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The National Treasure
Janusz Rudzinski is a celebrated composer – creator of his country’s national anthem. His greatest work is on everybody’s lips. He is a vital part of everybody’s life. He is a national treasure.
But when Europe is engulfed in war his country is the first to be invaded by the Germans. And now, as a focal point of partisan feeling, he is forced into flight. Over the course of seven days, Janusz’s world is turned upside down; celebrity and wealth earned over a lifetime devoted to the art of his people suddenly means less than nothing. He’s just another nationalist symbol that the invaders must destroy.
Can Janusz rise above the barbarism inflicted by bombs, concentration camps and death squads?
William P. Wood’s The National Treasure presents the battle between courage and cowardice, determination and despair.
Praise for William P. Wood:
'Non-stop action, a world at war, a man and his wife against all odds, The National Treasure is pure pleasure' - John T. Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author
William P. Wood is the author of nine thrillers and one non-fiction book. His thriller Rampage was made into a motion picture by Academy Award winning director William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist). His thriller Broken Trust was also filmed starring Tom Selleck with a screenplay by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. As a deputy district attorney in California, he handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from disturbing the peace to murder. He also headed several state agencies in California.
But when Europe is engulfed in war his country is the first to be invaded by the Germans. And now, as a focal point of partisan feeling, he is forced into flight. Over the course of seven days, Janusz’s world is turned upside down; celebrity and wealth earned over a lifetime devoted to the art of his people suddenly means less than nothing. He’s just another nationalist symbol that the invaders must destroy.
Can Janusz rise above the barbarism inflicted by bombs, concentration camps and death squads?
William P. Wood’s The National Treasure presents the battle between courage and cowardice, determination and despair.
Praise for William P. Wood:
'Non-stop action, a world at war, a man and his wife against all odds, The National Treasure is pure pleasure' - John T. Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author
William P. Wood is the author of nine thrillers and one non-fiction book. His thriller Rampage was made into a motion picture by Academy Award winning director William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist). His thriller Broken Trust was also filmed starring Tom Selleck with a screenplay by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. As a deputy district attorney in California, he handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from disturbing the peace to murder. He also headed several state agencies in California.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2019
10 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
William P. Wood
24 books19 followersWILLIAM P. WOOD is the author of nine thrillers and one nonfiction book. As a deputy district attorney in California, he handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from disturbing the peace to murder. He served as chief counsel to the Secretary of State of California, the Commissioner of the California Department of Corporations, and the Undersecretary of the Office of Secretary of State.
Wood's literary works include "Rampage" (1985), "Gangland" (1988), Fugitive City (1989), "Court of Honor" (1991), "Stay of Execution" (1994), "Quicksand" (1998), "Pressure Point" (2004), and "The Bribe" (2006). His latest book is "Sudden Impact."
A nonfiction book, "The Bone Garden" (1994), is the definitive account of serial killer Dorothea Puente, who was the subject of a nationwide hunt after nine bodies were dug up from her Sacramento, California yard. Wood earlier sent Puente to prison for drugging and robbing the elderly.
Many of Wood's novels have been optioned for film/TV and two were produced. The first, "Rampage" was directed by Academy Award-winner William Friedkin ("The French Connection" and "The Exorcist"). "Court of Honor" was adapted into the TV-movie "Broken Trust" by Jane Fonda Films, starring Tom Selleck and Elizabeth McGovern. The screenplay was written by Joan Didion and her husband John Gregory Dunne.
Upon the release of "Sudden Impact" many of Wood's previous and acclaimed titles will be released in paperback during 2014.
Caliban’s Flight (Willowbank Books), an international suspense thriller is his latest novel. Turner Publishing has reissued all of Wood’s earlier works in paperback and as audible books. He currently lives in Sacramento, California, where he is working on his next novel. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.
Wood's literary works include "Rampage" (1985), "Gangland" (1988), Fugitive City (1989), "Court of Honor" (1991), "Stay of Execution" (1994), "Quicksand" (1998), "Pressure Point" (2004), and "The Bribe" (2006). His latest book is "Sudden Impact."
A nonfiction book, "The Bone Garden" (1994), is the definitive account of serial killer Dorothea Puente, who was the subject of a nationwide hunt after nine bodies were dug up from her Sacramento, California yard. Wood earlier sent Puente to prison for drugging and robbing the elderly.
Many of Wood's novels have been optioned for film/TV and two were produced. The first, "Rampage" was directed by Academy Award-winner William Friedkin ("The French Connection" and "The Exorcist"). "Court of Honor" was adapted into the TV-movie "Broken Trust" by Jane Fonda Films, starring Tom Selleck and Elizabeth McGovern. The screenplay was written by Joan Didion and her husband John Gregory Dunne.
Upon the release of "Sudden Impact" many of Wood's previous and acclaimed titles will be released in paperback during 2014.
Caliban’s Flight (Willowbank Books), an international suspense thriller is his latest novel. Turner Publishing has reissued all of Wood’s earlier works in paperback and as audible books. He currently lives in Sacramento, California, where he is working on his next novel. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2019
I did not want to read this book but I needed to read something. I was not enthralled by the first few pages either but the pace picked up and reeled me in. I couldn't put it down. The refugee story is not new, but this particular presentation and character development appealed to me greatly. In short, I felt I was with these people as the plot unfolded, something all readers look for and find all too rarely. Maybe others will not share this opinion of this book, but I don't think the effort will be regretted.
December 21, 2022
A Very Different WW II Novel
Not at all what I expected but I loved it. The story is set in the first week of the Nazi invasion of Poland but it isn't about the battles or the resistance. The plot revolves around Poland's national treasure, a composer. The prose is elegant, with completely unexpected characters trying to cope with their new reality. This is an unique book amongst all of the WW II novels out there and I highly recommend it.
Not at all what I expected but I loved it. The story is set in the first week of the Nazi invasion of Poland but it isn't about the battles or the resistance. The plot revolves around Poland's national treasure, a composer. The prose is elegant, with completely unexpected characters trying to cope with their new reality. This is an unique book amongst all of the WW II novels out there and I highly recommend it.
August 25, 2021
Wonderfull
It was a surprisingly different genre for Mr. Wood. I enjoyed the writing and the characters. The story line was creative and nothing like anything I've read before .truly creative.
It was a surprisingly different genre for Mr. Wood. I enjoyed the writing and the characters. The story line was creative and nothing like anything I've read before .truly creative.
Want to read
August 12, 2019EndeavourMedia
August 30, 2019
A Completete Change
Janusz was a celebrated composer and musician in his country. Then in the space of a week his country is invaded by the Nazi army and he becomes a fugitive running and hiding, afraid and uncertain. The story of his survival is a tail of the ages.
Janusz was a celebrated composer and musician in his country. Then in the space of a week his country is invaded by the Nazi army and he becomes a fugitive running and hiding, afraid and uncertain. The story of his survival is a tail of the ages.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews