Synopsis/blurb........
Frederic
Stahl, a Hollywood film star, travels from Beverly Hills to the boulevards of
Paris. It is a dangerous, difficult, seductive time: Europe is about to
explode, and the Parisians are living every night as though it were their last.
As filming progresses, Stahl is drawn into a clandestine world of foreign
correspondents, embassy officials, and spies of every sort. His engagements
take him from the bistros of Paris to the back alleys of Morocco; from a
Hungarian castle to Kristallnacht, and the chilling heart of the Third Reich.
But can he survive as German operatives track him across Paris? Gripping,
haunting, and deeply passionate, Mission to Paris is the ultimate portrait of a
people at war and Alan Furst's most panoramic, lovingly described, and finest
book to date.
My first Alan Furst book and it was an absolute cracker. I
have a lot of his earlier work sat around at home unread, but on the basis of this
offering, hopefully for not too much longer.
Furst’s Mission To Paris is set – guess where? Paris in
1938. Our hero, Fredrik Stahl, an Austrian by birth and a successful actor in
LA is making a film in Europe. Returning to Paris, after some years away, he
becomes immersed in the manipulations and machinations of Parisian society. His
presence in the city is seized upon by none too subtle Nazi elements that seek to
use him to advance their cause. Stahl, unsympathetic to their aims, tries to avoid
becoming a stooge for the Germans in the war being fought in the press about
the French government’s preferred stance towards Hitler. Opt for appeasement
and hope he leaves them be? Or stand up to the playground bully in the near
certain knowledge that French resistance on its own would be easily overcome by
the German military machine.
This is where I struggle with my reviews generally, how much
detail do I put in, how much do I leave out?
Furst masterfully
portrays a conflicted society and city; factions embracing the impending era of
Nazi dominance and endeavouring to speed its ascent, factions fearful of the
changes to come and the ever-invasive dread of what Nazism will mean for their
families and friends, many of them having departed Germany previously in terror
at the growing right-wing menace.
Furst’s Stahl was a realistic and compelling hero. Overcoming
his initial reservations, he is increasingly drawn into a shadowy world of
espionage, trying to provide a conduit for information between Americans anxious
to influence the President at home regarding the German menace and practical
support for agents on the ground in Berlin, at the risk to his public persona.
Before too long the stakes are raised and Stahl is sucked into not just a battle
to preserve his career, but his life and that of the woman he has fallen for.
Intelligent and educational, gripping, exciting and scary;
this was one of the best books I’ve read in the past year or so, let alone this
month.
5 from 5
I borrowed my copy form my local library in Leighton
Buzzard.
Col - So glad you enjoyed your first experience with Furst's work. He is really talented and creates a strong sense of atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteMargot, you're right the atmosphere he creates is intense. Not many people can achieve that, I'm looking forward to more. Hopefully I haven't spoiled things for myself, as one reviewed said it was his finest work!
DeleteThis is the only Furst book that I haven't bought. I have all the others but have only read the first. I liked it, I just did not read more for the same old reason... too many books, too many authors to try. I am glad you liked this one so much. Your review tells me I should get back to Furst's books.
ReplyDeleteTracy, I think I know that story...too many books, too many authors. I can't see the situation changing either.
DeleteI'm a big fan of Furst too. I must read another of his books sometime. I think this one is sitting on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I'll look forward to your review when you've read it. I'm hoping to pick up another of his soon.
ReplyDelete