| |
|
Passage of Arms 7 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2004
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.
In many respects, Eric Ambler was to the modern British suspense novel what Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett were to the American detective novel. Ambler transformed the suspense novel from a simplistic black and white world of perfect good guys versus nefarious bad guys into a far more realistic world where sometimes the difference between good and evil is not ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Schirmer Inheritance9 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2003
Another excellent Ambler story
This seems to be less well-known than many of Ambler's other stories, but in my opinion is one of his best. It involves interesting insight into how people survived in the Balkans during WWII - and the dastardly things they did to those who didn't. I thought that the ending was very interesting and worth waiting for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Anabasis of Cyrus (Agora) 1 review
Xenophon
Cornell University Press, 2007
The Anabasis of Xenophon
Eric Buzetti's introduction and Wayne Ambler's translation and notes remind one how important Xenophon is. It seems to me to be an excellent entry to the writings of this 'gentleman' general who also wrote Socratic dialogues, which I now hope to revisit with renewed interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Light of Day12 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2004
"A man may grow rich in Turkey even
if he will be in all respects a good subject of the Turkish government." Henry David Thoreau
In many respects, Eric Ambler was to the modern British suspense novel what Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett were to the American detective novel. Ambler transformed the suspense novel from a simplistic black and white world of perfect good guys versus nefarious bad guys into a far more realistic ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Epitaph for a Spy 12 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2002
Prime time Ambler and a jolly good read!
Although Ambler is known for his spy thrillers of the 1930s, he stands the genre on its head in this one-of-a-kind gem that is so enjoyable it's probably illegal. It's definitely his best book.
A bumbling young British schoolmaster takes a vacation in a picturesque European inn located near some miltary fortifications. Unknowlingly he photographs said fortif. and the next thing he knows he is ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Levanter (No Exit Press 18 Years Classic)4 reviews
Eric Ambler
No Exit, 2005
Plus Ca Change, Plus C'Est La Meme Chose!
To read or not to read the great espionage novels of Eric Ambler? That is the question most people ignore because they are not familiar with Mr. Ambler and his particularly talent. Mr. Ambler has always had this problem. As Alfred Hitchcock noted in his introduction to Intrigue (an omnibus volume containing Journey into Fear, A Coffin for Dimitrios, Cause for Alarm and Background to Danger), ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Cause for Alarm7 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2002
Espionage: Realistic, Vivid and Noir!!
To read or not to read the great spy novels of Eric Ambler? That is the question most people ignore because they are not familiar with Mr. Ambler and his particularly talent. Mr. Ambler has always had this problem. As Alfred Hitchcock noted in his introduction to Intrigue (an omnibus volume containing Journey into Fear, A Coffin for Dimitrios, Cause for Alarm and Background to Danger), ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
A Coffin for Dimitrios43 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2001
Simply the Best
An average of four stars for this classic is ridiculous, although today's reading audience, saturated with blood, guts, and improbable plots, may perhaps be forgiven for not recognizing this novel for the masterpiece that it is. Nothing quite like it had been written before. It stands alone in its bleak background rendering of a Europe on the brink of war and, in its characterizations, of the ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Background to Danger2 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2001
"For many men that stumble at the threshold
Are well foretold that danger lurks within." Henry VI, Part III.
When down-on-his-luck British journalist Kenton boarded an Austria-bound train at Nuremberg he likely had no idea what danger lurked within. Strapped for cash after losing virtually all his money in a dice game, Kenton agrees to smuggle an envelope across the Austrian border for an old man claiming to be a refugee from Hitler's ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Journey Into Fear14 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2002
Quintessential Ambler.
This intriguing tale by legendary spymaster Eric Ambler is set in the very early days of WWII. It revolves around an English engineer named Graham (we never do learn his first name). Most of the narrative unfolds aboard an Italian steamer as it makes its way from Istanbul to Genoa carrying Graham and an international mix of fellow passengers.
An expert on naval ordnance, Mr. Graham has just ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Here Lies: An Autobiography1 review
Eric Ambler
Mysterious Pr, 1988
Fascinating autobiography of the greatest thriller writer
It's difficult to believe that this is the first review of Eric Ambler's autobiography, for Ambler is widely recognized as the inventor of the modern suspense novel. Furthermore, many of his fans -- including this reviewer -- believe that Ambler has never been surpassed in this genre. Personally, I would go still further and say that I have never read any author in any genre who surpasses Ambler ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
State of Siege8 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2003
Great on many levels.
In the part of the world once known as the East Indies, The Republic of Sunda, a former Dutch colonial outpost, struggles with its new found independence. Unfortunately, the ruling government is both corrupt and ineffectual, setting the stage for civil war.
Steve Fraser, a British engineer completely disinterested in the nuances of internal Sundanese politics, finds himself right in the ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Dark Frontier 5 reviews
Eric Ambler
Mysterious Press, 1990
The first novel by THE master of suspense and intrigue.
The Dark Frontier, Eric Ambler's first novel, is often overlooked -- even by Ambler fans. This is unfortunate for, while it is not up to the standards of his subsequent novels, it is still quite good. Incidentally, although The Dark Frontier was written in the early 1930s, it involves the invention of a nuclear bomb -- one of the first (if not the first) novels on this subject.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Intercom Conspiracy6 reviews
Eric Ambler
Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1986
A Retirement Fund for Spies
Many espionage novels contain details about spies who have siphoned off some of their operating budgets into Swiss bank accounts. None other than The Intercom Conspiracy (to my knowledge) involves using a spy's awareness of how espionage is committed to encourage a retirement payoff by releasing "non-secret secrets." The narration of The Intercom Conspiracy provides part of its charm. The ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Siege of Villa Lipp 2 reviews
Eric Ambler
Ballantine Books, 1978
The Able Criminal Exposed, Prompted and Prodded
The Siege of the Villa Lipp is an uncharacteristic mature offering of Eric Ambler, well known for his international thrillers involving espionage. A social scientist, Professor Krom, has hypothesized that the study of criminals is all wrong because it focuses on those who are caught and jailed. These are not criminals to his way of thinking, but "unsuccessful" criminals. He argues that there ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Judgment on Deltchev8 reviews
Eric Ambler
Vintage, 2002
Let the show trial begin - - -
And who better to cover a Cold War, Soviet-bloc show trial for an American newspaper than a well-known British actor? That is the question posed to London-based actor, Foster, who accepts an assignment to write a series or articles about the show trial of Jordan Deltchev. Foster's adventures covering the trial form the basis of Eric Ambler's novel, "Judgment on Deltchev".
For those not ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Waiting for Orders1 review
Eric Ambler
Mysterious Press, 1991
The Complete Short Stories
Waiting for Orders, by Eric Ambler
These short stories were written while Eric Ambler was waiting for the orders that would enlist him into the 1939 British Army. "The Army of the Shadows" was written for a book sold to raise money for the Red Cross. Its story is similar to his early novels: a traveler happens across a dangerous situation (and makes a political point). Was this story just ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Ability to Kill1 review
Eric Ambler
Mysterious Press, 1987
Rather miscellaneous
I have liked all the Ambler books I have read, but this one seems rather, er, miscellaneous. It's not BAD, just not up to his usual standard.
|
|
|
|
|
|