When historian Fluke Kelso learns of the existence of a secret notebook belonging to Josef Stalin he is determined to track it down, whatever the consequences. From the violent political intrigue and decadence of modern Moscow he heads north - to the vast forests surrounding the White Sea port of Archangel, and a terrifying encounter with Russia's unburied past. (19990224)
Archangel
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Amazon Review
Before political journalist Robert Harris turned to fiction and resurrected Hitler for his best selling novel Fatherland, he also wrote a hugely entertaining account of the farce surrounding the publication of the hoax Hitler diaries. Archangel, with the obvious exception of substituting Hitler for that other 20th-century ogre Josef Stalin, can be seen as something of a combination of these previous projects. The novel opens in present-day Russia where a louche Oxford academic, Christopher "Fluke" Kelso, is attending a conference on the newly available Stalin archives. Kelso quickly becomes embroiled in a quest for some of Uncle Joe's still secret papers--and also a quest to make his own academic reputation--but soon uncovers more than he bargains for. The ghosts of the old authoritarian past exert a peculiar and all too powerful tug on Yeltsin's fragile capitalist democracy and as Kelso is drawn ever nearer to the secret that lies in the remote White Sea port of Archangel so the tragedies of the past become hideously more plausible in the present. Harris is historically sound, politically astute and his acute insight into the apparatus of state repression and minds of despots is unnerving. But most of all he tells a terrific yarn and Archangel sees him on top form. This is his best yet.--Nick Wroe
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
The best thriller for years (Sunday Telegraph )
His best yet: a fast paced thriller, pulsing with suspense, that surpasses even the expertly handled tensions and twists of Fatherland (Peter Kemp Sunday Times )
Robert Harris confirms his position as Britain's pre-eminent literary thriller writer with Archangel (Brian Macarthur The Times )
A really gripping narrative, full of suspense and unexpected turns, which will keep you hooked until the climax on its final page... I have never read a thriller based in Russia which has such an authentic feel (Orlando Figes Evening Standard )
Archangel is Harris's strongest book yet, confirming him as the leading current exponent of the intelligent literary thriller (Peter Millar The Times )
His best yet: a fast paced thriller, pulsing with suspense, that surpasses even the expertly handled tensions and twists of Fatherland (Peter Kemp Sunday Times )
Robert Harris confirms his position as Britain's pre-eminent literary thriller writer with Archangel (Brian Macarthur The Times )
A really gripping narrative, full of suspense and unexpected turns, which will keep you hooked until the climax on its final page... I have never read a thriller based in Russia which has such an authentic feel (Orlando Figes Evening Standard )
Archangel is Harris's strongest book yet, confirming him as the leading current exponent of the intelligent literary thriller (Peter Millar The Times )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By bookpike
Format:Paperback
I don't generally read bestseller popular fiction but have been very impressed with this book and his other, first novel, Fatherland. It's not just that he tells a cracking tale but he has some interesting ideas and the quality of his writing is good, not too pulpy.
Harris paints a compelling portrait of modern Russia, particularly Moscow but at the same time introduces some fascinating theories and ideas about the political direction Russia is taking and the burden of the past it drags behind it. The result is that you are simultaneously gripped by an exciting piece of fiction but also slightly horrified at how true to life much of this could be.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By HORAK
Format:Paperback
Fluke Kelso is in Moscow to attend a conference on the recently opened Soviet archives. He is a Oxford historian and Mr Harris's novel tells the story of four days in Kelso's life which starts one night when a former NKVD officer visits him in his hotel room. He claims to have been the bodyguard of Lavrenty Beria who was at the time the chief of the secret police just before Stalin's death. According to him, he witnessed Stalin's death when he had his fatal stroke and he also saw Beria steal his papers among which was a black notebook.
The following day, Kelso decides to verify the man's story at the Lenin Library. At this point he doesn't know that his enquiry is the beginning of a breathless chase from Moscow to the port of Archangel located on the White Sea in order to unveil Stalin's last secret which has been hidden for nearly fifty years.
Good suspense, plenty of action and an interesting historical background are qualities in this novel which place Robert Harris at the same level as writers like John Buchan, John LeCarré and Len Deighton.
The following day, Kelso decides to verify the man's story at the Lenin Library. At this point he doesn't know that his enquiry is the beginning of a breathless chase from Moscow to the port of Archangel located on the White Sea in order to unveil Stalin's last secret which has been hidden for nearly fifty years.
Good suspense, plenty of action and an interesting historical background are qualities in this novel which place Robert Harris at the same level as writers like John Buchan, John LeCarré and Len Deighton.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Heather
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed Archangel. Having previously studied Communist Russia, I recognised many of the political figures featured in the book, but am now looking forward to reading even more about the subject.
That said, you don't need any knowledge of the subject to enjoy this book (though concentrating on the many Russian names is vital!). As with Harris' other excellent thriller Fatherland, I found myself instantly empathising with the characters of Archangel, namely 'maverick' academic Fluke Kelso (in Moscow to attend a conference about the newly opened Soviet archives), and desperately willed him on in his quest to find out whether Stalin's secret notebook does indeed exist.
However, Harris cleverly shows the many sides to the effects of Kelso's investigations, and also draws a sympathetic picture of the long-suffering Russian police chief Suvorin, who too suspects there are many secrets buried in Russia's history but knows unearthing them may have a much greater impact than that of a 'scoop'.
As the plot moved on I was compelled to rush through the always evocative descriptions of 'New Russia' to get to its conclusion. Archangel is exciting, fast-paced, eerie as well as sad. A fantastic book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Paz
Format:Paperback
Set in modern day Russia, this gripping novel tells of the dangerous hunt for a secret notebook belonging to Josef Stalin.
Mixing historical fact with a truly believable tale, the plot quickly develops into an enthralling read. With an excellent medley of characters, suspense and intrigue this novel is a classic Harris thriller.
Mixing historical fact with a truly believable tale, the plot quickly develops into an enthralling read. With an excellent medley of characters, suspense and intrigue this novel is a classic Harris thriller.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By M. Wilson
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed Archangel, Fluke Kelso proves a believeable flawed main protagonist. Nice not to have a swashbuckling, gun toting bodybuilder at the centre of the story.
The main plot is handled extremely well, and really makes the reader buy into the plausibility of what unfolds.
The main plot is handled extremely well, and really makes the reader buy into the plausibility of what unfolds.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Archangel tells the story of a historian called Fluke Kelso who is told of the existence of a secret notebook belonging to Josef Stalin, and then in true Indiana Jones style becomes determined to find the evidence. Led into the frozen forests of Russia, the narrative provides Kelso with something more shocking than even he imagined. Having read the other reviews, I wouldn’t agree that the end of the book was all that weak but certainly agree it’s a well-paced and has a fair few twists to keep the reader enthralled.
Robert Harris has also written Enigma (recently made into a blockbuster film) and Fatherland (a fantastic alternative history about a murder investigation in post-war Germany, where the war was won by Germany). All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book – an original idea written really well. Probably not the best book Harris has written in my view (hint: read Fatherland), but definitely worth reading.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A. J. Burley
Format:Paperback
This book is particularly good because the main character is not the average hero. In fact Fluke Kelso is more of an anti hero which is a nice change to other American 'goody two shoes' Robert Langdon. Harris writes with a style that far surpasses many 'Thriller' writers I have read before ie. Dick Francis, Dan Brown, Robert goddard ,Andy McNab. As to the plot it just twists and turns with intresting surprises.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Harris's third history based novel, following Fatherland and Enigma is set in a modern day Russian struggling to come to terms with capatilist reforms. Harris' hero is Fluke Kelso, a somewhat down at heel Russian history expert. Fluke stumbles across some secret papers said to be a diary kept by Joseph Stalin himself. This startling find leads Fluke to the northern Russian city of Archangel and sets him face to face with an area of Russian history he had thought long since dead.
Fans of Harris' previous novels will enjoy this one, with it's well written insight into the recent past coupled with a enjoyable thriller. But personally, although I enjoyed the book I found the ending rather weak ( a reoccurance from the other novels) - the shocks weren't that shocking and the final twists and turns weren't really very exciting. The build up is well paced but the ending lacks that punch which makes a very good (four or five stars) thriller.
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
I love Harris and this book did not disappoint me. For fans who have not yet read it I heartily recommend it as a purchase.
Published 28 days ago by DWS
3.0 out of 5 stars
Everything but the end
Great read. If your a fan of the author then please buy. However the ending lacks something. A good read.
Published 1 month ago by H J Beilinsohn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Archangel
Another great story from Mr Robert Harris.If you have not read any of his books you are missing a real treat.
Published 3 months ago by Norman Greener
4.0 out of 5 stars
A ghost story of commitment and dedication in the wilds of Mother...
Again Archangel started at a slow pace and was rather depressing. The title suggested something a little more adventurous. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Clive King
5.0 out of 5 stars
ok
good - given as a gift which was really appreciated. Making a review this long is ridiculous. And yet more words needed!!!
Published 4 months ago by Ms. Julie A. Renyard
4.0 out of 5 stars
Historian v Russian's murky past
The opening pages made me aware the reader is in store for a classic Harris thriller. A washed up historian stumbles upon a former bodyguard with a story to tell whilst attending a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by KindleFan100
5.0 out of 5 stars
First class thriller with excellent twists
I read this thriller many years ago when it first came out, having lived from many years in Russia, and I really enjoyed it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by George W. Eccles
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent post cold war thriller
Excellent fast-paced thriller showing that the old Russia is not far below the surface in modern Russia. Read more
Published 9 months ago by A. Douglas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prepare yourself for one of Historys Unburied Secrets
before reading this book I'd heard a lot of good things about the 2005 mini-series based on the this book starring Daniel Craig so I decided I would read the book first. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Brawny Withed
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good balance of history and action
Robert Harris is a reliable author of intelligent thrillers, and this one is a fine example. Set in 1990s Russia, it tells the story of a middle-aged historian who becomes caught... Read more
Published 11 months ago by BookWorm
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