- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: John Murray (3 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0719520908
- ISBN-13: 978-0719520907
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 13.2 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,517,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
‘Calderon’s refusal to allow a character to become the mouthpiece of a cause is admirable’
(Laura Silverman, Daily Mail )‘Subtle touches of humour follow this unlikely spy, and evocative descriptive passages afford the reader satisfying moments of reflection’
(Elisabeth Field, Financial Times )‘Calderón is clearly a novelist with a superb imagination’
‘A powerful mix of romance, spy story and thriller, this fascinating novel captures life in the Eternal City under Nazi rule. It’s a real page turner’
(Choice )‘Calderón has a light literary touch, a respect for historical reality and a dark dramatic imagination’
(Iain Finlayson, Saga Magazine )‘I’m thoroughly enjoying it’
(Bookseller )'Incredibly entertaining . . . A narrative that combines the historical novel and the espionage thriller, with a dash of fashionably esoteric intrigue, it is likewise a story whose stylistic and thematic beauty surpasses the expectations of even the most demanding of readers. ... A stunning work of fiction' (ABC Las Artes y Las Letras (Spain) )
‘A challenging, very enjoyable read’
‘Thrilling and beautifully translated espionage thriller…I had difficulty putting this book down. I am sure you will too’
(Dover Express & Folkestone Herald )Review
'Calderon's refusal to allow a character to become the mouthpiece of a cause is admirable' -- Laura Silverman, Daily Mail 'Subtle touches of humour follow this unlikely spy, and evocative descriptive passages afford the reader satisfying moments of reflection' -- Elisabeth Field, Financial Times 'Calderon is clearly a novelist with a superb imagination' -- Gillian Nelis, Sunday Business Post 'A powerful mix of romance, spy story and thriller, this fascinating novel captures life in the Eternal City under Nazi rule. It's a real page turner' -- Choice 'Calderon has a light literary touch, a respect for historical reality and a dark dramatic imagination' -- Iain Finlayson, Saga Magazine 'I'm thoroughly enjoying it' -- Bookseller 'Incredibly entertaining ... A narrative that combines the historical novel and the espionage thriller, with a dash of fashionably esoteric intrigue, it is likewise a story whose stylistic and thematic beauty surpasses the expectations of even the most demanding of readers. ... A stunning work of fiction' -- ABC Las Artes y Las Letras (Spain) 'A challenging, very enjoyable read' -- Yours magazine 'Thrilling and beautifully translated espionage thriller...I had difficulty putting this book down. I am sure you will too' -- Dover Express & Folkestone Herald 'Had me hooked from the start...The mixture of intigue, politics and a love triangle make for fascinating reading...a brilliant book I would thoroughly recommend' -- Shropshire Star: Review by Toby Neil
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book in its interweaving of love and war. Set in Italy just before, during and after the second World War I found the historical elements interesting and the fictional spy story kept me reading. Bits of the story reminded me of the Indiana Jones' films in the stories of how some top Nazis were fascinated by artifacts like the Holy Grail or the Crystal Skull and went to great lengths to track them down. The Roman Catholic Church doesn't come out well in this author's version of history.
The Epilogue to the book is an eye-opener. I thought the book did live up to its claim to recreate the intrigues of of war-torn Europe.
The Epilogue to the book is an eye-opener. I thought the book did live up to its claim to recreate the intrigues of of war-torn Europe.
Format:Hardcover
Emilio Calderon's The Creator's Map is set in the emigre Spanish community in 1930s Italy. Although Spain is riven with sectarian strife, the snooty expatriates are all Nationalists, and would like nothing better to ally themselves both with Mussolini's Fascists, and the nascent Nazis who are going from strength to strength. This is a somewhat laboured spy novel with all the simplifications and generalisations attendant upon a conspiracy to take over the world. Calderon, however, seems to be pitching it as a sort of Indiana Jones caper, with frequent references to the Nazi desire to snatch antiques of power, such as the chalice of Jesus and the Ark of the Covenant and sundry other relics from the Christian past. The main narration follows an architect who rises in the Fascist and Nazi hierarchies under the aegis of an influential and immensely wealthy prince; both these men are in love with a (obviously) beautiful and vivacious girl. There is a motley collection of men named Smith who recruit the architect and his girl to spy upon the prince and the Church; meanwhile, the spies are being spied upon by the counter-intelligence of the Nazis and the Vatican; the plot is somewhat tenuous and the book is ultimately quite plodding. At the end comes the rather facile conclusion that nothing is as it seems, and people fighting on the opposing side may just as likely be on yours. The blurb calls it 'part love story, part espionage novel and part mystery'. It fails at all three.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Easy to read
23 Jan 2009
Format:Hardcover
A complicated triangle during the fall of the fascist regime in Italy. If you liked books like The Da Vinci Code, The Last Cato: A Novel, ... you will find this book a nice addition. The style resembles Dan Brown: short chapters, you want to keep going and find out. There is a love story, an historical context, Rome, and a secret plot. It does not beat my favorite in this genre, The Shadow of the WindLa Sombra Del Viento/ the Shadow of the Wind (Autores Espanoles E Iberoamericanos) (Spanish Edition) by Zafon.
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