An Officer and a Spy
From the Sunday Times bestselling author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cornerstone
Published:8th May '14
Should be back in stock very soon
In a gripping historical thriller, an army officer uncovers a conspiracy while investigating the wrongful conviction of a spy in An Officer and a Spy.
Set against the backdrop of Paris in 1895, An Officer and a Spy follows the story of Georges Picquart, an army officer who witnesses the public humiliation of Alfred Dreyfus, a man wrongfully convicted of espionage. As Dreyfus is exiled to the notorious Devil's Island, Picquart is promoted to oversee military intelligence. However, his new position uncovers a web of deceit that challenges everything he believes about duty and honor.
As Picquart delves deeper into the intelligence files, he stumbles upon evidence suggesting that Dreyfus may not be the traitor after all. This revelation ignites a personal and professional crisis as he grapples with the implications of his findings. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral complexities of justice, as Picquart faces pressure from superiors to maintain the status quo.
In An Officer and a Spy, Robert Harris masterfully weaves historical fact with fiction, creating a tense atmosphere filled with suspense. The story not only highlights the Dreyfus Affair but also paints a vivid portrait of a society grappling with corruption and prejudice. As Picquart navigates a labyrinth of political intrigue, readers are drawn into a thrilling exploration of the quest for truth in a world rife with conspiracy.
The fact that this novel is seriously riveting is a testament to Robert Harris's storytelling power; he conjures knuckle-blanching suspense from a very well-known piece of history. * The Times *
Harris’ retelling of the Dreyfus case is as taut and exciting as anything by Forsyth or Follet. * Guardian *
Menace and suspense twist tight in a narrative of tremendous tension. * Sunday Times *
Superb . . . Harris demonstrates his unique ability to recreate historical events and turn them into spellbinding thriller . . . Written with scalpel-like precision and the elegance we expect of Harris, there is a passion here that justifies calling it a masterpiece. * Daily Mail *
A brilliant retelling of a scandal that became one of the most famous miscarriages of justice . . . the most gripping book I've read this year. * Mail on Sunday *
A gripping tale, its shocking power heightened by Harris’s narrative skills. * Financial Times *
A master storyteller at the top of his game * Mail on Sunday *
A compelling tale of power, cover-ups and idealism. * Telegraph *
Many readers prize him as our supreme exponent of the “literary” thriller. His novels are not difficult – they are whizzing page-turners… They also combine masterly suspense and mystery with historical insight and political shrewdness. His latest novel is no exception: it is a cracking read from start to finish… It offers a bravura display of Harris’s fictional skills. The first is sureness of historical touch. In both general and specific terms the period comes alive… There is no need to wait for the film: it can scarcely be more exciting than the book. * Sunday Times *
Harris is committed to the belief that you can get at a truth as a novelist that you can’t as an historian… and he does give us the look, sensations, sounds and smells as no historian could… it is informative, accomplished and highly enjoyable * Evening Standard *
- Winner of CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2014
ISBN: 9780099580881
Dimensions: 197mm x 128mm x 39mm
Weight: 433g
624 pages