionary pamphlets. Archduke Ferdinand is assassinated near the end of the story.
So we have a fast-moving kind of made-for-TV thriller. The coincidences are astounding. We have several just in the nick-of-time escapes and a brave main character managing to catch and disarm a nitroglycerine bomb.
The characters are well-developed, especially the anarchist, his Russian former lover, and the daughter. But there is little depth to the writing. It’s more like a historical romance than a historical novel. So I’ll call it a fun story and good entertainment.
Photo of Emmaline Pankhurst from theguardian.com
Photo of the author from ken-follett.com
December 10, 2018
How can I root for an assassin?
Ken Follett has always been a personal favorite of mine. I love the way he mixes fiction with reality in all of his books, whether he’s chosen to write about the Cold War or the lead-up to World War 1 or 2. The writing style is never something I complain about with Follett and here is no exception. The sentences bring me to a whole other plane of historical existence, where history has altered to bring me there as an observer. Perfection!!!
Ken Follett spares not an ounce of genius in bringing his characters to life and weaving them together in electrifying narrative. His artistry is one that burdens the reader with sorting the protagonists from the antagonists, enriching each character’s complexion and back story with such talent that you may just end up pulling for the whole lot as the novel winds to a close.
Situated in the lead-up to the First World War in 1914 London, we find Britain pushing to secure an alliance with the Russian Empire. War seems all but inevitable, and intel indicates a low chance of Allied success unless the whole of the Triple Entente is prepared to throw their martial weight against Germany.
This thriller has a lot to offer, from the international intrigue of anarchist subversion-ism hurled against the British secret police, an endearing and dynamic cast, chase scenes, to the masterful pacing and pitch-perfect dialogue, all encased in a historical backdrop that will lend the reader in a sense of familiarity with prewar London. Sure, a few of the plot turns are a bit too sharp and escape sequences faintly implausible, but the gripping prose and fluorescent cast are more than adequate to keep you anchored firmly to your seat.
It may not be as polished around the edges as Eye of the Needle, or as seductive as his massively medieval opus, Pillars of the Earth, but Follett’s The Man From St. Petersburg is surely just as absorbing, insisting you delay that next meal just a little while longer so you can see how the current scene plays out.
Ken Follett has always been a personal favorite of mine. I love the way he mixes fiction with reality in all of his books, whether he’s chosen to write about the Cold War or the lead-up to World War 1 or 2. The writing style is never something I complain about with Follett and here is no exception. The sentences bring me to a whole other plane of historical existence, where history has altered to bring me there as an observer. Perfection!!!
Ken Follett spares not an ounce of genius in bringing his characters to life and weaving them together in electrifying narrative. His artistry is one that burdens the reader with sorting the protagonists from the antagonists, enriching each character’s complexion and back story with such talent that you may just end up pulling for the whole lot as the novel winds to a close.
Situated in the lead-up to the First World War in 1914 London, we find Britain pushing to secure an alliance with the Russian Empire. War seems all but inevitable, and intel indicates a low chance of Allied success unless the whole of the Triple Entente is prepared to throw their martial weight against Germany.
This thriller has a lot to offer, from the international intrigue of anarchist subversion-ism hurled against the British secret police, an endearing and dynamic cast, chase scenes, to the masterful pacing and pitch-perfect dialogue, all encased in a historical backdrop that will lend the reader in a sense of familiarity with prewar London. Sure, a few of the plot turns are a bit too sharp and escape sequences faintly implausible, but the gripping prose and fluorescent cast are more than adequate to keep you anchored firmly to your seat.
It may not be as polished around the edges as Eye of the Needle, or as seductive as his massively medieval opus, Pillars of the Earth, but Follett’s The Man From St. Petersburg is surely just as absorbing, insisting you delay that next meal just a little while longer so you can see how the current scene plays out.
July 9, 2024
I have to admit, I like this Follett best. Not that I didn’t enjoy his first story of the trilogy, “The Pillars of the Earth.” I just prefer the storyteller in him here.
He has a way of creating characters that feel real.
This story is set on the eve of WWI. A bit of personal tragedy set against the backdrop of world tragedy.
He builds his narrative suspense in a way that makes readers enjoy being inside this historical fiction novel wondering what the interplay will be – will they or won’t they?
A bit of romance, intrigue, a murderous mission, a war backdrop. So much to take in, that readers can’t help but turn pages and know that Follett is taking us a long on a suspenseful journey worth every moment until the last page leaves us fairly appreciative and satisfied.
He has a way of creating characters that feel real.
This story is set on the eve of WWI. A bit of personal tragedy set against the backdrop of world tragedy.
He builds his narrative suspense in a way that makes readers enjoy being inside this historical fiction novel wondering what the interplay will be – will they or won’t they?
A bit of romance, intrigue, a murderous mission, a war backdrop. So much to take in, that readers can’t help but turn pages and know that Follett is taking us a long on a suspenseful journey worth every moment until the last page leaves us fairly appreciative and satisfied.
December 15, 2018
I read this many years ago, and have now re-read it. It is a great thriller with an unusual twist: it may be that you consider the assassin (the man from St. Petersburg) to be the good guy with higher morals than those (the Brits) opposing him. The action sequences are superb, and the "teaching narratives" short enough and clear enough not to intrude.
November 25, 2020
This was a fascinating, invigorating read. Set in post Victorian era, the narrative was incredibly immersive in the time period, building up the setting and characters layer by careful layer. While the pacing increased very gradually for the first half of the book, it never lost my attention, but did quite the opposite, drawing me in and making me ever more invested. The storyline starts out simple, then grows more and more complex, interweaving and twisting the narratives together. It was very difficult to decide which character to root for, because each one had been crafted beautifully. The ending was intense and satisfying and also saddening. As always, Ken Follett did not disappoint.
June 24, 2021
Ken Follett spares not an ounce of genius in bringing his characters to life and weaving them together in electrifying narrative. His artistry is one that burdens the reader with sorting the protagonists from the antagonists, enriching each character's complexion and back story with such brio that you may just end up pulling for the whole lot to triumph as the novel winds to a close.
The Man From St. Petersburg is of course no exception, with Follett's tried and true, World War era-themed cat and mouse thriller once again taking center stage. Ever the epicure of historical fiction, Follett treats his settings with care, honoring the historical minutia and injecting them with multiple shots of hair-raising drama. The global tensions and dis-ease surrounding the two largest global engagements to date provide blueprints aplenty for building an engrossing alternate timeline.
Situated in the lead-up to the First World War in 1914 London, we find Britain pushing to secure an alliance with the Russian Empire. War seems all but inevitable, and intel indicates a low chance of Allied success unless the whole of the Triple Entente is prepared to throw their martial weight against Germany.
The man chosen to represent Russia in the negotiations is the courtly admiral Prince Orlov, nephew to British aristocrat Lord Walden. Importuned by no less a figure than Winston Churchill, Walden is tasked with brokering the secret bond and saving his nation from impending defeat. A delicate assignment, no doubt, but one made all the more perilous by a shrewdly intelligent and combat-adept anarchist, whose life is interwoven with the Walden household's in variously surprising ways.
Enter Feliks Kschessinsky, who might just be the most unforgettable covert agent this side of Jason Bourne. The Russian idealist is fed up with his mother country's penchant for embroiling its citizens in wars in which they have no choice in participating and vows to sever the alliance talks with Great Britain by assassinating the admiral.
Fearless yet stringently cautious, unflinchingly determined, almost too capable of evading his pesky pursuers, and ornamented with the occasional flash of charisma and sensuality, Feliks is the cloak-and-dagger character you just can't help but cheer for. (If you're a pacifist at heart, you may have all the more reason to get behind him.) His frequent bouts with Walden and the full armada of the British police force ratchet up the intensity as the walls close in around the Muscovite assassin. But Feliks finds help in the most unsuspecting of places...
Beyond the instant allure of Feliks and his skirmishes with Walden and company, Follett has also arranged equally enticing female leads who are not subordinately tossed in but who command central roles in the narrative. Walden's wife, Lydia, whose Russian past is dredged up in plot-twisting fashion, and their daughter, Charlotte, with her closeted upbringing and later affinity with the suffragette movement underway in Britain at the time, round out the exquisite cast. There isn't too much that can be shared about these two characters without giving major plot shifts away, but their presence is integral to the whole and compete with Feliks on every page for rights to the most memorable character.
Closing Thoughts
Follett's 1982 thriller has a lot to offer, from the international intrigue of anarchist subversionism hurled against the British secret police, an endearing and dynamic cast, Ludlum-esque chase scenes, sensual but not at all gratuitous sex, to the masterful pacing and pitch-perfect dialogue, all encased in a historical backdrop that will lend the reader an osmotic familiarity with prewar London. Sure, a few of the plot turns are a bit too sharp and escape sequences faintly implausible, but the gripping prose and fluorescent cast are more than adequate to keep you anchored firmly to your seat.
It may not be as polished around the edges as Eye of the Needle, or as seductive as his massively medieval opus, Pillars of the Earth, but Follett's The Man From St. Petersburg is surely just as absorbing, insisting you delay that next meal just a little while longer so you can see how the current scene plays out. This is smooth escapism, enclothed in classic Follett garb.
The only question that remains: which character will you root for?
Note: This review is republished from my official website.
The Man From St. Petersburg is of course no exception, with Follett's tried and true, World War era-themed cat and mouse thriller once again taking center stage. Ever the epicure of historical fiction, Follett treats his settings with care, honoring the historical minutia and injecting them with multiple shots of hair-raising drama. The global tensions and dis-ease surrounding the two largest global engagements to date provide blueprints aplenty for building an engrossing alternate timeline.
Situated in the lead-up to the First World War in 1914 London, we find Britain pushing to secure an alliance with the Russian Empire. War seems all but inevitable, and intel indicates a low chance of Allied success unless the whole of the Triple Entente is prepared to throw their martial weight against Germany.
The man chosen to represent Russia in the negotiations is the courtly admiral Prince Orlov, nephew to British aristocrat Lord Walden. Importuned by no less a figure than Winston Churchill, Walden is tasked with brokering the secret bond and saving his nation from impending defeat. A delicate assignment, no doubt, but one made all the more perilous by a shrewdly intelligent and combat-adept anarchist, whose life is interwoven with the Walden household's in variously surprising ways.
Enter Feliks Kschessinsky, who might just be the most unforgettable covert agent this side of Jason Bourne. The Russian idealist is fed up with his mother country's penchant for embroiling its citizens in wars in which they have no choice in participating and vows to sever the alliance talks with Great Britain by assassinating the admiral.
Fearless yet stringently cautious, unflinchingly determined, almost too capable of evading his pesky pursuers, and ornamented with the occasional flash of charisma and sensuality, Feliks is the cloak-and-dagger character you just can't help but cheer for. (If you're a pacifist at heart, you may have all the more reason to get behind him.) His frequent bouts with Walden and the full armada of the British police force ratchet up the intensity as the walls close in around the Muscovite assassin. But Feliks finds help in the most unsuspecting of places...
Beyond the instant allure of Feliks and his skirmishes with Walden and company, Follett has also arranged equally enticing female leads who are not subordinately tossed in but who command central roles in the narrative. Walden's wife, Lydia, whose Russian past is dredged up in plot-twisting fashion, and their daughter, Charlotte, with her closeted upbringing and later affinity with the suffragette movement underway in Britain at the time, round out the exquisite cast. There isn't too much that can be shared about these two characters without giving major plot shifts away, but their presence is integral to the whole and compete with Feliks on every page for rights to the most memorable character.
Closing Thoughts
Follett's 1982 thriller has a lot to offer, from the international intrigue of anarchist subversionism hurled against the British secret police, an endearing and dynamic cast, Ludlum-esque chase scenes, sensual but not at all gratuitous sex, to the masterful pacing and pitch-perfect dialogue, all encased in a historical backdrop that will lend the reader an osmotic familiarity with prewar London. Sure, a few of the plot turns are a bit too sharp and escape sequences faintly implausible, but the gripping prose and fluorescent cast are more than adequate to keep you anchored firmly to your seat.
It may not be as polished around the edges as Eye of the Needle, or as seductive as his massively medieval opus, Pillars of the Earth, but Follett's The Man From St. Petersburg is surely just as absorbing, insisting you delay that next meal just a little while longer so you can see how the current scene plays out. This is smooth escapism, enclothed in classic Follett garb.
The only question that remains: which character will you root for?
Note: This review is republished from my official website.
July 25, 2020
"Un hombre que no tiene miedo puede hacer lo que quiera."
“El hombre de San Petersburgo” es la cuarta obra del autor y salió a la venta por primera vez en 1982, mucho antes de sus famosas Trilogías.
La trama principal del libro trata sobre la Gran Guerra y relata la historia de un hombre al quien se le asigna la misión de matar a un personaje inglés para evitar que Rusia entre a la guerra, pero su misión se complica cuando se entera de la existencia de un amor del pasado.
La historia es muy intrigante, tanto por la parte política como por los líos, como por el amor y rebeldía que la complementa. Pero además tiene la magnífica pluma del autor, deleitándonos con una lectura amena y rápida, llena de interesantes diálogos, convirtiéndolo en un libro histórico recomendable.
También encontraremos, como es característico del autor, grandes personajes reales y ficticios perfectamente engranados en la trama y 100% creíbles.
El final? Quizás para muchos no fue el deseado, pero era el políticamente correcto.
Finalmente solo puedo decir que este libro no llega a la genialidad expuesta en sus Trilogías “Los Pilares de la Tierra” o “The Century”, pero recordemos que fueron sus inicios, sin embargo es una buena novela.
100% recomendado
"Crecer es aprender a engañar."
“El hombre de San Petersburgo” es la cuarta obra del autor y salió a la venta por primera vez en 1982, mucho antes de sus famosas Trilogías.
La trama principal del libro trata sobre la Gran Guerra y relata la historia de un hombre al quien se le asigna la misión de matar a un personaje inglés para evitar que Rusia entre a la guerra, pero su misión se complica cuando se entera de la existencia de un amor del pasado.
La historia es muy intrigante, tanto por la parte política como por los líos, como por el amor y rebeldía que la complementa. Pero además tiene la magnífica pluma del autor, deleitándonos con una lectura amena y rápida, llena de interesantes diálogos, convirtiéndolo en un libro histórico recomendable.
También encontraremos, como es característico del autor, grandes personajes reales y ficticios perfectamente engranados en la trama y 100% creíbles.
El final? Quizás para muchos no fue el deseado, pero era el políticamente correcto.
Finalmente solo puedo decir que este libro no llega a la genialidad expuesta en sus Trilogías “Los Pilares de la Tierra” o “The Century”, pero recordemos que fueron sus inicios, sin embargo es una buena novela.
100% recomendado
"Crecer es aprender a engañar."
July 6, 2016
Another winner by Ken Follett! It takes a great writer to put history, suspense, psychological, and some romance into one book, and Follett is one of those great writers!
The Man From St. Petersburg takes place in London, England in the early 1900's right before the start of the First World War. A mysterious man named Feliks travels to London to kill a man and change history. But when plotting the demise he comes face to face with a woman he had an affair with years ago, who is now the wife of a powerful English lord who is meeting with Feliks's target.
The story also had many Historical facts, one being when women were not allowed to vote. Towards the end I was up past my bedtime waiting to see what would happen next! The character of Feliks was very interesting, I was expecting him to be a cold-hearted killer but after getting to know him, I considered him a cross between James Bond and Darth Vader. There were times when he'd show his good side, and times when he's show his evil side.
Exciting thriller! Awesome book!
The Man From St. Petersburg takes place in London, England in the early 1900's right before the start of the First World War. A mysterious man named Feliks travels to London to kill a man and change history. But when plotting the demise he comes face to face with a woman he had an affair with years ago, who is now the wife of a powerful English lord who is meeting with Feliks's target.
The story also had many Historical facts, one being when women were not allowed to vote. Towards the end I was up past my bedtime waiting to see what would happen next! The character of Feliks was very interesting, I was expecting him to be a cold-hearted killer but after getting to know him, I considered him a cross between James Bond and Darth Vader. There were times when he'd show his good side, and times when he's show his evil side.
Exciting thriller! Awesome book!
September 20, 2018
Clumsy.
Clumsy in its account of class, suffrage, politics, relationships….
Clumsy in its telling. Every paragraph should have begun ‘Coincidently…’ or ‘Conveniently…’
Not for me.
Clumsy in its account of class, suffrage, politics, relationships….
Clumsy in its telling. Every paragraph should have begun ‘Coincidently…’ or ‘Conveniently…’
Not for me.
March 15, 2007
I've learned to always be extremely disappointed with Ken Follet. He establishes promising situations, but then he always lets you down. This book is no exception.
The eponymous character is pretty sufficiently complicated - he's been driven insane, first from a terrible love with a pretty lady who's pretty much unavailable, and then from being in a gulag. Then there's the pretty lady, who can't resist torrid animal sex with The Man (from St. Petersburg). And then she goes ahead and marries a boring and uncomplicated Englishman (who's the hero of our story. Yay!).
After this setup, as I remember, the book goes nowhere. The plot spins forward, as Follett's book's plots do, but it's super boring - Anarchist wants to blow up London, or something. Winston Churchill has a feel-good cameo. Oh Follet, I keep reading more, but there's no satisfaction...
I'll tell you the ending: The Man creeps onto the Englishman's estate, has sex with his wife, sets fire to the manor, and then saves his daughter (the one he had long ago with the pretty lady). I was so pissed at the ending. So pissed.
So my solemn advice is to not ever ever read Ken Follet. It's not worth the money, and it's not worth the time, and time is money, so there you go. Don't ever ever read Hornet Flight or The Man from St. Petersburg....Pillars of the Earth, OK, maybe the first 500 pages. Any more and you'll have a hangover.
The eponymous character is pretty sufficiently complicated - he's been driven insane, first from a terrible love with a pretty lady who's pretty much unavailable, and then from being in a gulag. Then there's the pretty lady, who can't resist torrid animal sex with The Man (from St. Petersburg). And then she goes ahead and marries a boring and uncomplicated Englishman (who's the hero of our story. Yay!).
After this setup, as I remember, the book goes nowhere. The plot spins forward, as Follett's book's plots do, but it's super boring - Anarchist wants to blow up London, or something. Winston Churchill has a feel-good cameo. Oh Follet, I keep reading more, but there's no satisfaction...
I'll tell you the ending: The Man creeps onto the Englishman's estate, has sex with his wife, sets fire to the manor, and then saves his daughter (the one he had long ago with the pretty lady). I was so pissed at the ending. So pissed.
So my solemn advice is to not ever ever read Ken Follet. It's not worth the money, and it's not worth the time, and time is money, so there you go. Don't ever ever read Hornet Flight or The Man from St. Petersburg....Pillars of the Earth, OK, maybe the first 500 pages. Any more and you'll have a hangover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2016
Follett strikes again with another winner and he seems to favor this time period around World War 1 where this book time period is as was his masterpiece of Fall of Giants. Another 5 star rating for thrill, suspense, intriguing dialogue and historical characters( a young Winston Churchill)
December 25, 2022
Set just before WW1 starts this spy thriller is intense. England with France ask Russia for help against Germany against the backdrop of increasing turmoil.
October 8, 2023
What a well written novel with full character development and intricate plot lines weaved into historical events. I rooted for all of them, even the assassin. The book details English society in 1914 and covers many social issues on top of the Great War storyline. There was Energy, tension, fierceness, fearlessness, passion and so much more to be had.
What a great listening experience !
What a great listening experience !
January 27, 2025
This is one of those books where I couldn’t work out who I was rooting for. All these characters had a unique history and particular personality traits that interested me, and I came to appreciate them all.
Although I could see the ‘twist’, if you can call it that, from a mile away, I still grew to love the story as it unfolded. It started a little slow, but all the build-up was important, and it ended up being quite thrilling.
Follett is brilliant at intertwining history with fiction, real historical figures and fictional characters, and he’s done it again very well.
Although I could see the ‘twist’, if you can call it that, from a mile away, I still grew to love the story as it unfolded. It started a little slow, but all the build-up was important, and it ended up being quite thrilling.
Follett is brilliant at intertwining history with fiction, real historical figures and fictional characters, and he’s done it again very well.
May 1, 2023
Wow. I thought I was reading one of Follet's classic books, a bit of adventure and some intrigue and instead I realized after a few pages that The Petersburg Man was almost a Victorian novel. Maybe a little out of season, say twenty years, but the atmosphere is all there. We are in London on the eve of the First World War and Churchill wants England to make a pact with Russia so that in the event of a war with Germany, Russia will help England itself. In charge of carrying out this agreement are Lord Walden for the British and Prince Orlov, nephew of the Tsar, for the Russians. The two are acquired relatives, since Lydia, Walden's Russian wife, is the sister of Orlov's mother. The first scenes take place in the Walden palace, and between debutante ball, royal invitations, carriages, pages, lackeys, sumptuous lunches in immense ballrooms Follet builds the atmosphere of which I say above. The parallel story, the one that will then intersect with this, is that of Feliks Ksessinsky (he is the man from Petersburg), a Russian anarchist who in his youth had had a clandestine love affair with the noble Lydia and who, later, discovered by her father, he had been imprisoned and tortured in Russian prisons on a formal charge of being an anarchist, but really only to get him out of the way and use it as a weapon of blackmail by Lydia's father. In fact, if Lydia had agreed to marry a certain English lord and go to England with him, Lydia's father would have released Feliks. Lydia accepts and Feliks won't know where she ended up when he gets out of prison. Meanwhile, he continues his anarchist journey and after various vicissitudes, twenty years later, he arrives in England with the aim of killing Orlov, as an exponent of the Russian nobility, with the aim of breaking out the people's revolution in Russia. In London he discovers that Orlov is housed in the Waldens' house and during the first attempt to kill him he discovers that Walden's wife is "his" Lydia. From here a whole series of events and twists start (which would be a spoiler for me to list) that will culminate in a finale worthy of the Hollywood films and which Follet uses to underline how much Churchill and the other politicians on the planet are Machiavellian and cynical to the core. A really good book, compelling and written with style, bravo Follet.
February 8, 2023
Un roman despre libertate și reguli sociale rigide, lupta dintre clasele sociale pentru drepturi egale și putere, fanatism revoluționar, ignoranță copilăriei și realitatea unei lumi crude, jocuri ale puterii lipsite de scrupule, plasat în jurul unui asasinat politic care ar putea împiedica izbucnirea primului război mondial.
November 24, 2016
Ken Follett sure has written a hell of a lot of good books at this point in time. He is remarkable for the consistency of his style and the well-groundedness of everything he does. As well as several other fine points of skill. Follett is perhaps the foremost author able to combine historical fiction with espionage fiction. Before his career shifted whole-heartedly into hist-fic he was responsible for big hits like, 'The Eye of the Needle'. That romp is among the best WWII yarns ever penned.
Around the same time --as he was building his career--he also conceived this interesting and fun little tale I'm reviewing now. I really feel it's one which you shouldn't miss if you can help it. You won't come away wanting; Follett is too solid in his craftsmanship.
It takes a lot of restraint to write action-intrigue in a controlled manner which builds suspense in proper, measured, stages. Follett does that. At the same time, his prose is supple and breezy; one never gets 'bogged down' reading him. This particular tale is enticing too; because he pulls off the feat of setting it during the wild-and-woolly anarchist era. The story concept is frankly wonderful and he manages it off admirably. Over time, I have come to regard this as one of Follett's most charming outings.
I'm not ignoring the fact that some readers rise up with minor quibbles: but overall this is a very fun, lively diversion. Of course it's lightweight; but yields up gobs of atmosphere, memorable bits of 'period detail', and impassioned characters. Cigars, brandy, English country houses, railways and seaports, nitrogylcerine, affairs, top hats and greatcoats, and men leaping from carriages. Hurrah!
Around the same time --as he was building his career--he also conceived this interesting and fun little tale I'm reviewing now. I really feel it's one which you shouldn't miss if you can help it. You won't come away wanting; Follett is too solid in his craftsmanship.
It takes a lot of restraint to write action-intrigue in a controlled manner which builds suspense in proper, measured, stages. Follett does that. At the same time, his prose is supple and breezy; one never gets 'bogged down' reading him. This particular tale is enticing too; because he pulls off the feat of setting it during the wild-and-woolly anarchist era. The story concept is frankly wonderful and he manages it off admirably. Over time, I have come to regard this as one of Follett's most charming outings.
I'm not ignoring the fact that some readers rise up with minor quibbles: but overall this is a very fun, lively diversion. Of course it's lightweight; but yields up gobs of atmosphere, memorable bits of 'period detail', and impassioned characters. Cigars, brandy, English country houses, railways and seaports, nitrogylcerine, affairs, top hats and greatcoats, and men leaping from carriages. Hurrah!
October 14, 2020
I suspect it would take me a lifetime to research, collate, articulate, and actually organize and put into an accurate account of the London times in and around the turn of the 19th century. This author created such grand masterpieces in less than a year. Brilliant!! Respect!! We as readers and seekers of knowledge are so very fortunate to have access to this creative fiction and unmitigated facts of history. Also, within my own personal and humble archive I can almost liken to the works of Clive Cussler, another author gifted with the never ending wealth of knowledge. And should you appreciate their gifts as I do, roll on with their legacy....
February 13, 2009
Don't read this one first. Follett is a really entertaining writer and I think that this is one of his weakest texts. This is something that a Follett fan should read to understand how he has developed over the years, but I doubt it would spur "Follett mania" for the average reader.
November 18, 2025
This is a great Historical Thriller. Ken Follett does a great job blending character drama with the historical elements surrounding World War 1. In fact, I was surprised that this book has so little action in it, and yet it still was riveting cover to cover.
The book is essentially a thriller about an assassin from Russia who is sent to kill Prince Orlov who is in London to negotiate an alliance between England and Russia. The Walden family is hosting Orlov, and when they learn of the plot to kill him, they realize they have more connections to the killer than they thought.
The mystery might be obvious to some, but I thought that Follett did a great job of not only unfolding the mystery, but making it mean something in the story.
The main characters of Stephen, Lydia, Charlotte, and Feliks were all excellently written and had great themes surrounding each of them.
Overall, an excellent read. 9 out of 10.
The book is essentially a thriller about an assassin from Russia who is sent to kill Prince Orlov who is in London to negotiate an alliance between England and Russia. The Walden family is hosting Orlov, and when they learn of the plot to kill him, they realize they have more connections to the killer than they thought.
The mystery might be obvious to some, but I thought that Follett did a great job of not only unfolding the mystery, but making it mean something in the story.
The main characters of Stephen, Lydia, Charlotte, and Feliks were all excellently written and had great themes surrounding each of them.
Overall, an excellent read. 9 out of 10.
May 14, 2012
Enjoyed this period thriller by Ken Follett. It fit right in with reading I've been doing on both Russia and WWI. Some of the plot details are a little fantastic, but because it's FOllett and he keeps things moving, the reader doesn't really have much time to sit and think about that. You just want to turn the page, read the next chapter, find out what happens next. What a talent!
He Sketches out some pretty good characters, not the least of whom is the anarchist Feliks, on a mission to assassinate a Russian diplomat before he can arrange the alliance that will bring Russia into the oncoming World War. It's 1914 and the world is about to change for all of Europe, as well as the millions of Russians heading for revolution. IN retrospect, modern-day readers may agree that Felix's cause is the right one. Yet most probably see him as a cold-blooded killer who needs to be stopped. That task falls to Earl Stephen Walden, the aristocrat who finds his family in the middle of the conflict - his Russian wife as well as his naive (but rapidly maturing) debutante daughter. Follett throws a few surprises at us, keeps us guessing, in realistic-feeling depiction of prewar London. Glad I picked this one up!
He Sketches out some pretty good characters, not the least of whom is the anarchist Feliks, on a mission to assassinate a Russian diplomat before he can arrange the alliance that will bring Russia into the oncoming World War. It's 1914 and the world is about to change for all of Europe, as well as the millions of Russians heading for revolution. IN retrospect, modern-day readers may agree that Felix's cause is the right one. Yet most probably see him as a cold-blooded killer who needs to be stopped. That task falls to Earl Stephen Walden, the aristocrat who finds his family in the middle of the conflict - his Russian wife as well as his naive (but rapidly maturing) debutante daughter. Follett throws a few surprises at us, keeps us guessing, in realistic-feeling depiction of prewar London. Glad I picked this one up!
February 24, 2018
Enjoyable fast reading book that basically revolves around an anarchist who is trying to kill a Russian Prince who is in England to work on a Treaty with the British in 1914. Of course there are a lot of unbelievable plot twists and while I enjoy Follett this book just is a little too unbelievable for me. Follett does a good job with his characters and his plotting of the book and effortlessly transports us back to 1914, but the plot gets convoluted when all of the family issues become involved and I truly do not believe that the characters in the book would have acted and behaved as he writes it.
January 27, 2022
Um homem propõe-se a matar um príncipe russo, de modo a evitar que a Rússia entre na Primeira Grande Guerra Mundial. Um lorde tenta garantir uma aliança entre a Inglaterra e a Rússia. E uma jovem donzela deseja tomar as rédeas da sua própria vida.
Ken Follett entrega-nos um romance repleto de suspense do inicio ao fim, conspirações, segredos e demonstra a tensão existente na Europa em vésperas de rebentar a Primeira Grande Guerra. Feliks , apesar de ser um anarquista e assassino, revela ser alguém marcado pela dureza da vida que acredita ter perdido a vontade de amar. Charlotte devolverá a humanidade perdida.
Ken Follett entrega-nos um romance repleto de suspense do inicio ao fim, conspirações, segredos e demonstra a tensão existente na Europa em vésperas de rebentar a Primeira Grande Guerra. Feliks , apesar de ser um anarquista e assassino, revela ser alguém marcado pela dureza da vida que acredita ter perdido a vontade de amar. Charlotte devolverá a humanidade perdida.
September 7, 2022
O data cu finalizarea cărții ma declar fan al autorului pe viață!
Am trăit atâtea sentimente în câteva zile, atât de mult suspans și emoții cum rar am întâlnit prin cărți.
O poveste despre viața...cu toate "bagajele" cu care poate veni un om...părinți care se sacrifica sau își sacrifica copii pentru a da bine în societate, generații care gândesc diferit, paturi sociale care lupta pentru putere, la propriu și la figurat.
Bogații, care ii vad pe ceilalți niște "putori" deși ei au trăit din primele zile de viata înconjurați de slujitori...
Cei din treapta de jos, care lupta zi de zi cu sărăcia, prejudecățile, răutățile și influenta celor care pot...
De departe, personajul meu preferat a fost Charlotte, dar mi-a plăcut cum a intrat Follet in mintea fiecărui personaj și m-a făcut sa țin câte puțin cu fiecare la un moment dat.
De personajul negativ nu m-am atașat, mi-am impus asta... De obicei personajele mele preferate ajung rău 😅
Este o carte care duce suspansul la cele mai înalte cote și pune sângele în mișcare.
Am trăit atâtea sentimente în câteva zile, atât de mult suspans și emoții cum rar am întâlnit prin cărți.
O poveste despre viața...cu toate "bagajele" cu care poate veni un om...părinți care se sacrifica sau își sacrifica copii pentru a da bine în societate, generații care gândesc diferit, paturi sociale care lupta pentru putere, la propriu și la figurat.
Bogații, care ii vad pe ceilalți niște "putori" deși ei au trăit din primele zile de viata înconjurați de slujitori...
Cei din treapta de jos, care lupta zi de zi cu sărăcia, prejudecățile, răutățile și influenta celor care pot...
De departe, personajul meu preferat a fost Charlotte, dar mi-a plăcut cum a intrat Follet in mintea fiecărui personaj și m-a făcut sa țin câte puțin cu fiecare la un moment dat.
De personajul negativ nu m-am atașat, mi-am impus asta... De obicei personajele mele preferate ajung rău 😅
Este o carte care duce suspansul la cele mai înalte cote și pune sângele în mișcare.
May 5, 2022
Izvēlējos lasīt galvenokārt tāpēc, ka audiogrāmatu lasa Ričards Armitidžs, bet arī līdz tāpēc, ka līdz šim Folets man nav licis vilties. Protams, ka viduslaiku katedrāles celtniecībai (Zemes pīlāri) šī grāmata līdzi netur, bet kopumā man patika lasīt. Stiprā puse noteikti ir spraigas sižets, bet vājā - tēli, kuru motivācijām un līdz ar to īstumam tā arī nenoticēju (tātad izpalika līdzpārdzīvojums).
August 20, 2013
aqui
Ken Follett é um dos grandes nomes do thriller e do romance histórico. Em qualquer destes dois géneros literários, o autor dá cartas com os seus livros cheios de acção e com informação histórica precisa e em abundância. A forma como ele mistura o facto com a ficção é também um dos seus grandes talentos. Pegando nos relatos históricos e naquilo que é conhecido, o autor pega em personagens fictícios e insere-os no universo histórico sem qualquer dificuldade, ao ponto de o leitor chegar a pensar “esta pessoa pode realmente ter existido ao lado dos grandes nomes da Humanidade”. Neste livro, O Homem de Sampetersburgo, somos transportados para Londres e para as grandes maquinações políticas entre Rússia e Inglaterra que tentam firmar um tratado que permita à Inglaterra o apoio russo caso os primeiros entrem na guerra. Em troca, Inglaterra promete dar aos russos os territórios dos Balcãs. Os radicais russos que não vêm nesta guerra grande interesse, querem é que a Rússia entre numa das maiores revoluções que a História já viu. E para isso, algo trágico tem que acontecer. Como um assassínio ao diplomata russo que se encontra em Londres em negociações com os ingleses.
Durante a leitura deste livro apenas pensava que estas páginas descreveriam a calma antes da tempestade da primeira Guerra Mundial. De calma é que este livro não teve nada. Está recheado de momentos bem intensos e o nível de acção está sempre no máximo.
Gostei de várias coisas neste livro. O contexto histórico onde está inserido (gosto tanto de política quanto a Charlotte), as personagens e a escrita do autor – que já é bastante conhecida por estes lados. Como disse antes, a forma como o autor equilibra facto/ficção é verdadeiramente interessante. Manipulando os acontecimentos verídicos, o autor constrói um enredo fictício que nos deixa sempre ansiosos para ler mais. A sua escrita ajuda em muito a que isto aconteça, claro. Um bom enredo sem uma boa escrita não resulta bem.
Contudo, confesso que o livro me surpreendeu mais por se ter revelado algo que eu não estava à espera. Quando comecei a ler o livro, esperava encontrar um thriller histórico, com muita política à mistura. E sim, encontrei tudo isso, mas também encontrei umas personagens com uma história de vida muito interessante e que deram uma graça diferente a este livro. De facto, o livro todo ele gira em torno deste homem de Sampetersburgo, que vem tentar assassinar o diplomata russo e assim despoletar uma revolução russa. Um homem que à partida parece um animal, sendo que a única coisa que gere a sua vida são os seus instintos de sobrevivência. Acabei por encontrar e conhecer um homem que, como qualquer outro humano, tem sentimentos e acaba por hesitar na sua missão, trazendo assim consequências graves ao curso da História. E no entanto, este homem tem ligações inegáveis a outras personagens que trazem cor a este relato político de 1914. É um livro rico na dimensão humana e na verdade, quem faz este livro, são os personagens que o povoam. Foi o que mais apreciei neste livro.
No entanto, não posso deixar de referir uma coisa que me entristeceu e que embora tenha sido um erro pontual, não deixa de me chatear. Na página 406 encontrei a seguinte frase: ” Faça o melhor que poder (…).” Até doí ver este tipo de erros.
Uma leitura muito agradável e que não desaponta.
Ken Follett é um dos grandes nomes do thriller e do romance histórico. Em qualquer destes dois géneros literários, o autor dá cartas com os seus livros cheios de acção e com informação histórica precisa e em abundância. A forma como ele mistura o facto com a ficção é também um dos seus grandes talentos. Pegando nos relatos históricos e naquilo que é conhecido, o autor pega em personagens fictícios e insere-os no universo histórico sem qualquer dificuldade, ao ponto de o leitor chegar a pensar “esta pessoa pode realmente ter existido ao lado dos grandes nomes da Humanidade”. Neste livro, O Homem de Sampetersburgo, somos transportados para Londres e para as grandes maquinações políticas entre Rússia e Inglaterra que tentam firmar um tratado que permita à Inglaterra o apoio russo caso os primeiros entrem na guerra. Em troca, Inglaterra promete dar aos russos os territórios dos Balcãs. Os radicais russos que não vêm nesta guerra grande interesse, querem é que a Rússia entre numa das maiores revoluções que a História já viu. E para isso, algo trágico tem que acontecer. Como um assassínio ao diplomata russo que se encontra em Londres em negociações com os ingleses.
Durante a leitura deste livro apenas pensava que estas páginas descreveriam a calma antes da tempestade da primeira Guerra Mundial. De calma é que este livro não teve nada. Está recheado de momentos bem intensos e o nível de acção está sempre no máximo.
Gostei de várias coisas neste livro. O contexto histórico onde está inserido (gosto tanto de política quanto a Charlotte), as personagens e a escrita do autor – que já é bastante conhecida por estes lados. Como disse antes, a forma como o autor equilibra facto/ficção é verdadeiramente interessante. Manipulando os acontecimentos verídicos, o autor constrói um enredo fictício que nos deixa sempre ansiosos para ler mais. A sua escrita ajuda em muito a que isto aconteça, claro. Um bom enredo sem uma boa escrita não resulta bem.
Contudo, confesso que o livro me surpreendeu mais por se ter revelado algo que eu não estava à espera. Quando comecei a ler o livro, esperava encontrar um thriller histórico, com muita política à mistura. E sim, encontrei tudo isso, mas também encontrei umas personagens com uma história de vida muito interessante e que deram uma graça diferente a este livro. De facto, o livro todo ele gira em torno deste homem de Sampetersburgo, que vem tentar assassinar o diplomata russo e assim despoletar uma revolução russa. Um homem que à partida parece um animal, sendo que a única coisa que gere a sua vida são os seus instintos de sobrevivência. Acabei por encontrar e conhecer um homem que, como qualquer outro humano, tem sentimentos e acaba por hesitar na sua missão, trazendo assim consequências graves ao curso da História. E no entanto, este homem tem ligações inegáveis a outras personagens que trazem cor a este relato político de 1914. É um livro rico na dimensão humana e na verdade, quem faz este livro, são os personagens que o povoam. Foi o que mais apreciei neste livro.
No entanto, não posso deixar de referir uma coisa que me entristeceu e que embora tenha sido um erro pontual, não deixa de me chatear. Na página 406 encontrei a seguinte frase: ” Faça o melhor que poder (…).” Até doí ver este tipo de erros.
Uma leitura muito agradável e que não desaponta.
October 31, 2022
কেন ফলেটের রোমান্টিক থ্রিলার 'দ্য ম্যান ফ্রম সেন্ট পিটার্সবার্গ' বইটির অনুবাদ আততায়ী।
১৮৯৫ সাল, সেন্ট পিটার্সবার্গ, রাশিয়া
বিপ্লবী ফেলিক্স কশেসনস্কি বইয়ের দোকানে লিডিয়া শ্যাতোভাকে দেখে প্রেমে পড়ে যায়। দ্বিতীয় দিনের দেখাতেই একে অপরকে ভালোবেসে মনকে সঁপে দেন প্রেমের তাড়নায়। ফেলিক্স একজন এনার্কিস্ট অর্থাৎ বিপ্লবের মাধ্যমে সমাজের সমতা আনতে চান। অন্যদিকে লিডিয়া একজন কাউন্টের মেয়ে।সমাজের অভিজাত স্তরে তার বসবাস। গোপন অভিসার চলতে থাকে ফেলিক্স আর লিডিয়ার মধ্যে। কিন্তু তাদের মধ্যে বাধা হয়ে দাঁড়ায় সামাজিক অবস্থান। ফেলিক্স ধরা পড়ে রাশিয়ান গুপ্ত পুলিশের হাতে এবং তাকে নিয়ে যাওয়া হয় সেন্ট পিটার্সবার্গের কুখ্যাত জেলে। অন্যদিকে লিডিয়া তাদের গোপন অভিসারের আস্তানায় এসে জানতে পারে ফেলিক্স গ্রেফতার হয়েছে।ছুটে চলে যান বাবার কাছে,অনুরোধ করেন ফেলিক্সকে জেল থেকে ছেড়ে দেয়ার।কিন্তু অদ্ভুত এক শর্ত জুড়ে দেন তার বাবা।কি সেই শর্ত? লিডিয়া কি ফিরে পেয়েছিল তার ভালবাসার মানুষকে?
১৯১৪ সাল,লন্ডন,ইংল্যান্ড
প্রথম বিশ্বযুদ্ধের দানা বাঁধতে শুরু করেছে। জার্মানির স্বর্ণ মজুদ কিংবা সৈন্য সমাবেশ ইংল্যান্ডের হর্তা-কর্তাদের কপালে চিন্তার ভাঁজ ফেলে যাচ্ছে। এই পর্যায়ে ইংল্যান্ড চাচ্ছে যুদ্ধ বাঁধলে রাশিয়া তাদের সমর্থনে যুদ্ধ চালাক আর রাশিয়া চাচ্ছে ইউরোপের গরম পানির সাগরে তাদের নিয়ন্ত্রণ নিতে।কারণ রাশিয়ার যতটুকু সমুদ্র আছে সবই বরফে আচ্ছাদিত। গুরুত্বপূর্ণ এই চুক্তিটি করতে ইংল্যান্ড আসেন প্রিন্স অরলভ যে কিনা জারের আস্থাভাজন এবং ইংল্যান্ডের পক্ষ থেকে তরুণ চার্চিল নির্বাচন করেন লর্ড ওয়ালডেনকে। এই ঘটনার পাশাপাশি সুইজারল্যান্ডকে আরেকটি সভা বসেছে কিভাবে এই চুক্তি বাস্তবায়নে বাধা দেয়া যায়? সিদ্ধান্ত হল যে প্রিন্স অরলভকে হত্যা করা হবে। কিন্তু কে করবে হত্যা? তখন স্ব-ইচ্ছায় সেই দায়িত্ব কাঁধে নেন ঠান্ডা মাথায় মানুষ খুন করতে পারা একজন এনার্কিস্ট। তারপরই সে বের হয়ে যায় তার মিশন সফল করতে।
লর্ড ওয়ালডেনের মেয়ে শার্লট। বয়স তার আঠারো।সে মনে করে তাকে সবকিছুর শিক্ষা দেয়া হয়নি।তার থেকে অনেককিছু লুকিয়ে রাখা হয়েছে।সে সমাজের মানুষের দুঃখ দূর করতে চায়। গোপনে স্যাফ্রোজেটদের মিটিং মিছিলে যোগদান করে এবং সেখানেই পরিচিত হয় আমাদের সেই মিশনে নামা এনার্কিস্টের সাথে।
তারপর ঘটনা এগোতে থাকে তার স্বাচ্ছ্যন্দ গতিতে।একসময় এত ভাল একটা বইও শেষ হয়ে যায় আর রেখে যায় অসম্ভব ভাল লাগার অনুভূতি। বইটার কাহিনী অনেক সুন্দর। আর অনুবাদ নিয়ে কিছু বলার নেই। শেখ আব্দুল হাকিম একজন নামকরা অনুবাদক।তিনি তার নিজস্ব ঢং এ বইটিকে পাঠকের কাছে তুলে ধরেছেন।কিছু কিছু জায়গায় বানান ভুল আছে তবে সেটা তেমন অসুবিধা করেনি।যদি একটা ভালো সময় কাটাতে চান, তাহলে বইটি অবশ্যই পড়বেন। হ্যাপি রিডিং।
১৮৯৫ সাল, সেন্ট পিটার্সবার্গ, রাশিয়া
বিপ্লবী ফেলিক্স কশেসনস্কি বইয়ের দোকানে লিডিয়া শ্যাতোভাকে দেখে প্রেমে পড়ে যায়। দ্বিতীয় দিনের দেখাতেই একে অপরকে ভালোবেসে মনকে সঁপে দেন প্রেমের তাড়নায়। ফেলিক্স একজন এনার্কিস্ট অর্থাৎ বিপ্লবের মাধ্যমে সমাজের সমতা আনতে চান। অন্যদিকে লিডিয়া একজন কাউন্টের মেয়ে।সমাজের অভিজাত স্তরে তার বসবাস। গোপন অভিসার চলতে থাকে ফেলিক্স আর লিডিয়ার মধ্যে। কিন্তু তাদের মধ্যে বাধা হয়ে দাঁড়ায় সামাজিক অবস্থান। ফেলিক্স ধরা পড়ে রাশিয়ান গুপ্ত পুলিশের হাতে এবং তাকে নিয়ে যাওয়া হয় সেন্ট পিটার্সবার্গের কুখ্যাত জেলে। অন্যদিকে লিডিয়া তাদের গোপন অভিসারের আস্তানায় এসে জানতে পারে ফেলিক্স গ্রেফতার হয়েছে।ছুটে চলে যান বাবার কাছে,অনুরোধ করেন ফেলিক্সকে জেল থেকে ছেড়ে দেয়ার।কিন্তু অদ্ভুত এক শর্ত জুড়ে দেন তার বাবা।কি সেই শর্ত? লিডিয়া কি ফিরে পেয়েছিল তার ভালবাসার মানুষকে?
১৯১৪ সাল,লন্ডন,ইংল্যান্ড
প্রথম বিশ্বযুদ্ধের দানা বাঁধতে শুরু করেছে। জার্মানির স্বর্ণ মজুদ কিংবা সৈন্য সমাবেশ ইংল্যান্ডের হর্তা-কর্তাদের কপালে চিন্তার ভাঁজ ফেলে যাচ্ছে। এই পর্যায়ে ইংল্যান্ড চাচ্ছে যুদ্ধ বাঁধলে রাশিয়া তাদের সমর্থনে যুদ্ধ চালাক আর রাশিয়া চাচ্ছে ইউরোপের গরম পানির সাগরে তাদের নিয়ন্ত্রণ নিতে।কারণ রাশিয়ার যতটুকু সমুদ্র আছে সবই বরফে আচ্ছাদিত। গুরুত্বপূর্ণ এই চুক্তিটি করতে ইংল্যান্ড আসেন প্রিন্স অরলভ যে কিনা জারের আস্থাভাজন এবং ইংল্যান্ডের পক্ষ থেকে তরুণ চার্চিল নির্বাচন করেন লর্ড ওয়ালডেনকে। এই ঘটনার পাশাপাশি সুইজারল্যান্ডকে আরেকটি সভা বসেছে কিভাবে এই চুক্তি বাস্তবায়নে বাধা দেয়া যায়? সিদ্ধান্ত হল যে প্রিন্স অরলভকে হত্যা করা হবে। কিন্তু কে করবে হত্যা? তখন স্ব-ইচ্ছায় সেই দায়িত্ব কাঁধে নেন ঠান্ডা মাথায় মানুষ খুন করতে পারা একজন এনার্কিস্ট। তারপরই সে বের হয়ে যায় তার মিশন সফল করতে।
লর্ড ওয়ালডেনের মেয়ে শার্লট। বয়স তার আঠারো।সে মনে করে তাকে সবকিছুর শিক্ষা দেয়া হয়নি।তার থেকে অনেককিছু লুকিয়ে রাখা হয়েছে।সে সমাজের মানুষের দুঃখ দূর করতে চায়। গোপনে স্যাফ্রোজেটদের মিটিং মিছিলে যোগদান করে এবং সেখানেই পরিচিত হয় আমাদের সেই মিশনে নামা এনার্কিস্টের সাথে।
তারপর ঘটনা এগোতে থাকে তার স্বাচ্ছ্যন্দ গতিতে।একসময় এত ভাল একটা বইও শেষ হয়ে যায় আর রেখে যায় অসম্ভব ভাল লাগার অনুভূতি। বইটার কাহিনী অনেক সুন্দর। আর অনুবাদ নিয়ে কিছু বলার নেই। শেখ আব্দুল হাকিম একজন নামকরা অনুবাদক।তিনি তার নিজস্ব ঢং এ বইটিকে পাঠকের কাছে তুলে ধরেছেন।কিছু কিছু জায়গায় বানান ভুল আছে তবে সেটা তেমন অসুবিধা করেনি।যদি একটা ভালো সময় কাটাতে চান, তাহলে বইটি অবশ্যই পড়বেন। হ্যাপি রিডিং।
January 23, 2010
Brilhante. Fantástico. Esplêndido. Maravilhoso. Uma obra-prima!
Adorei este livro que me fez lembrar os clássicos russos, quer pela história quer pelo brilhantismo da escrita. Durante a leitura não me saiu da memória Anna Karenine de Tolstoi, romance ao qual este se assemelha, sendo no entanto bem diferente.
Lydia, uma jovem aristocrata russa apaixona-se por Feliks, um jovem anarquista, mas a sua paixão é descoberta e o pai da rapariga enreda uma forma de os afastar de forma definitiva e drástica. Manda prender Feliks e torturá-lo enquanto que a Lydia lhe dá a oportunidade de se casar com um lorde inglês e ir viver para Inglaterra a troco da libertação do seu amado. Lydia aceita e assim se vê casada com um homem que não ama nem conhece. Ao longo de 17 anos de casamento aprende a amar o marido, a respeitá-lo e a reprimir os seus desejos e memórias. Mas a sua filha Charlotte, prestes a fazer 18 anos desafia as suas memórias há muito recalcadas.
O Mundo, e em especial a Europa, atravessam um período difícil e o príncipe Orlov desloca-se da Rússia para Inglaterra a fim de negociar um acordo político entre as duas nações. Orlov, primo de Lydia, traz consigo um destino que desconhece: um assassino viaja também da Rússia para Inglaterra, com a missão de matar Orlov.
Quem é este assassino que persegue Orlov, mas que se vê ele próprio perseguido por um passado que julgava esquecido? Poderá um homem frio, calculista, preparado para matar sem remorsos ser atormentado por fantasmas de um amor há muito perdido?
Uma leitura fantástica, ao nível dos grandes clássicos. Recomendo a sua leitura sem qualquer reserva.
Prós:
A escrita brilhante. A história maravilhosa. As descrições da vida no início do século. A forma como dá a conhecer a história das sufragistas e da sua luta. O contexto histórico em que se desenvolve a narrativa. Enfim, tudo!
Contras:
Como contra apenas se podem referir alguns erros ortográficos, que são erro da edição e não da obra.
Adorei este livro que me fez lembrar os clássicos russos, quer pela história quer pelo brilhantismo da escrita. Durante a leitura não me saiu da memória Anna Karenine de Tolstoi, romance ao qual este se assemelha, sendo no entanto bem diferente.
Lydia, uma jovem aristocrata russa apaixona-se por Feliks, um jovem anarquista, mas a sua paixão é descoberta e o pai da rapariga enreda uma forma de os afastar de forma definitiva e drástica. Manda prender Feliks e torturá-lo enquanto que a Lydia lhe dá a oportunidade de se casar com um lorde inglês e ir viver para Inglaterra a troco da libertação do seu amado. Lydia aceita e assim se vê casada com um homem que não ama nem conhece. Ao longo de 17 anos de casamento aprende a amar o marido, a respeitá-lo e a reprimir os seus desejos e memórias. Mas a sua filha Charlotte, prestes a fazer 18 anos desafia as suas memórias há muito recalcadas.
O Mundo, e em especial a Europa, atravessam um período difícil e o príncipe Orlov desloca-se da Rússia para Inglaterra a fim de negociar um acordo político entre as duas nações. Orlov, primo de Lydia, traz consigo um destino que desconhece: um assassino viaja também da Rússia para Inglaterra, com a missão de matar Orlov.
Quem é este assassino que persegue Orlov, mas que se vê ele próprio perseguido por um passado que julgava esquecido? Poderá um homem frio, calculista, preparado para matar sem remorsos ser atormentado por fantasmas de um amor há muito perdido?
Uma leitura fantástica, ao nível dos grandes clássicos. Recomendo a sua leitura sem qualquer reserva.
Prós:
A escrita brilhante. A história maravilhosa. As descrições da vida no início do século. A forma como dá a conhecer a história das sufragistas e da sua luta. O contexto histórico em que se desenvolve a narrativa. Enfim, tudo!
Contras:
Como contra apenas se podem referir alguns erros ortográficos, que são erro da edição e não da obra.
February 10, 2017
As I watched various vignettes of the Women's March on Washington yesterday, and saw some really objectionable historical posters making fun of the suffragette movement, I was reminded of this novel. When I read it back in the early eighties, I did not like it as much as his earlier thrillers because the suspense factor was muted. But looking back, I think this may be one of his better novels with excellent characterisation and human drama. Charlotte, the elder daughter of Lord and Lady Walden and pioneering suffragette, is excellently drawn - as is the description of the suffragette march, men jeering from the sidelines as the police systematically assault the activists. I feel now that this novel questions the whole philosophy of capitalism and imperialism, and shows anarchists in a very sympathetic light.
September 17, 2020
This is bad. Like monumentally bad. The protagonist - a Russian anarchist - is insufferable and the characters, in general, seem unrealistic and downright dumb. There are various cringe-worthy sex scenes in the book that I could have lived without and the plot is just cheap. I am only giving it 2 stars because Walden is the only nice character, an honourable aristocrat whose only 'fault' is that he is rich...and here's how people fall victim to the false assumption that all rich men must be bastards and all poor men are actually decent, kind-hearted people changed by circumstances. Human nature is far more complicated and nuanced than these simplistic judgements.
Now, I am not giving up on Ken Follet just yet. But this was cheap writing.
Now, I am not giving up on Ken Follet just yet. But this was cheap writing.
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