El Paladín: Las extraordinarias aventuras de un joven que fue agente secreto de Churchill.

by Brian Garfield

Esta novela, inspirada en hechos reales, narra la extraordinaria historia de un hombre que hoy anda por la cincuentena y que desde los quince años fue un agente secreto al servicio de Churchill. En 1940 el famoso político inglés encomendó algunas misiones secretas a un muchacho al que había conocido casualmente. Poco a poco, lo que había comenzado como una divertida aventura juvenil se convirtió en una peligrosa carrera de espía en la que abundaron los crímenes, asesinatos, persecuciones y torturas. El joven, que utilizaba el nombre de Christopher Robin, recibía órdenes del propio Churchill y del jefe del servicio de espionaje británico, y las ejecutaba con gran imaginación y valor en una época particularmente crítica de la historia de Inglaterra, los años de la segunda guerra mundial. Así, su intervención fue decisiva en la retirada de las tropas de Dunkerque, en la entrada de los norteamericanos en la guerra y en otros importantes acontecimientos de este período. El hecho de estar basado en una historia verídica añade realismo y suspense a este magnífico relato de intriga.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Novels, War, World War II, Espionage

361 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Brian Francis Wynne Garfield was a novelist and screenwriter. He wrote his first published book at the age of eighteen, and gained prominence with 1975 his book Hopscotch, which won the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He is best known for his 1972 novel Death Wish, which was adapted for the 1974 film of the same title, followed by four sequels, and a remake starring Bruce Willis.

His follow-up 1975 sequel to Death Wish, Death Sentence, was very loosely adapted into a film of the same name which was released to theaters in late 2007, though an entirely different storyline, but with the novel's same look on vigilantism. Garfield is also the author of The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History. Garfield's latest book, published in 2007, is Meinertzhagen, the biography of controversial British intelligence officer Richard Meinertzhagen.

Brian Garfield was the author of more than 70 books that sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, and 19 of his works were made into films or TV shows. He also served as president of the Western Writers of America and the Mystery Writers of America.

Pseudonyms:
• Bennett Garland
• John Ives
• Drew Mallory
• Frank O'Brian
• Brian Wynne
• Frank Wynne

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this absolutely wonderful novel, The Paladin by Brian Garfield. I could hardly put it down! I read the whole book over the course of two days, just wrenching myself away to work, see friends as I promised, eat and sleep. It was originally published in 1979, but its focus on a boy's adventures during WWII make it a timeless tale and one I think would appeal to everyone who likes adventure, intrigue, death-defying stunts and initiation into a secret of heads of state. The best part is that it is based on a true story, fictionalized to protect the identity of these secret agents. Young boys between the ages of 10 and 18 would identify with Christopher, which makes it a wonderful book to give to reluctant readers. It is written in an engaging, suspenseful style that makes it a real page-turner.

Themes: Coming of age, good vs. evil, the questions of 'do the ends justify the means?' and 'What is good?'

The story focuses Christopher, a young tenant on Churchill's estate. He meets Churchill and impresses him when he is ten-years-old. He is soon inducted into Churchill's small private spy agency, separate from the national force, and is sent on a dizzying number of dangerous spy missions as Hitler schemes and conquers Europe. He becomes Churchill's Paladin, his personal knight errant, who serves at the request and direction of Churchill himself. He grows up, learning more and more about the world of secret agents and participating in hugely important events of WWII, including the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He hardens and struggles with murder, torture and the emotions of growing up and becoming a man. There is also a bit of romance. It ends with him at age seventeen.

As Christopher is drawn deeper and deeper into the world of international intrigue and political spying he struggles with the fact that these men he faces are simply doing what they believe is best for their country -- essentially born to their worldview just as he has been born to his. He struggles to determine the fairness of his missions -- ought he to 'off' these unsuspecting people just because he was ordered to do so? As he sees his friends die because of his missions, he begins to question the rightness of his orders and ultimately Churchill himself.

I don't want to give it all away, but it is a wonderful story. I wish there was a sequel so I could find out what happened to Christopher the man. Does he continue with this life as a secret agent? Does he continue to be practically Churchill's son?

I highly recommend this novel.

[John Blackport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It struck me as a "true story" in the sense that it was probably a cobbling together of things many agents did, updated so that each exploit was attached to some great historical event during World War II.

I couldn't believe that master spies would send invest the necessary knowledge and training for so many high-profile, critical missions into a single agent. But I didn't mind that so much. What strained me was the premise that all this was done, so flawlessly by a man so young. Too many of the missions required specialized technical knowledge, or too much finesse.

But all this is a minor point in my overall enjoyment of the book. The major question is whether it worked or not, and I think it did.

[Machmoed Santoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jika ini memang benar-benar kisah nyata, maka ini adalah kisah nyata yang benar-benar tidak dapat disangka. Bagaimana ternyata beberapa peristiwa besar pada perang dunia ke-2 memang benar-benar dimaksudkan untuk terjadi. Seperti serangan Jepang ke Pearl Harbor, Inggris bukannya tidak tahu bakal ada serangan kesana, tapi untuk menyeret amerika ke kancah perang dunia.

Dengan segala cara inggris berusaha untuk menutupi berita itu bahkan hingga menghancurkan sebuah kapal selam belanda dan membunuh tiga perwira sinyal inggris sendiri. ..gilaaa…. Lalu blitzkreig untuk menaklukkan prancis,–bagaimana Christopher mengetahui rencana detailnya dan segera memberitakan pada Lord Gott–, invasi palsu di Dieppe, sampai akhirnya invasi D-Day di normandia.

Yang bikin percaya ga percaya, adalah seorang remaja yang bernama Christopher, yang melakukannya sejak usia 14 tahun. Dia dilatih sedemikian rupa jadi seorang agen, jadi seorang assasin. Mirip-mirip Jason Bourne atau jangan-jangan Bourne yang terinspirasi dari Christopher.

eniwei,, Yang saya suka dari buku ini adalah diceritakannya juga pertentangan moral dari Christopher dalam melakukan tugasnya. Bagaimana ia tidak terlalu suka dengan prinsip mengorbankan sebagian untuk menyelamatkan jutaan lainnya dan yang paling saya suka adalah intriknya, cerita dibaliknya. Maka seharusnya dia menjadi salah satu orang yang paling berjasa dalam Perang Dunia II. Seperti yang dikatakan atasannya Owl, tapi dia pun berkata.

“Kamu adalah orang yang paling berjasa dalam perang ini. Seharusnya kamu mendapatkan bintang jasa akan hal ini. Namun karena sifat pekerjaanmu rahasia, maka kita tidak membiarkan orang-orang tahu tentang apa yang kamu kerjakan bukan”

[Anna C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rada kecewa dgn buku ini...pertama, cover dan sub judulnya menipu krn membuatku beranggapan si mata-mata 'cilik' ini berusia di bawah 12 tahun, yg ternyata adalah remaja berusia 15 thn. Kedua, mgkn krn aku tdk begitu suka genre historical dan politik, sehingga langsung jemu setiap kali tiba di adegan percakapan Winston Churcill & Paman John (Owl) dan praktis menyerap semua tulisan bagian dialog si Churcill & Owl tanpa terlalu memikirkannya, dan hanya bersemangat saat si mata-mata 'cilik' sedang in action. Ketiga, aku rasa terjemahannya rada amburadul, ada bbrp dialog yg sangat sulit dimengerti, dan bahkan terkesan kalau diterjemahkan secara tergesa-gesa. Hanya krn tdk ada buku lain lg yg menemaniku dlm perjalanan panjang di udara lah yg membuatku bertahan menyelesaikan membaca buku ini. Meskipun kuakui, kalau nasib si mata-mata 'cilik' cukup menyedihkan, dipermainkan & ditipu sedemikian rupa oleh pamannya sendiri, dan hebat juga ia masih tetap waras setelahnya.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember being blown away by this. Thirty years later I'd like to read this again.

[Riovogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

这其实不是一个间谍故事,而是谈论一个少年如何长大.如何面对正义战争中的非正义.

[Marco Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

El Paladín me deja un tanto de sensaciones encontradas. Por un lado la historia me pareció sumamente entretenida, tiene todos los aspectos propios de un agente británico que realiza operaciones clandestinas a lo largo de la segunda guerra mundial bajo las órdenes directas ni más ni menos que del propio Winston Churchill. Nos encontramos con una mirada bastante profunda en lo que se refiere al mandatario a quien conoceremos en sus facetas más íntimas.
En segundo lugar según el mismo autor, se supone que es un relato verídico y es ahí donde entran seriamente mis dudas. Me cuesta mucho creer que un joven por no decir un niño desde los 14 hasta los 17 años de edad haya llevado a cabo semejantes actividades llenas de peligrosidad en las propias narices de los enemigos sin ningún tipo de ayuda, cumpliendo a cabalidad los propósitos de sus jerarcas. Resulta demasiado inverosímil por decir lo menos.
En général la trama está bien elaborada, sencillo en su lectura, para los que gustamos de este tipo de libros en verdad no hay mucho que se pueda reprochar y no dudaría en recomendarlo.

[Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purportedly based on fact, hence a stranger-than-fiction WWII espionage thriller of a schoolboy who becomes a spy (when 15 years old) at the behest of Winston Churchill. Chapter 2, dealing with clandestine meetings of the "neutral" Belgian government and German operatives, could spawn a thesis chalk-full of deja vu of Trumpian-Russia parallels some 70 years later. Polar political stripes are crystalized in dealing with oppressors, from Chamberlin (Trump) appeasement at one end of the spectrum to war-/sanctions-engaging of Churchill (Obama) at the other end of the spectrum. Paladian "Christopher Creighton" loses his youth as a spy-assassin tasked by ends-justify-the-means missions assigned by the Churchill inner circle. A very stark political-espionage thriller.

[Jane Francisca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommended!!

Very stunning and inspiring.
Inside this boy there are loyalty and morality. But somehow his loyalty is even more.
This novel it just damn great! a boy, a little boy but have a big deal to a massive things, WWII. And above all, its true story...Waw!

After the last page, I feel relieved and sad, because the story of Christopher Creighton is end. But somehow Im curious what kind of life he lived today.

Love this book!

[Mike Worley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, really amazing story. Churchill and his minions make Niccolò Machiavelli look like an amateur.

[Rofiqul]

I am sorry. But I was read the Indonesian version only. So, All I can say is about the Indonesian version. And yups I would like to use my Indonesian, Bahasa Indonesia.

Hal yang saya kritik habis-habisan kali pertama membaca atau melihat buku ini adalah judulnya. Ini buku terjemahan dan mereka menggunakan judul Bahasa Inggris yang bahkan, ironisnya, tidak sama dengan judul aslinya. Anda harus terkekeh melihat judul aslinya "The Paladin" dan versi Indonesianya adalah "The Child".

Oh Tuhan ampuni kesalahan bangsa kami yang begitu pemalu dan memalukan ini. Ini sungguh adalah "inferior complex" akut yang dimiliki bangsa ini atau paling tidak tim penerjemahnya. Diantara puluhan ribu kosakata Indonesia,mereka memilih dua kata Inggris. Saya merasa dijajah, hehehehehe.

Saya akan lebih suka apabila diberi judul "Paladin" saja misalnya. Itu sudah cukup menarik perhatian.Atau Mata-Mata Kecil, Ksatria Kecil. Atau malah Paladin-SiMataMataKecil.

Disamping itu terlalu banyak kesalahan ejaan. Saya bingung apakah disini sang editor benar-benar bekerja. Bahkan menemui satu atau dua kalimat yang menggantung dan tidak ada maknanya sama sekali. Sungguh membingungkan. Dan kesalahan yang fatal adalah kesalahan yang satu ini. Yaitu pada sebelumnya, bab 6 mungkin, diceritakan Christopher Sang Paladin membunuh 66 awak kapal selam. Tapi dalam bagian sesudahnya dikatakan 56 awak kapal saja. Oh tidak,ataukah ini cara mereka berbelas kasihan kepada si agen pembunuh kecil kita.

Ceritanya sendiri menarik menurut saya. Saya suka jalan ceritanya yang bolak-balik. Tokoh-tokohnya yang digambarkan cukup menarik. Bahkan saya menikmati percakapan Winston Churchil, Tigger dengan Owl, Paman John. Entah kenapa saya selalu menemui bahwa penulis asing selalu memiliki jalan cerita rumit, menjengkelkan sekaligus menyenangkan diikuti.

Dalam buku ini seakan dijelaskan PD II dari sudut pandang orang Inggris, yang yah pada waktu itu nenek moyang kita dijajah juga. Saya tidak bisa menerima sepenuhnya beberapa fakta yang dijelasakan dalam buku ini seperti bahwa Inggris membiarkan AS diserang Jepang agar mereka ikut bermain permainan mematikan itu. Namun saya suka konspirasi itu, atau paling tidak sudut pandang itu.

Jika ini memanglah benar kisah nyata yang didasarkan pada agen rahasia yang direkrut saat umur 15 tahun, tentu dia masih kanak-kanak. Memang tidak ada kejayaan dalam perang. Luka yang ditimbulkan terasa sakit. Itu kesan yang saya dapatkan.

Saya mendapati buku ini bosan pada 5 lembar pertamanya. Lalu jatuh cinta berikutnya. Dan menghabiskannya kurang dari 72 jam. Buku yang mengesankan , arah cerita yang tidak bisa ditebak, dengan sedikit plot yang kabur tapi menarik.

Tokoh yang paling saya suka adalah Owl. Ya, dia terlihat begitu jahat, misterius, hitam terselimuti. Di sisi lain dia setia dan orang yang patut dikasihani karena kesendiriannya. Sungguh Ironi.

Sebenarnya saya ingin melihat si Cristopher ketika berjumpa dengan ayahnya sendiri. Karena dalam buku ini terlukis jelas seaakan dia anaknya si Tigger. Ya, memang itu yang ingin diangkat. Ikatan hati sang PM terhadap Paladinnya yang menjadi Gong pada akhir cerita dan kesetiaan Sang Paladin pada majikannya yang telah dianggap bapaknya.

Satu kata lagi untuk buku ini : membiuskan!.

[Heni Mujaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

anything about WW never stops to amaze me. the conspiracy is in a whole different level. mindfuck as hell. I don't have a heart to imagine how they manipulated an innocent young man to be a cold-blooded assassin. I keep torn between my understanding that it was a war so almost every variable was abnormal (including moral) and, oh come on, he's so young what they did to him I'm so shattered I need to read a light reading after this

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great WWII book if somewhat scary/depressing as you realize that while this book is listed as fiction, it is true story with only a few updates that make it "fiction". It is scary what humans do to each-other (even our so-called "friends"). At least with enemies you know where you stand, and what to expect.

[Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was just bullshit if this is a true story then my ass is a banjo i was able to suspend my disbelief that he could outrun gun fire early on for the sake of the story then he kills a soldier a 12 year old kills a trained soldier with his own rifle bullshit

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second time through, and I’m still perplexed by this book. The word ‘Adapter’ after the author’s name on Goodreads gives me pause. Brian Garfield calls The Paladin “A NOVEL BASED ON FACT” according to the title page. He also adds “In Collaboration with ‘Christopher Creighton’ (his quotes). Because that’s a made-up name. Even tho’ the Foreword states: “The hero of this narrative is a real person. He is now on his fifties. His name is not Christopher Creighton.” Garfield goes on to say “the book is a novel and it employs the sort of license that is customary in a work of fiction.” He chalks up any errors in chronological or historical fact to “those re-orderings of reality that sometimes are done for dramatic purposes.”
That said, I find it puzzling that he opted to tell what the book jacket calls “the greatest untold story of World War II” as fiction. The story is about a schoolboy who becomes Churchill’s personal spy & secret assassin. His “adventures” turn into missions that must be conducted in utmost secrecy. They take a toll on the boy whose code name is Christopher Robin to Churchill’s Tigger. But it’s truly his head of special intelligence (Owl) who ruthlessly deploys ‘Christopher’ on increasingly risky and dangerous jobs once Churchill has persuaded him to accept these secret assignments on his behalf (as his personal warrior or paladin).
The first time I read this novel was back in 1979 when it came out. John Le Carré was all the rage then, and this seemed to be of a piece with that. In other words, I didn’t question it much, just read it as exciting spy fiction.
Now I find myself questioning the veracity of the events. Or rather the way they are relayed (as a novel). How much has been “dramatized”? How much of the dialogue is actual conversations and how much made up? How reliable is the “hero” as a storyteller? Does he have an axe to grind? Why does the author choose 3rd-person narrative (he) to tell Christopher’s story objectively rather than 1st-person (I) which is more immediate, subjective, and personal?
Perhaps Brian Garfield found it easier to justify. I mean turning facts into fiction, or at least presenting them as a novel, gave him cover if people (readers) questioned the plausibility of a knightly hero being used to do dastardly deeds by a wartime leader.
I think of nonfiction books like Ben McIntyre’s “Double Cross: The Story of the D-Day Spies” that are excellent at conveying the danger & excitement of WWII espionage without resorting to fabrication.
I also think of other novels “inspired” by true events like Mark Sullivan’s “Beneath a Scarlet Sky” which tells the remarkable story of an Italian kid who helps guide Jewish refugees over the Alps to freedom in Switzerland until he’s drafted into Mussolini’s army and finds himself commandeered by a German officer as his personal driver which gives him the chance to spy on Nazi movements in Italy. That’s a more satisfying read if you like historical WWII spy fiction.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many years ago, along w/ other books by Brian Garfield. This author wrote a number of unusually good novels in the general spy/historical fiction genre. This is one of the best, based loosely on the story of a real person who "did things" (was a paladin for) for Churchill during WW II. Garfield also wrote the novel "Hopscotch," on which a wonderful movie starring Walter Matthau & Glenda Jackson was based. Another Garfield novel was "Wild Times," a Wild West story of fictional Col. Hugh Cardiff, a kind of Buffalo Bill character; I read that one to a couple of my kids when they were growing up.

September 2017: re-reading. Yep, a terrific story. Interesting, too, re-reading this shortly after re-reading Daniel Silva's "The Unlikely Spy," since both stories involve keeping the Nazis from finding out where the D-Day landing is going to take place on the coast of France.

[Jeff Mayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This supposedly true story is true in the way Forrest Gump is true. A fictional 12 year old boy is brought in as a spy by Winston Churchill. He is at and involved in a lot of historical events during World War II. Mostly bullshit, but it has moments of interest.

[Tugbadursun · Rating 2 out of 5]

İkinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında 15 yaşındaki Christopher'ın ajan! olmasını ve onun maceralarını anlatıyor. Yer yer abartılı olaylar gerçekleşse de okuması kolay bir kitaptı. Winston Churchill ile olan bazı konuşmaları eğlenceliydi ama okumanız şart değil.

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the 70s and enjoyed it again this time. Well written, and though it could easily be true, I hope it wasn't. I hope Britain and Roosevelt didn't know Pearl Harbor was going to happen.

[James Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concern's WW2 British spy for Churchill - very interesting.

[Karen C Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book at least three times and could easily read it again. It is very, very good.

[Bud Hewlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started out slow, but got better and better. (Began as a 3 star ended as a 5 star!) This is supposedly a true story from WWII, but that would be very hard to believe.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 10 and was enthralled. I love this book and it’s story.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1981. Bases on a true story of a young boy who befriends Winston Churchill in the 1930's and goes on to take an active role in many World War Two operations.

[an · Rating 3 out of 5]

seorang anak kecil dan tugas berbahaya. tugas kenegaraan tapi tidak diketahui negara. pasukan diam-diam yang mengorbankan masa kanak-kanak dan remaja na untuk tugas seperti itu. jangan tertipu dengan cover na cz dia tidak sekecil itu dalam tugas na. tapi tetap saja sebuah loyalitas diperlukan untuk berani malaksanakan na.

bentuk keberanian yang paling langka adalah keberanian untuk menghadapi bahaya sendirian saat kau tahu bahwa tidak ada orang yang mengamati kerjamu (hlm. 255)

begitulah buku ini mengkisahkan perjalanan seorang remaja untuk melakukan tugas-tugas spionase selama masa perang dunia baik pertama maupun kedua. cerita tentang tipu muslihat dan saling memanfaatkan dibawakan dengan mengalir sehingga buku yang cukup tebal ini tidak terasa cepat untuk diselesaikan. diantara ribuan pasukan yang dikorbankan, ada satu remaja yang menjadi pion untuk melancarkan pengorbanan itu semua.

kadang, tapi lebih sering, perang itu kejam. sejumlah pihak mengorbankan sejumlah pihak untuk melaksanakan tujuan tertentu. kemanusiaan yang diabaikan tapi ternyata tidak semua pelaku perang tidak memiliki rasa itu. mereka hanya menekan rasa itu supaya tidak muncul ke permukanaan dan melemahkan mereka.

saat seperti inilah seorang agen dilatih untuk kuat, bahkan untuk mengkhianati hati na sendiri.

-68-

[Mida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually could finished this book only in a couple of days, but alas. I was having a cold and it extended to 8 days reading. This book is.. I think it will be interesting if I can read the original version, as in, English language rather than Bahasa Indonesia. There were some glitches in the translation and I know, I can do better in vividly imagining the scenery if I read the English version.

The story itself, well... it never ceases to amaze me that a loyalty can go that far. And in the same time, it leaves someone so vulnerable so that he/she can be used/manipulated that much into doing things one can't even imagine doing before. In this case, it's the loyalty of Christopher to Mr. Winston Churchill, and it was brilliantly described in this book.

And war... yes, in a way, this book tells us about war: the world war 2, as well as the war that Christopher had with himself, internally. War never brings us any good--too much sacrifice that needs to be offered, too many souls has been damaged. And yet, it seems that it always tempting for human to do so, to have a showdown about power--not to mention how dirty the politics lies beneath it as well.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are fairly explicit hints dropped by Garfield that this story is "true". In this case, it has to be the sort of "truth" concealed in a myth, i.e. Churchill led a plucky underdog nation during World War II. But the reality of British resistance to the Nazis is exciting enough without embellishing it so that a teenager is present as a causal agent for several major operations: Dunkirk, the assassination of Darlan, the run-up to D-Day, you name it, "Christopher Robin" was killing people on the spot. It is better written than the average Clive Cussler, though not all of them. In the end, however, it is less Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin than Batman and Robin.

Not really recommended unless you have some time to kill with nothing else available.

[Rospiyarni Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wihiiii...koq covernya beda ya?? Hehe...aku baru baca nih semalam, langsung sampai bab 6,hmm....setelah berbulan-bulan selera membacaku hilang...gara-gara ni buku semangat membacaku menggebu lagi... Seru, mendebarkan n benar2 keren...^^ Ntar sambung lagi ya..

Yup, akhirnya tadi malam petualangan dengan christoper berakhir. Akhir yang benar-benar indah, perang telah membuat segalanya jungkir balik tak tentu arah, tapi selalu ada cinta yang tulus antara Perdana Mentri dan Paladin-nya, cinta seorang ayah kepada anak... Menderu dari awal dan akhirnya menarik nafas dengan bening di mata. Setelah tetralogi laskar pelangi, aku mencintai karya ini...^^

-the end-

[Rospiyarni Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hehe...aku baru baca nih semalam, langsung sampai bab 6,hmm....setelah berbulan-bulan selera membacaku hilang...gara-gara ni buku semangat membacaku menggebu lagi... Seru, mendebarkan n benar2 keren...^^ Ntar sambung lagi ya..

Yup, akhirnya tadi malam petualangan dengan christoper berakhir. Akhir yang benar-benar indah, perang telah membuat segalanya jungkir balik tak tentu arah, tapi selalu ada cinta yang tulus antara Perdana Mentri dan Paladin-nya, cinta seorang ayah kepada anak... Menderu dari awal dan akhirnya menarik nafas dengan bening di mata. Setelah tetralogi laskar pelangi, aku mencintai karya ini...^^

-the end-

[Andinandyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, buat saya yang suka novel perang atau sejarah dsb ini cukup menambah wawasan. fakta-fakta yang ada cukup mengejutkan. dan iya, tertipu spoiler "bocah cilik" ternyata umurnya 14 tahun. tapi entah karena saya baca terjemahan atau memang jalan ceritanya begitu, di beberapa part saya skip karena cukup membosankan. dan jelas saya suka christoper beserta sandi-sandi winnie the poohnya, gimana tangguhnya dia dan dimanfaatkan oleh penguasa, dan betapa perang itu memang hanya bermanfaat untuk orang yang memiliki kepentingan *sigh
buat yang suka cerita2 perang dan sejarah, bisa dibaca novel ini