Alan Furst, author of over a dozen historical spy novels, has brought us a new one. Furst often starts at the Spanish Civil War which was a rehearsal for Nazi Germany. In his latest novel, Midnight in Europe, Furst takes us through Europe in the years immediately preceding the invasion of Poland. As stated by Sir Edmond Grey, British Foreign Secretary in 1914, "The lamps are going out all over Europe." Furst takes this quote as the theme of his book in which people and places are not what they seem and the treat of war is almost palpable. Ordinary people such as the protagonist, Christian Ferrar, an international attorney, are drawn into the dangerous game of espionage and weapons smuggling in order to protect what is still honorable.
Anyone taking one of those Europeans river cruises should read Alan Furst. His scenes in cities such as Istanbul, Warsaw, Gdansk and Brno give a unique insight into Europe then and now.
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