The English Assassin and Switzerland not being so neutral!
(Image: A Belgian museum has returned a painting stolen by the Nazis to its rightful owners after 71 years, Copyright JOHANNA GERON/Reuters)
With my eyes switching between the bright shining face of my sleeping angel and the pages of the exciting spy thriller in an early Tokyo morning, I finished the second installment of Daniel Silva’s hero, Gabriell Allon. In Silva, I found my new favorite writer of spy fiction. Allow me to provide a review of The English Assassin.
During World War II, Switzerland was a neutral country and was not occupied by the Nazis. However, it was used to store looted art by the Nazis and other individuals and organizations. Some estimates suggest that a significant amount of stolen art was brought into Switzerland during the war, and much of it has yet to be recovered. In recent years, the Swiss government has taken steps to address this issue and return stolen art to its rightful owners.
The novel is set around these dark events and features Gabriel Allon, an art restorer a, and spy for the Israeli intelligence service, as the main character as he starts investigating the murder of a wealthy Jewish art collector. As Allon delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of deception and corruption that leads him to a ruthless assassin known as “The Englishman.” I wouldn’t go as far as calling the Englishman an anti-hero, but he sure turns the plot in his head with how he delivers his final blow.
Some of the book’s central themes include the complexity of the world of espionage (pointing out that it is not a white and black world), the blurred lines between good and evil, and the importance of art and culture. The characters in the book are forced to make difficult moral decisions, and the novel raises questions about the justifications for their actions.
As a sucker for good female characters, I cannot help but bring up the feeling of Anna Rolfe, a gifted violist and the daughter of a wealthy art collector who was murdered. She helps Gabriel Allon in his investigation of her father’s murder. God knows that I had more than my share of fiery women in my life, and I thoroughly enjoyed the addition of Ana to it.
Since we are talking about characters, Hitler makes an appearance (through a picture) with some of the leading Nazi figures, and at some point, he is even described as “an art collector.” A bloody art collector.
The book serves as a reminder of the tremendous grief and pain the Jewish community had to endure during this period in history.
It received positive reviews from critics for its complex plot, interesting characters, and Silva’s ability to balance the spy genre with art history and the restoration of art.
Overall, The English Assassin is a well-written, fast-paced thriller that keeps readers guessing until the end. If you’re a fan of spy novels, this is a great book to check out./*54745756836*/