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Ivan Putilin #1
Костюм Арлекина
Начальник петербургской сыскной полиции Иван Дмитриевич Путилин расследует убийство австрийского военного атташе. Драма, разыгравшаяся апрельской ночью 1871 года, грозила такими последствиями, что мог измениться ход истории. Но блистательный сыщик раскроет и это запутанное дело
319 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
4 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Leonid Yuzefovich
25 books22 followersA contemporary Russian writer.
His novel "Князь ветра" (Prince of the Wind) won the National Best-seller Literary Prize (2001, Russia).
His novel "Журавли и карлики" (Cranes and Pygmies) won the National Literary Prize BIG BOOK (2009, Russia).
Russian writer known for the series of crime fiction stories taking place in pre-Revolution Russian Empire. He also writes non-fiction books about history, and currently adapts his stories for TV serials.
In 1975, he started working as a history teacher at a Moscow school and only retired in 2004 despite being in love with teaching. In 1981 he earned his Ph.D. (Candidate of Sciences) with his thesis on Russian diplomatic etiquette of the 15th-17th centuries.
His early fiction works were occasionally published in the USSR through the late 1970s and 1980s but he mostly owed his initial popularity to the well-distributed non-fiction book The Sovereign of the Desert about Roman Ungern von Sternberg, issued in 1993. It influenced Victor Pelevin's novel Chapayev and Void, issued in 1996.
He gained more popularity when in 2001 he switched to detective stories set in the late 19th century, re-inventing the fame of detective Ivan Putilin.
In 2003 the Russian Booker Prize short-listed Yuzefovich's detective story Kazaroza.
Yuzefovich became the main winner of the 2009 Big Book, the Russian national literary prize, for his novel Cranes and Pygmies on November 26.
Yuzefovich's books have been translated and issued in English, French, German, Italian, Mongolian, Polish, and Spanish languages. As of October 2012, only two of his fiction works were published as parts of anthologies in English
His novel "Князь ветра" (Prince of the Wind) won the National Best-seller Literary Prize (2001, Russia).
His novel "Журавли и карлики" (Cranes and Pygmies) won the National Literary Prize BIG BOOK (2009, Russia).
Russian writer known for the series of crime fiction stories taking place in pre-Revolution Russian Empire. He also writes non-fiction books about history, and currently adapts his stories for TV serials.
In 1975, he started working as a history teacher at a Moscow school and only retired in 2004 despite being in love with teaching. In 1981 he earned his Ph.D. (Candidate of Sciences) with his thesis on Russian diplomatic etiquette of the 15th-17th centuries.
His early fiction works were occasionally published in the USSR through the late 1970s and 1980s but he mostly owed his initial popularity to the well-distributed non-fiction book The Sovereign of the Desert about Roman Ungern von Sternberg, issued in 1993. It influenced Victor Pelevin's novel Chapayev and Void, issued in 1996.
He gained more popularity when in 2001 he switched to detective stories set in the late 19th century, re-inventing the fame of detective Ivan Putilin.
In 2003 the Russian Booker Prize short-listed Yuzefovich's detective story Kazaroza.
Yuzefovich became the main winner of the 2009 Big Book, the Russian national literary prize, for his novel Cranes and Pygmies on November 26.
Yuzefovich's books have been translated and issued in English, French, German, Italian, Mongolian, Polish, and Spanish languages. As of October 2012, only two of his fiction works were published as parts of anthologies in English
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 19, 2021
Unlike the completely fictional Muscovite Fandorin, Ivan Dmitrievich Putilin is a real historical figure, the head of the St. Petersburg detective police from 1866 to 1889, died of influenza six months after retirement. But during this time he managed to write a memoir, "Forty years among murderers and robbers." The legend of the Russian detective, a cult character during his lifetime, and after his death the hero of many books and films.
While Fandorin investigates crimes, guided by logic (remember: "this is one, this is two, this is three"?), Roman Putilin, like his prototype, in many cases relies on intuition, an extraordinary sixth sense, which everyone who knew him spoke about, in addition to an unusually developed observation and subtle attention. Fandorin is a womanizer and handsome, Putilin is a family man and had a pleasant appearance, but nothing extraordinary, except perhaps impressive sideburns.
Fandorin is a brilliantly educated polyglot and cosmopolitan, Putilin studied with copper money, did not go abroad, did not speak languages. The fabulous luck of Erast Petrovich and the ability to arrange material affairs in such a way that, being in the service of the sovereign, he would not need anything, and be a model of dandyism on free bread, against the modest financial capabilities of Putilin, who started with memoirs to fix financial affairs, and after dying, he left nothing but notes to the children, and the little name was sold under the hammer at all.
Путилин - Фандорин, найди 10 отличий
Тот мир сгинул навсегда, но из него вышел хитрый честный человек с рыжими бакенбардами, искатель истины, заступник невинных, знаток женского сердца и любитель соленых грибочков.
Что вы знаете о ретродетективе? Вошел в моду на рубеже веков с акунинскими романами о Фандорине и Пелагии, имел подражателей, самым заметным из которых стал Свечин со своими опусами (весьма скромных достоинств). Пожалуй - все. Нет, я слышала, у Юзефовича было что-то о дореволюционном сыщике, но, будучи поклонницей Эраста Петровича, даже не рассматривала возможности приобщиться... Пока не взяла первую книгу трилогии о сыщике Путилине.
Но по порядку. "Костюм Арлекина" - это уже третье название романа, увидевшего свет в 1982 (за двадцать лет до Фандорина, на минутку) под заглавием "Ситуация на Балканах", спустя девять лет по нему был снят фильм "Сыщик петербургской полиции" (1991) с Борисом Щербаковым. После та же книга выходила как "Триумф Венеры" и наконец в две тысячи первом - в нынешнем варианте. В свою очередь став основой для сериала "Сыщик Путилин" с Владимиром Ильиным. Такая замысловатая траектория.
В отличие от полностью вымышленного москвича Фандорина, Иван Дмитриевич Путилин реальная историческая личность, начальник сыскной полиции Санкт-Петербурга с 1866 по 1889 годы, умер от инфлюэнцы спустя полгода после выхода на пенсию. Но за это время успел написать мемуары "Сорок лет среди убийц и грабителей". Легенда русского сыска, культовый персонаж еще при жизни, а после смерти герой множества книг и фильмов.
В то время, как Фандорин расследует преступления, руководствуясь логикой (помните: "это раз, это два, это три"?), романный Путилин, как и его прототип, во многих случаях опирается на интуицию, чрезвычайное шестое чувство, о котором говорили все, знавшие его, в придачу к необычайно развитой наблюдательности и тонкому вниманию. Фандорин женолюб и красавец, Путилин семьянин и внешность имел приятную, но ничего экстраординарного, кроме разве, внушительных бакенбардов.
Фандорин блестяще образованный полиглот и космополит, Путилин учился на медные деньги, за границами не бывал, языками не владел. Сказочная удачливость Эраста Петровича и способность так устроить материальные дела, чтобы и будучи на службе государевой ни в чем не нуждаться, и на вольных хлебах быть образцом дендизма, против скромных финансовых возможностей Путилина, который и с мемуарами затеялся, чтобы поправить финансовые дела, и умерев, ничего, кроме записок, детям не оставил, а именьице вовсе продано было с молотка.
Фандоринская щепетильность в вопросах чести, а в отношениях с окружающими руководство конфуцианскими принципами благородного мужа. В то время, как Путилин мелкий коррупционер того толка, когда бесплатно проезжают на извозчике, пользуясь служебным положением или берут взятку маринованными грибочками. Замечательные физические качества Фандорина, который тело свое граненное японской гимнастикой мучил, владеет восточными единоборствами и навыками ниндзяцу супротив скромных кондиций Путилина. Он и не стреляет за все время ни разу, что уж по потолку бегать.
Но, в отличие от любезного моего (и, что греха таить, целлулоидного) Эраста Петровича, Иван Дмитриевич живой и действует в реальном мире. Где жена, кормя завтраком, ворчит между делом, что супруг не думает о здоровье, а тот прячет от нее штоф. Где скаредные хозяева делают насечку на палочке, вставленной в банку варенья, дабы воспрепятствовать прислуге лакомиться втихомолку. Где конспирологические теории о международном заговоре вдребезги разбиваются чугунной гирей русского пьянства. Расползаются на куски, как сметанный на живую нитку костюм Арлекина в балаганчике.
И все же к роману. Сюжет об убийстве австрийского атташе барона фон Аренсберга взят из записок "Сорок лет среди убийц и грабителей". Структура достаточно непростая: основное действие оплетено историей написания мемуаров, для чего в путилинское имение приглашен литератор Сафронов; включает вставную новеллу о сервизе; вплетает в главную линию несколько побочных (о грабителе Пупыре и его несчастной сожительнице, об украденной голове, об афере с ружьями).
Интрига закручена мастерски. Ручаюсь, вы до конца не узнаете кто убийца. Язык чистое наслаждение. Абсурдизм российской жизни, когда это был особенный чисто российский демократизм всякий норовил заняться не своим делом. выписан бесподобно. С той разницей, что Леонид Юзефович делает свое, и с субжанром так же хорош. как с большой литературой.
While Fandorin investigates crimes, guided by logic (remember: "this is one, this is two, this is three"?), Roman Putilin, like his prototype, in many cases relies on intuition, an extraordinary sixth sense, which everyone who knew him spoke about, in addition to an unusually developed observation and subtle attention. Fandorin is a womanizer and handsome, Putilin is a family man and had a pleasant appearance, but nothing extraordinary, except perhaps impressive sideburns.
Fandorin is a brilliantly educated polyglot and cosmopolitan, Putilin studied with copper money, did not go abroad, did not speak languages. The fabulous luck of Erast Petrovich and the ability to arrange material affairs in such a way that, being in the service of the sovereign, he would not need anything, and be a model of dandyism on free bread, against the modest financial capabilities of Putilin, who started with memoirs to fix financial affairs, and after dying, he left nothing but notes to the children, and the little name was sold under the hammer at all.
Путилин - Фандорин, найди 10 отличий
Тот мир сгинул навсегда, но из него вышел хитрый честный человек с рыжими бакенбардами, искатель истины, заступник невинных, знаток женского сердца и любитель соленых грибочков.
Что вы знаете о ретродетективе? Вошел в моду на рубеже веков с акунинскими романами о Фандорине и Пелагии, имел подражателей, самым заметным из которых стал Свечин со своими опусами (весьма скромных достоинств). Пожалуй - все. Нет, я слышала, у Юзефовича было что-то о дореволюционном сыщике, но, будучи поклонницей Эраста Петровича, даже не рассматривала возможности приобщиться... Пока не взяла первую книгу трилогии о сыщике Путилине.
Но по порядку. "Костюм Арлекина" - это уже третье название романа, увидевшего свет в 1982 (за двадцать лет до Фандорина, на минутку) под заглавием "Ситуация на Балканах", спустя девять лет по нему был снят фильм "Сыщик петербургской полиции" (1991) с Борисом Щербаковым. После та же книга выходила как "Триумф Венеры" и наконец в две тысячи первом - в нынешнем варианте. В свою очередь став основой для сериала "Сыщик Путилин" с Владимиром Ильиным. Такая замысловатая траектория.
В отличие от полностью вымышленного москвича Фандорина, Иван Дмитриевич Путилин реальная историческая личность, начальник сыскной полиции Санкт-Петербурга с 1866 по 1889 годы, умер от инфлюэнцы спустя полгода после выхода на пенсию. Но за это время успел написать мемуары "Сорок лет среди убийц и грабителей". Легенда русского сыска, культовый персонаж еще при жизни, а после смерти герой множества книг и фильмов.
В то время, как Фандорин расследует преступления, руководствуясь логикой (помните: "это раз, это два, это три"?), романный Путилин, как и его прототип, во многих случаях опирается на интуицию, чрезвычайное шестое чувство, о котором говорили все, знавшие его, в придачу к необычайно развитой наблюдательности и тонкому вниманию. Фандорин женолюб и красавец, Путилин семьянин и внешность имел приятную, но ничего экстраординарного, кроме разве, внушительных бакенбардов.
Фандорин блестяще образованный полиглот и космополит, Путилин учился на медные деньги, за границами не бывал, языками не владел. Сказочная удачливость Эраста Петровича и способность так устроить материальные дела, чтобы и будучи на службе государевой ни в чем не нуждаться, и на вольных хлебах быть образцом дендизма, против скромных финансовых возможностей Путилина, который и с мемуарами затеялся, чтобы поправить финансовые дела, и умерев, ничего, кроме записок, детям не оставил, а именьице вовсе продано было с молотка.
Фандоринская щепетильность в вопросах чести, а в отношениях с окружающими руководство конфуцианскими принципами благородного мужа. В то время, как Путилин мелкий коррупционер того толка, когда бесплатно проезжают на извозчике, пользуясь служебным положением или берут взятку маринованными грибочками. Замечательные физические качества Фандорина, который тело свое граненное японской гимнастикой мучил, владеет восточными единоборствами и навыками ниндзяцу супротив скромных кондиций Путилина. Он и не стреляет за все время ни разу, что уж по потолку бегать.
Но, в отличие от любезного моего (и, что греха таить, целлулоидного) Эраста Петровича, Иван Дмитриевич живой и действует в реальном мире. Где жена, кормя завтраком, ворчит между делом, что супруг не думает о здоровье, а тот прячет от нее штоф. Где скаредные хозяева делают насечку на палочке, вставленной в банку варенья, дабы воспрепятствовать прислуге лакомиться втихомолку. Где конспирологические теории о международном заговоре вдребезги разбиваются чугунной гирей русского пьянства. Расползаются на куски, как сметанный на живую нитку костюм Арлекина в балаганчике.
И все же к роману. Сюжет об убийстве австрийского атташе барона фон Аренсберга взят из записок "Сорок лет среди убийц и грабителей". Структура достаточно непростая: основное действие оплетено историей написания мемуаров, для чего в путилинское имение приглашен литератор Сафронов; включает вставную новеллу о сервизе; вплетает в главную линию несколько побочных (о грабителе Пупыре и его несчастной сожительнице, об украденной голове, об афере с ружьями).
Интрига закручена мастерски. Ручаюсь, вы до конца не узнаете кто убийца. Язык чистое наслаждение. Абсурдизм российской жизни, когда это был особенный чисто российский демократизм всякий норовил заняться не своим делом. выписан бесподобно. С той разницей, что Леонид Юзефович делает свое, и с субжанром так же хорош. как с большой литературой.
June 30, 2023
I couldn’t care less
May 13, 2013
3.75 rounded up to 4.
Harlequin's Costume is a blend of two of my favorite genres, crime fiction and historical fiction. The time is 1871, the place St. Petersburg, Russia; Czar Alexander II is sitting on the imperial throne. It is a politically-charged time, and after the death of Austrian military attaché Prince von Ahrensburg, Chief Inspector Ivan Dmitrievich Putilin has a tough job trying to a) determine whether or not his murder is the work of some political faction and b) keep his head above water since the Czar's own secret police are also involved with their own agenda and c) maneuver around circles during a delicate time. The story is told looking back, as Putilin is working on his memoirs, "the most interesting material...accumulated over the course of my career,... something like a chronicle of crime in our Northern capital over the last thirty years." Harlequin's Costume is the first of a three-volume trilogy based on the real Ivan Putilin who served as St. Petersburg's chief of police from 1866 to 1892; in Russia his exploits are the subject of a television mini-series.
The novel is rich in period detail, and there is a definite sense of time and place that runs throughout. Considering that Yuzefovich is an historian who taught his beloved subject for some 29 years, this is not surprising. It's easy to envision not only St. Petersburg at this time, but also the multi-faceted political and diplomatic intrigue going on all around poor Putilin as he tries to suss out the truth behind the death of von Ahrensburg. The story is filled with potential suspects who have more than a few motives to want the attaché dead. As it turns out, sometimes even the slightest detail becomes important to the crime's solution. As you navigate through the streets of St. Petersburg, there are also some funny moments that lighten the intensity of Putilin's investigation. As far as the writing, at one point Putilin's editor notes:
"Ivan Dmietrievich worked like an artist who scatters smears, blots, spots and lines on the canvas before a bewildered audience, in apparently random fashion, and then, with a flick of the wrist, suddenly pulls them together into a single whole and blinds his viewers with the instantaneous revelation of his intent, concealed hitherto in chaos."
and that is precisely the way Yuzefovich tells his story as well. Ivan Dmietrievich bides his time until he finds that "imperceptible thread" to unravel the investigation; Yuzefovich also waits for the perfect moment to reveal all. My only issue with this novel is that a number of times, with the switch from 1871 to later when Ivan Dmietrievich is discussing his stories with his editor, I did a quick "huh?" at the sudden changes. One moment you're reading about a shipment from Genoa with its cargo of oranges and lemons, and the next the editor is saying "somehow the freight seems out of season." These little sections would be fine (imho) in little chapters by themselves, but within the narrative it was a bit jarring to switch from one time to another so quickly.
This is definitely not a book for crime readers who want a quick solution. The story moves a bit slowly, taking you through multiple suspects and their motives, and the author takes his time to set up the political and diplomatic scene while carefully sketching out his characters. This book would probably be suited more for readers of good historical fiction (not the soap-operaish sort) or historical crime readers who want to immerse themselves in a specific time and place while their armchair detective selves try to figure out the whodunit along with the detective. I defy you to figure this one out - I certainly didn't. I hope the publishers don't wait too long before publishing the next installment -- this one was definitely right up my alley.
Harlequin's Costume is a blend of two of my favorite genres, crime fiction and historical fiction. The time is 1871, the place St. Petersburg, Russia; Czar Alexander II is sitting on the imperial throne. It is a politically-charged time, and after the death of Austrian military attaché Prince von Ahrensburg, Chief Inspector Ivan Dmitrievich Putilin has a tough job trying to a) determine whether or not his murder is the work of some political faction and b) keep his head above water since the Czar's own secret police are also involved with their own agenda and c) maneuver around circles during a delicate time. The story is told looking back, as Putilin is working on his memoirs, "the most interesting material...accumulated over the course of my career,... something like a chronicle of crime in our Northern capital over the last thirty years." Harlequin's Costume is the first of a three-volume trilogy based on the real Ivan Putilin who served as St. Petersburg's chief of police from 1866 to 1892; in Russia his exploits are the subject of a television mini-series.
The novel is rich in period detail, and there is a definite sense of time and place that runs throughout. Considering that Yuzefovich is an historian who taught his beloved subject for some 29 years, this is not surprising. It's easy to envision not only St. Petersburg at this time, but also the multi-faceted political and diplomatic intrigue going on all around poor Putilin as he tries to suss out the truth behind the death of von Ahrensburg. The story is filled with potential suspects who have more than a few motives to want the attaché dead. As it turns out, sometimes even the slightest detail becomes important to the crime's solution. As you navigate through the streets of St. Petersburg, there are also some funny moments that lighten the intensity of Putilin's investigation. As far as the writing, at one point Putilin's editor notes:
"Ivan Dmietrievich worked like an artist who scatters smears, blots, spots and lines on the canvas before a bewildered audience, in apparently random fashion, and then, with a flick of the wrist, suddenly pulls them together into a single whole and blinds his viewers with the instantaneous revelation of his intent, concealed hitherto in chaos."
and that is precisely the way Yuzefovich tells his story as well. Ivan Dmietrievich bides his time until he finds that "imperceptible thread" to unravel the investigation; Yuzefovich also waits for the perfect moment to reveal all. My only issue with this novel is that a number of times, with the switch from 1871 to later when Ivan Dmietrievich is discussing his stories with his editor, I did a quick "huh?" at the sudden changes. One moment you're reading about a shipment from Genoa with its cargo of oranges and lemons, and the next the editor is saying "somehow the freight seems out of season." These little sections would be fine (imho) in little chapters by themselves, but within the narrative it was a bit jarring to switch from one time to another so quickly.
This is definitely not a book for crime readers who want a quick solution. The story moves a bit slowly, taking you through multiple suspects and their motives, and the author takes his time to set up the political and diplomatic scene while carefully sketching out his characters. This book would probably be suited more for readers of good historical fiction (not the soap-operaish sort) or historical crime readers who want to immerse themselves in a specific time and place while their armchair detective selves try to figure out the whodunit along with the detective. I defy you to figure this one out - I certainly didn't. I hope the publishers don't wait too long before publishing the next installment -- this one was definitely right up my alley.
May 22, 2021
Saint Petersburg. 1871. A murder. A murder that could have dire diplomatic consequences for Russia and could even lead to a war. For the murdered man is Prince von Ahrensburg, Austria’s military attaché. A high-level investigation is hurriedly launched, led by Chief Inspector Ivan Putilin. So concerned is Czar Alexander II that the murder could have been politically motivated that he also calls in the dreaded Third Department, his secret police. It’s not long before suspects abound, ranging from Ahrensburg’s mistress, to Russian, Polish and even Italian revolutionaries, from Turkish spies to ordinary criminals. Who would have thought that so many could have had a motive for killing the military attaché? Rumours spread – perhaps a werewolf is involved? But what matters is not finding the true culprit but finding any culprit at all and solving the case quickly, even if that means arranging for someone to “volunteer” to be the killer. Fortunately capable Ivan Putilin is in charge and he is definitely the man for the job. The reader is soon reassured that he will get to the bottom of it all. It’s a fun, amusing read but perhaps an overly complicated one. I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters and their supposed motives, not to mention the various intrigues surrounding the case. However, comic interludes are scattered throughout the narrative – not least concerning Putilin’s home life – and this helps keep the mood and tone light and engaging. The sense of time and place is expertly portrayed, and the pace cleverly sustained. The historical detail is well-researched and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The first of a trilogy and based on the real-life Putilin, who was Chief of Police from 1866 to 1892, it’s an enjoyable and entertaining read.
January 8, 2020
Очень интересный исторический детектив о Петербурге конца 19 века. Отличный по ней получился бы фильм! Сложно сравнивать с Фандориным. Но не менее интересно!
September 20, 2022
Примечательная книга. Примечательна тем, что замечательным образом иллюстрирует тезис о том, что история творится не героями и не из высоких или дьявольских побуждений, а по нелепости, абсурду и человеческой глупости. И несмотря на всю историчность повествования (в параллельном ревю пишут, что сыщик Путилин - на самом деле живший в 19 веке, а Шувалов и есть тот самый Шувалов), происходит в ней такая дичь, что аж до слёз смешно. Единственные минусы - некоторая рванность сюжета и какие-то карикатурные NPC типа жены Путилина, его недалёких коллег, а ещё какое-то насмешливо-пренебрежительное отношение к женщинам в целом. Но это, возможно, дань эпохе. До Фандорина, конечно, чуть не дотягивает, но читать забавно.
January 8, 2024
Сравнение с фандориадой так и напрашивается, что ж, я поддамся: схожесть лишь в сеттинге. «Костюм Арлекина» начинается очень размеренной и обстоятельной историей, а продолжается чуть ли не плутовским водевилем. Увлекательный и занимательный детектив, который стал бы ещё лучше, если бы в нём не было ни одной метафоры с розами.
May 29, 2016
This was a very entertaining story, that brought back the fantastic atmosphere of Russia in the late 1800s that I had found previously in The Gentle Axe by R. N. Morris. It’s amusing throughout. Especially fun is when they force someone to volunteer to be the murderer. You see, it doesn’t actually matter who did it, just that they arrest someone. Interestingly, later on, more and more people are suspected of the crime.
It all seemed very much like a cliché of how you’d expect the Russian police to behave, but having said that, it was both funny and believable. This brilliant sentence on page 178: "With this kind of evidence we can prove anything we like."
While it was fun, I did have problems keeping the characters apart. Not because of their Russian names, that wasn’t so hard, but because they weren’t very well developed and there were rather many of them. I often lost track who was who and this also influenced my understanding of the story at times.
On the other hand, I could very clearly picture the events in the story and it was not hard to imagine that this would make a brilliant tv series.
It all seemed very much like a cliché of how you’d expect the Russian police to behave, but having said that, it was both funny and believable. This brilliant sentence on page 178: "With this kind of evidence we can prove anything we like."
While it was fun, I did have problems keeping the characters apart. Not because of their Russian names, that wasn’t so hard, but because they weren’t very well developed and there were rather many of them. I often lost track who was who and this also influenced my understanding of the story at times.
On the other hand, I could very clearly picture the events in the story and it was not hard to imagine that this would make a brilliant tv series.
July 30, 2021
Historien de formation Léonid Youzefovitch a écrit une série policière mettant en scène Ivan Dmitrievitch Poutiline chef de la sûreté à St Petersbourg. Nous sommes en mai 1871 un attaché militaire autrichien est assassiné dans son lit. Pourquoi le Prince von Arensberg est il mort? Motif crapuleux, vengeance passionnelle, complot politique pour créer un incident diplomatique entre le Tsar et l'empereur d'Autriche? Poutiline est de fait sous l'autorité de la Gendarmerie. Face à ces hommes imbus d'eux-mêmes, arrogants qui le toisent de haut, comment peut il faire entendre sa voix, lui qui vient d'en-bas!
Commence alors un étrange ballet, les ambassades s'excitent, les rumeurs les plus extravagantes circulent et l'assassin court toujours. Les scènes les plus loufoques se déroulent sous nos yeux; comedia del arte, pantomime, grand guignol puis le décor change et nous voilà plongés dans les bas-fonds de la ville, Dostojevski n'est pas loin. Les personnages sont multiples, le lecteur s'y perd mais au fond à par Poutiline qui veut vraiment connaitre la vérité?
Touffu, confus. Une lecture très décevante.
Commence alors un étrange ballet, les ambassades s'excitent, les rumeurs les plus extravagantes circulent et l'assassin court toujours. Les scènes les plus loufoques se déroulent sous nos yeux; comedia del arte, pantomime, grand guignol puis le décor change et nous voilà plongés dans les bas-fonds de la ville, Dostojevski n'est pas loin. Les personnages sont multiples, le lecteur s'y perd mais au fond à par Poutiline qui veut vraiment connaitre la vérité?
Touffu, confus. Une lecture très décevante.
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January 19, 2022Отличный детективный роман. Да, не самый запутанный сюжет, но здесь он не главное. Море юмора. Атмосфера той эпохи передана идеально. Просто бальзам на душу🌸
September 22, 2022
Пять за недосказанность, которой - для меня - овеяна эта книга.
March 28, 2024
Harlequin's Costume is an overly complicated work of historical fiction/mystery, and a bit pretentious. It could have been an excellent tale, had it been edited better.
November 29, 2016
I am very particular when it comes to crime novels; I like it to be dark and gritty. However there are some exceptions to the rule. Harlequin’s Costume is an exception, and I do not believe it is just my love of Russian literature. The premise of the novel is simple; set in St. Petersburg 1871, an Austrian military attaché is found murdered in his bed. Chief Inspector Ivan Dmetrievich Putilin leads the investigation for this high profile case. Although investigating this case is not going smoothly as the Tsar has also called in the secret police to find out if this murder was politically motivated.
What drew me to this novel was the fact that Ivan Putilin was a real person, he was the Tsar’s Chief of Police in St. Petersburg from 1866 to 1892. I am fascinated when authors manage to blend the line between fiction and reality. In particular when they take historical figures and add them into their novels. There is a fine line, and it is hard to get right. I think picking someone like Ivan Putilin is an easier pick as I cannot find much information about this man (I do not understand Russian so that causes limitation). I would imagine picking a well-known historical figure would require more research.
What I really enjoyed about Harlequin’s Costume was discovering Leonid Yuzefovich’s own interest. He was a history teacher and a Ph.D candidate of Sciences, with a focus in Russian diplomatic etiquette (particularly in the 15th-17th centuries). The novel has a focus in the Russian Empire politics, both foreign and domestic. With my love for Russian literature, I found myself focusing on the Soviet era and have not spent much time exploring the history around the Tsardom or the politics surrounding it. In fact my main knowledge in medieval politics comes from a video games like Crusader King II and Europia Universalis IV, so it was a thrill to learn more.
Harlequin’s Costume is a perfect blend of a historical crime novel and an exploration into Russian politics. The novel seamlessly was able to offer a thrilling read while still offering something far more detailed. I am curious to see if this will become Russia’s answer to a classic detective like Sherlock Holmes but I am also now interested in trying out Boris Akunin. While I would not call Harlequin’s Costume a perfect crime novel, it offered more than I expected and hope to read more of Ivan Putilin.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://www.knowledgelost.org/book-rev...
What drew me to this novel was the fact that Ivan Putilin was a real person, he was the Tsar’s Chief of Police in St. Petersburg from 1866 to 1892. I am fascinated when authors manage to blend the line between fiction and reality. In particular when they take historical figures and add them into their novels. There is a fine line, and it is hard to get right. I think picking someone like Ivan Putilin is an easier pick as I cannot find much information about this man (I do not understand Russian so that causes limitation). I would imagine picking a well-known historical figure would require more research.
What I really enjoyed about Harlequin’s Costume was discovering Leonid Yuzefovich’s own interest. He was a history teacher and a Ph.D candidate of Sciences, with a focus in Russian diplomatic etiquette (particularly in the 15th-17th centuries). The novel has a focus in the Russian Empire politics, both foreign and domestic. With my love for Russian literature, I found myself focusing on the Soviet era and have not spent much time exploring the history around the Tsardom or the politics surrounding it. In fact my main knowledge in medieval politics comes from a video games like Crusader King II and Europia Universalis IV, so it was a thrill to learn more.
Harlequin’s Costume is a perfect blend of a historical crime novel and an exploration into Russian politics. The novel seamlessly was able to offer a thrilling read while still offering something far more detailed. I am curious to see if this will become Russia’s answer to a classic detective like Sherlock Holmes but I am also now interested in trying out Boris Akunin. While I would not call Harlequin’s Costume a perfect crime novel, it offered more than I expected and hope to read more of Ivan Putilin.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://www.knowledgelost.org/book-rev...
February 28, 2009
The retro detective stories start to be popular in Russia and out side it. Here we meet Ivan Putilin, who - opposite to Erast Fandorin from Boris Akunin's series - is a married man with a child. Leonid Józefowicz doesn't have such a lightness of writing as Akunin. Just medium.
June 1, 2013
I enjoyed this book and got to like to main character, Detective Putilin and would be interested to hear more of his stories. It was well written and kept you guessing as to the identity of the culprit. My only negative would be one that does not just apply to this author but with all Russian authors that I have read and that is there are too many characters with similar sounding names which leads to confusion.
September 2, 2016
Very complex, well though out story line.
May 28, 2019
Как первые романы про Фандорина, только лучше.
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