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The Key to Rebecca
A brilliant and ruthless Nazi master agent is on the loose in Cairo. His mission is to send Rommel's advancing army the secrets that will unlock the city's doors. In all of Cairo, only two people can stop him. One is a down-on-his-luck English officer no one will listen to. The other is a vulnerable young Jewish girl.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1981
About the author
Ken Follett
355 books52k followersKen Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,399 reviews
August 19, 2022
Rebecca Comes to War
We all know how WWII invaded literature. The theme has been used and abused inspiring all sorts of stories.
Since what goes around is expected to come around, it's definitely not shocking to find an event where the opposite works, e.g. running into a WWII episode where literature plays some sort of role:
While doing research for the "Eye of the needle", Ken Follet found a parallel story that involved a german spy, a sexy belly dancer and the famous "Rebecca" from Daphne du Maurier. This peculiar and not so Holly Trinity, gave birth to a completely different Rebecca...
The Key to Rebecca is not Ken Follet at his best, but it's Ken Follet at his almost best!
Nothing left to say except that it's highly recommendable! Ken Follet always provides knowledge and entertainment. What else could we demand!?... 💖
🌟🌟🌟🌟
We all know how WWII invaded literature. The theme has been used and abused inspiring all sorts of stories.
Since what goes around is expected to come around, it's definitely not shocking to find an event where the opposite works, e.g. running into a WWII episode where literature plays some sort of role:
While doing research for the "Eye of the needle", Ken Follet found a parallel story that involved a german spy, a sexy belly dancer and the famous "Rebecca" from Daphne du Maurier. This peculiar and not so Holly Trinity, gave birth to a completely different Rebecca...
The Key to Rebecca is not Ken Follet at his best, but it's Ken Follet at his almost best!
Nothing left to say except that it's highly recommendable! Ken Follet always provides knowledge and entertainment. What else could we demand!?... 💖
🌟🌟🌟🌟
July 7, 2021
4.5 STARS
I've been reading Follett's backlist. This is a suspenseful espionage thriller. I became totally absorbed in the story with the authentic cast of characters- a femme fatale, an English officer, a German spy and a Jewish girl. All with flaws,strengths and contrasting moral compasses.
Hold your breath crazy suspense, sexual interludes, historical events, setting in Egypt, strong women, a tie to my favorite classic thriller- Rebecca by Daphne du Marnier (hence the title).
The officer and the spy were in a game of catch me if you can....
Whoosh, I feel like I've been on a runaway train! One of the most intense, action packed endings I've ever read.
Well Done Mr. Follett!
FYI-- Follett has a new novel coming out November 9, 2021 titled Never. I am already on hold for it at my library.
Read July 2021/ Library loan
I've been reading Follett's backlist. This is a suspenseful espionage thriller. I became totally absorbed in the story with the authentic cast of characters- a femme fatale, an English officer, a German spy and a Jewish girl. All with flaws,strengths and contrasting moral compasses.
Hold your breath crazy suspense, sexual interludes, historical events, setting in Egypt, strong women, a tie to my favorite classic thriller- Rebecca by Daphne du Marnier (hence the title).
The officer and the spy were in a game of catch me if you can....
Whoosh, I feel like I've been on a runaway train! One of the most intense, action packed endings I've ever read.
Well Done Mr. Follett!
FYI-- Follett has a new novel coming out November 9, 2021 titled Never. I am already on hold for it at my library.
Read July 2021/ Library loan
February 6, 2020
Rebecca Vai à Guerra
Esta história que nos leva até à exótica e misteriosa Cairo, tem uma pontinha de verdade:
Andava Ken Follet a cuscar por aí, em busca de enredo para o célebre "Buraco da Agulha", quando foi brindado com uma história paralela que envolvia um espião nazi, uma sensual dançarina do ventre, e Rebecca — a famosa obra literária de Daphne du Maurier.
E foi a partir desta estranha tríade que germinou uma nova Rebecca — mais guerreira e menos romântica!
Se a guerra vai à literatura, a literatura também vai à guerra...
"A Chave para Rebecca" não é Ken Follet no seu melhor (leia-se excelente), mas é Ken Follet no seu quasi-melhor (leia-se ótimo).
Uma leitura onde conhecimento e entretenimento, encaixam na perfeição!
Que mais se pode exigir?!...
Recomenda-se, claro! 😊👍
Esta história que nos leva até à exótica e misteriosa Cairo, tem uma pontinha de verdade:
Andava Ken Follet a cuscar por aí, em busca de enredo para o célebre "Buraco da Agulha", quando foi brindado com uma história paralela que envolvia um espião nazi, uma sensual dançarina do ventre, e Rebecca — a famosa obra literária de Daphne du Maurier.
E foi a partir desta estranha tríade que germinou uma nova Rebecca — mais guerreira e menos romântica!
Se a guerra vai à literatura, a literatura também vai à guerra...
"A Chave para Rebecca" não é Ken Follet no seu melhor (leia-se excelente), mas é Ken Follet no seu quasi-melhor (leia-se ótimo).
Uma leitura onde conhecimento e entretenimento, encaixam na perfeição!
Que mais se pode exigir?!...
Recomenda-se, claro! 😊👍
December 8, 2018
If they liked it once, they'll love it twice. That's the wise rationale behind Follett's new WW II thriller, which recycles the same basic scenario--now in 1942 Cairo instead of 1944 England--that made Eye of the Needle such a winner. Again the central figure is a Nazi spy with secrets that could change history.
Like many of Follett’s books, The Key to Rebecca is rich with captivating historical detail that only adds to the flavor of the book and leaves readers with a better understanding about what World War II was like in the heat of North Africa. The book is also populated with a colorful cast of characters that are simultaneously authentic, arresting, and majorly flawed. Readers are sure to find themselves both fascinated and repelled by enigmatic characters like Sonja, a famous belly dancer with unusual appetites; and Abdullah, a gleefully irreverent and unreliable thief.
The book is filled with so many thrills, it is oddly reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movies and those dime store adventure novels from the 1950s, at least in the way that it is fun to read and swarming with twists and turns aplenty. If you like to learn something while you are entertained, then you won’t want to miss Follett’s classic spy thriller tour de force, The Key to Rebecca. It will have you burning the midnight oil as you stay up late turning pages into the wee hours of the morning until you find out just who wins this epic showdown.
Like many of Follett’s books, The Key to Rebecca is rich with captivating historical detail that only adds to the flavor of the book and leaves readers with a better understanding about what World War II was like in the heat of North Africa. The book is also populated with a colorful cast of characters that are simultaneously authentic, arresting, and majorly flawed. Readers are sure to find themselves both fascinated and repelled by enigmatic characters like Sonja, a famous belly dancer with unusual appetites; and Abdullah, a gleefully irreverent and unreliable thief.
The book is filled with so many thrills, it is oddly reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movies and those dime store adventure novels from the 1950s, at least in the way that it is fun to read and swarming with twists and turns aplenty. If you like to learn something while you are entertained, then you won’t want to miss Follett’s classic spy thriller tour de force, The Key to Rebecca. It will have you burning the midnight oil as you stay up late turning pages into the wee hours of the morning until you find out just who wins this epic showdown.
May 4, 2023
8/10 en 2009.
Tenía cuatro estrellas pero le subo a 5 porque el recuerdo de este libro en mi cabeza es maravilloso, así que reniego de esa puntuación que veis arriba de "8".
Si os gustan las novelas de espías y más concretamente de la II Guerra Mundial, este libro es obligado. O-B-L-I-G-A-D-O. Por lo bueno que es y porque es un clásico de la mano de un autor clásico.
La historia en este caso se desarrolla en África, en Egipto. No en la Europa en Guerra, sino en el desierto en guerra. Buah!, que no sigo. Que lo leáis, coño.
Tenía cuatro estrellas pero le subo a 5 porque el recuerdo de este libro en mi cabeza es maravilloso, así que reniego de esa puntuación que veis arriba de "8".
Si os gustan las novelas de espías y más concretamente de la II Guerra Mundial, este libro es obligado. O-B-L-I-G-A-D-O. Por lo bueno que es y porque es un clásico de la mano de un autor clásico.
La historia en este caso se desarrolla en África, en Egipto. No en la Europa en Guerra, sino en el desierto en guerra. Buah!, que no sigo. Que lo leáis, coño.
June 15, 2011
What's not to love about a good WWII spy novel? It's so easy to get sucked right in. You've got Nazis: they're the bad guys. No need to develop this. They are the bad guys. They are the ultimate bad guys. They are, in fact, about as bad as guys get. Outside of Sauron's legions of Mordor, you don't really have a better example of a total absence of moral ambiguity. And really: between Joseph Goebbels and the Witch King leader of the nazgul, it's a toss-up for sheer wickedness.
Most of us have a pretty good idea how the second world war actually turned out and who won. I won't give anything away for those who haven't. It's quite a suspenseful story and I'd hate to ruin it for you. But even knowing the ending doesn't detract from the tension that is carefully constructed here. In the hands of a skilled suspense writer, the reader somehow forgets. "Oooh! I hope they stop that Nazi bastard!" I shouted at my book. "Otherwise I'll eventually be reading this in German, and won't know what's going on!"
Spies, seduction, suspense. These are my guilty pleasures when I just need to get away from it all and immerse myself in a world of intrigue and ethical absolutes. And
Most of us have a pretty good idea how the second world war actually turned out and who won. I won't give anything away for those who haven't. It's quite a suspenseful story and I'd hate to ruin it for you. But even knowing the ending doesn't detract from the tension that is carefully constructed here. In the hands of a skilled suspense writer, the reader somehow forgets. "Oooh! I hope they stop that Nazi bastard!" I shouted at my book. "Otherwise I'll eventually be reading this in German, and won't know what's going on!"
Spies, seduction, suspense. These are my guilty pleasures when I just need to get away from it all and immerse myself in a world of intrigue and ethical absolutes. And
August 3, 2011
A Spy Novel that Reads Like
a Good Alternate History Fiction
(A Book Review of Ken Follett’s The Key to Rebecca)
The last camel collapsed at noon.
So begins Ken Follett’s intriguing World War II thriller set in 1942 Cairo, a city holding its breath. The German army is poised for a strike in Egypt, and the British seems powerless to stop it; powerless, too, to catch the master spy with the codename Sphinx who is stealing their military secrets and transmitting them to Field Marshall Rommel. Just who is he? And what is the code hidden in the pages of Daphne du Maurier’s famous novel? Only one man, a British intelligence officer, could thwart him. But to get the key in his hands and uncover Germany’s secret weapon, he must risk losing all he holds dear.
At the age of 29, Ken Follett doesn’t want himself to be categorized to write or identified with a single genre, and asserts early on with his publishers that he’s going to write whatever caught his fancy and his readers. However, while researching for The Eye of the Needle he chanced upon an incident in history that became the building block of what will become The Key to Rebecca that made him drew back and exclaim, hhmm…
A few chapters in Follett’s third book, another novel set during the unfolding drama that is World War II, it structurally reminded me of his break out best seller, The Eye of the Needle. Yes, it is formulaic, but it is formulaic at best, for Follett writes in his prime and in his prowess. Alex Wolf is just another Henry Faber being the ruthless and cunning Nazi spy, but the beauty with which Follett creates these anti-heroes is in how he can squeeze out sympathy in the reader one eventually roots for him that in the end you so badly want him to triumph despite the fact that he’s the bad guy. Along with a cast of carefully and perfectly rounded out characters with psychological depth, self-awareness and absorbing female lead often lacking in spy novels and thrillers, the reader is not only privy to what they think and feel, but drawn in as well of their whims and sexual desires. And if I may add, Follett’s sex scenes, generous and detailed as they are, are not mere add-on to the chapters not only, and perhaps, to titillate the reader, but to add more nuance and can sometimes reveal vulnerabilities of heroes and villains alike.
The action is steadily paced and the tension builds like a tightening noose it’s almost hard to turn away and put the book down, and it sometimes made me scream at every unexpected twist. In this book Follett seamlessly combined history and fiction using historical detail to further the plot, especially in how he use the real-life Nazi spy Johannes Eppler in attributing the character of Alex Wolf and particularly by setting it in Africa, a place scarcely mentioned in WWII books, it’s hard to believe that fierce battle also occurred in this continent besides Europe. Adopting a credible narrator’s voice as that of a historian, Ken Follett managed to convey a wealth of information with his descriptions about war-time Cairo, the desert, nomadic life, the rise of Egyptian Nationalism and the gripping events of the Battle of Tobruk.
The Key to Rebecca is an impressive cloak and dagger book that pits together two men in whose hands lies the outcome of the war and the fate of a seething nation. Readers who loved Ken Follett’s brand of fiction will find in here trademarks that made his novels such brilliant best sellers. There’s an incredible chase scene of motorcycles hurtling thru blacked-out Cairo; the clever spy who’s always ahead and narrowly escapes his hunter; and a harrowing race against death and a speeding train. Nevertheless, it also showcases something new to the table for good ole fans and new readers to feast on.
_________________________
Book Details: Book #25 for 2011
Published by William Morrow & Co.
(Hardcover, 1985 First Edition)
381 pages
Started: June 13, 2011
Finished: June 19, 2011
My Rating: ★★★★
[See this review on my book blog Dark Chest of Wonders and for many others.]
August 13, 2017
Una de las mejores novelas de espionaje de la historia, claro que eso no es nada nuevo. Ken Follet es el amo y señor del género, aunque sea más recordado por Los Pilares de la Tierra y otras novelas similares.
El libro es rápido, y engancha desde el principio. Crea dos personajes principales, el espía nazi y el comandante británico. El futuro de Egipto dependerá de su juego de estrategia, unido a la gestión de los colaboradores de cada uno. Empatizas con los dos desde el principio y te hace sentir indeciso sobre quién debe vencer... Una maravilla, sin duda, ya que muestra una guerra como lo que es: hombres luchando contra hombres, cada uno siendo fiel a su causa y obedeciendo órdenes desde arriba.
Muy recomendable.
El libro es rápido, y engancha desde el principio. Crea dos personajes principales, el espía nazi y el comandante británico. El futuro de Egipto dependerá de su juego de estrategia, unido a la gestión de los colaboradores de cada uno. Empatizas con los dos desde el principio y te hace sentir indeciso sobre quién debe vencer... Una maravilla, sin duda, ya que muestra una guerra como lo que es: hombres luchando contra hombres, cada uno siendo fiel a su causa y obedeciendo órdenes desde arriba.
Muy recomendable.
April 30, 2020
4/30/2020 - Currently reading Noel Barber's book set in Cairo, finding it more informative about WWII Egypt.
A Woman of Cairo
***
Original review: "Enjoyed this just as much in a subsequent reading as first escape with Follett to WWII North Africa."
4/16/18 -
Have likely read, or at least started maybe two dozen by Follett. Several featured topics that interested me. Hornets Flight and Jackdaws, along with Rebecca. Cathedral building's first volume. Three Ken's remain in my GRCat. Suggest Pargeter if you like the cathedral era. Brother Cadfael time.
In Key ... Ken mixed his ingredients most compatible to my wavelength ... enjoyed the main characters enough to take another ride through the book, which I haven't done with Follett's other productions.
The Rommel book by Pressfield fits besides Rebecca on my mental WW@shelf
Killing Rommel
The Heaven Tree Trilogy
A Woman of Cairo
***
Original review: "Enjoyed this just as much in a subsequent reading as first escape with Follett to WWII North Africa."
4/16/18 -
Have likely read, or at least started maybe two dozen by Follett. Several featured topics that interested me. Hornets Flight and Jackdaws, along with Rebecca. Cathedral building's first volume. Three Ken's remain in my GRCat. Suggest Pargeter if you like the cathedral era. Brother Cadfael time.
In Key ... Ken mixed his ingredients most compatible to my wavelength ... enjoyed the main characters enough to take another ride through the book, which I haven't done with Follett's other productions.
The Rommel book by Pressfield fits besides Rebecca on my mental WW@shelf
Killing Rommel
The Heaven Tree Trilogy
June 7, 2020
Trepidante thriller de espionaje en plena II Guerra Mundial en el Egipto ocupado por los británicos, pero rodeado por las fuerzas alemanas comandadas por Rommel. Lucha encarnizada entre un espía alemán y el servicio secreto británico en El Cairo, con la presencia de mujeres fatales, oficiales engañados, mensajes cifrados de radio... En fin, todo un clásico de espías. Muy entretenido. El final, y ya voy a tener que hacérmelo mirar, porque siempre me pasa en este tipo de lecturas, aunque es el lógico y esperado, no queda a la altura del resto.
De todos modos, muy recomendable, yo lo he disfrutado.
De todos modos, muy recomendable, yo lo he disfrutado.
March 3, 2020
Ken Follett's first best-seller, EYE OF THE NEEDLE, was about a German spy in the UK during World War Two. Similarly, this one is about a German spy, Wolff, who haunts wartime Cairo for military secrets to pass on to Irwin Rommel. Out to bust him are a British officer, a Jewish femme fatale, and a Cairene belly-dancer. The plot clips along nicely, but some of the chase elements are too by-the-numbers.
February 23, 2009
This book was very easy to put down until the last 80 pages when the action finally took place. I can handle some racy stuff in books, but there are a couple sentences I really wish I hadn't read that are in this book. The sex that is talked about is way too perverted for me. There wasn't a lot of it and I did my best to skim over it while not missing out on the plot, but I really couldn't see the point of most of it. I read another goodreads' member's review of this book before I started it that said it seemed like the author just threw salacious stuff in as an afterthought with no relevance to the story - I have to agree for the most part.
February 6, 2022
A fact-fiction novel that is both plot and character driven. A German spy, Alex Wolff, is in Cairo in 1942 and wirelessly sending British plans to Rommel. He is obtaining the secrets through a rendevous between his friend, belly dancer Sonja and a British officer. Rommel is advancing on to Cairo based on the information. The British are getting nervous. Wolff's nemesis is British officer Vandam who is doggedly pursuing him and actually comes close a couple of times. Vandam enlists the aid of Elene to entrap Wolff. The climax is a nerve-wracking train ride from Cairo to Assyut and a car ride in the desert. An exciting read from Follett.
June 17, 2020
A good WWII spy novel set in Cairo. British major must track down a german spy who is assisting Rommel. Lots of suspense, quite a bit of sex, and of course, a lot of nasty nazis. Recommended.
May 6, 2020
6,5/10
Aunque la historia y la ambientación me han gustado, no he llegado a empatizar nada de nada con los protagonistas y por ese motivo ha perdido algo de nota.
La trama es interesante y el ritmo narrativo bueno, el conjunto se lee bien y tiene momentos que engancha. El desenlace es mejorable, sobre todo por el modo en que actúan los protagonistas, que no me ha parecido creíble, pero en cualquier caso cumple y cierra la trama bastante bien.
En cualquier caso, novela entretenida de espías y con una ambientación destacable, que recomendaría a todo aquel que guste de este estilo de novelas.
Aunque la historia y la ambientación me han gustado, no he llegado a empatizar nada de nada con los protagonistas y por ese motivo ha perdido algo de nota.
La trama es interesante y el ritmo narrativo bueno, el conjunto se lee bien y tiene momentos que engancha. El desenlace es mejorable, sobre todo por el modo en que actúan los protagonistas, que no me ha parecido creíble, pero en cualquier caso cumple y cierra la trama bastante bien.
En cualquier caso, novela entretenida de espías y con una ambientación destacable, que recomendaría a todo aquel que guste de este estilo de novelas.
January 30, 2018
A clever WWII story during a time when victory held in the balance between Axis and Allies.
Rommel is ready to push east towards the Suez Canal, but he desperately needs fuel. A German undercover agent is the key to helping him acquire the necessary supplies, but a young woman stands in his way.
Filled with romance, historical accuracy, and intrigue, Follett manages to write a story of when victory for the Allies was uncertain. If you're a fan of WWII thrillers, put this on your list.
Rommel is ready to push east towards the Suez Canal, but he desperately needs fuel. A German undercover agent is the key to helping him acquire the necessary supplies, but a young woman stands in his way.
Filled with romance, historical accuracy, and intrigue, Follett manages to write a story of when victory for the Allies was uncertain. If you're a fan of WWII thrillers, put this on your list.
May 24, 2023
I am not sure which year I read this one but it was excellent.
December 29, 2022
My face to face book club (where we read whatever we want and report to others about them) has agreed that for October, we will all read a WWII novel, not Europe or US. This is one of several I have chosen - we'll see how many others I actually get to. In this novel there is a German spy in Cairo. I know zip about the war in north Africa except the name of the German General, Rommel. He and his aides do have some chapters here and there and a few of the battles. I have assumed that part is fact. Were Rommel's victories informed by a spy in Cairo?
The Rebecca of the title is Rebecca by du Maurier. This is known early when Achmed/Alex is very careful to take a book with him as he leaves his family's Bedouin camp. The case also contained a book, a novel in English. Idly, Achmed read the first line: “ ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.’ ” It is later when we learn why this is important.
I read for writing style and characterization, so why do I like Ken Follett and so much plot?!! The writing style may or may not be above average for the genre, but at least I found nothing that would cause me to roll my eyes. The characterizations are not flat exactly, but by no stretch of the imagination would I consider them fully-fleshed. They interact with each other appropriately and I had no trouble remembering who was who and on which side.
As an added interest, Follett included book titles beyond Rebecca.
The Rebecca of the title is Rebecca by du Maurier. This is known early when Achmed/Alex is very careful to take a book with him as he leaves his family's Bedouin camp. The case also contained a book, a novel in English. Idly, Achmed read the first line: “ ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.’ ” It is later when we learn why this is important.
I read for writing style and characterization, so why do I like Ken Follett and so much plot?!! The writing style may or may not be above average for the genre, but at least I found nothing that would cause me to roll my eyes. The characterizations are not flat exactly, but by no stretch of the imagination would I consider them fully-fleshed. They interact with each other appropriately and I had no trouble remembering who was who and on which side.
As an added interest, Follett included book titles beyond Rebecca.
The book was called Stamboul Train. It looked like cloak-and-dagger stuff.I managed to pick up another Ken Follett at the Friends of the Library book sale yesterday. I look forward to it and, I suspect, others. But I can't bring myself to rate this as 5-stars as if it were literature, though I enjoyed it fully, and am happy to say this is a good 4-stars
Billy went to bed with a new book. He said it was a “tec,” by which he meant a detective story. It was called Death on the Nile.
“Oh! Who’s your favorite tec?” Elene considered. “Maigret.” “I’ve never heard of him. What’s the author’s name?” “Georges Simenon. He writes in French, but now some of the books have been translated into English. They’re set in Paris, mostly. They’re very . . . complex.”
“What are you reading?” “The Greek Coffin Mystery.”
December 22, 2009
Follett is excellent with his character development. This book is a complete shift from Pillars of the Earth. Follett is so talented in his different writing styles.
Fun things I learned from reading this book:
1) don't become a spy
2) if I do become a spy, don't use my real name
3) don't go back to my home town where they can track down my real identity
4) it's always better to be on the good team
Fun things I learned from reading this book:
1) don't become a spy
2) if I do become a spy, don't use my real name
3) don't go back to my home town where they can track down my real identity
4) it's always better to be on the good team
February 1, 2023
3,5 Libertatea este cel mai de preț bun al omului. În timpul celui de al doilea război mondial, Egiptul se afla de 50 de ani sub ocupație engleză. Ca orice popor asuprit își doreau eliberarea, chiar dacă aceasta venea sub forma ocupației naziste. Un roman de spionaj alert și intens, dar totuși autorul are tendința de a lungii finalul și parcă asta strică ceva din poveste.
August 6, 2015
Two-thirds of the way through this book I was prepared to give it a rave review. The book has all the elements of a good action thriller: Compelling, well-drawn villain, sympathetic hero, interesting supporting characters (including one who's a bisexual, Nazi-collaborating seductress by day, night club belly dancer by night!), a decent amount of sex, and an exotic setting. I especially liked Follett's technique of shifting points of view, so that we get to see what characters who we've already been introduced to look like to others who are meeting them for the first time.
However, with the initial premise having reached a natural conclusion about 2/3 of the way through, Follett ditches most of the subtlety of the preceding story for a somewhat contrived series of chase and action sequences. There's a theory of writing which holds that conflict is at the heart of a good story, so the more setbacks, complications, and dilemmas you throw at your character the more exciting the story will be. Unfortunately, the action over the last third of this book begins to resemble one of those old silent film series where an oily, caped villain, believing he's dispatched the pure-hearted but somewhat incompetent hero, has the damsel tied to a railroad track and twirls his mustache while a locomotive approaches. That doesn't literally happen in this book, but that's what the last third felt like. The denouement also felt somewhat abrupt and trite.
However, with the initial premise having reached a natural conclusion about 2/3 of the way through, Follett ditches most of the subtlety of the preceding story for a somewhat contrived series of chase and action sequences. There's a theory of writing which holds that conflict is at the heart of a good story, so the more setbacks, complications, and dilemmas you throw at your character the more exciting the story will be. Unfortunately, the action over the last third of this book begins to resemble one of those old silent film series where an oily, caped villain, believing he's dispatched the pure-hearted but somewhat incompetent hero, has the damsel tied to a railroad track and twirls his mustache while a locomotive approaches. That doesn't literally happen in this book, but that's what the last third felt like. The denouement also felt somewhat abrupt and trite.
May 9, 2010
The first few pages were fantastic. And then it just became a horrible book. Spoilers ahead. It relies heavily on stereotypes--the inscrutable Arabs, the highly sexualized "Oriental" women, the frigid, repressed British women... and so on. The writing is stiff and overly expository. The character emotional development happens in spurts and doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Which really just leaves plot. The plot, over all, is the one good thing about this book. However, a few key turns happen in a way that's unbelievable. For instance, no matter how lustful, maniacal, twisted, egotistical Alex (the antagonist) is, I can't believe he'd take lust over sending information to the Germans that would win the war.
Which really just leaves plot. The plot, over all, is the one good thing about this book. However, a few key turns happen in a way that's unbelievable. For instance, no matter how lustful, maniacal, twisted, egotistical Alex (the antagonist) is, I can't believe he'd take lust over sending information to the Germans that would win the war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
Uma boa história de espiões passada na 2ª Guerra Mundial, em que somos levados a ler compulsivamente, na ânsia de saber sempre quais os novos rumos que o romace vai tomar. Ao mesmo tempo é um livro bem escrito, sem grandes artícios, lê-se bem e é estimulante. Enfim dou as 4 estrelas, um pouco a medo de que os puristas levem a mal, mas no entanto, embora seja um livro sem grande clamor literário, é um óptimo livro para se ler no Verão, na praia, com a azul do mar ao fundo e as palavras de Ken Follett a passar pelos nossos olhos, neste livro, que para mim, acho bem conseguido. Recomendo a pessoas sem preconceitos.
December 6, 2020
(#2 in a stack of "read and throw away" paperbacks while back in Taiwan)
Didn't remember having read this before, but I had a strong sense of déjà lu as I got into it, so apparently I did at some point back in the 80's.
Exciting story, very well-written, and with a strong sense of time and place - Follett obviously did his homework. While the ending was never in doubt, Follett did a good job balancing mystery and history, and now I'll do some Wiki-work to find out just how close to the facts he stayed in the story of the Afrika Corps' assault on Egypt.
This was apparently filmed as a TV movie in 1985, with Cliff Robertson and David Soul (as well as a bizarrely-cast Robert Culp as Erwin Rommel). Considering the amount of sex in the book, this adaptation was probably a disappointment on a whole lot of levels.
I haven't read a lot of Follett, but recall at least Eye of the Needle and Lie Down With Lions - the latter of which I particularly enjoyed at the time, but in historical hindsight is now kind of depressing, (Americans helping real-life Afghan Muj leader Ahmad Shah Masood fight the evil Soviets, back when both the Cold War and the War on Terror were still largely black and white). I have zero interest in his monster "Kingsbridge" or "Century" trilogies, but may look for more of his stuff from the 80's and 90's.
Didn't remember having read this before, but I had a strong sense of déjà lu as I got into it, so apparently I did at some point back in the 80's.
Exciting story, very well-written, and with a strong sense of time and place - Follett obviously did his homework. While the ending was never in doubt, Follett did a good job balancing mystery and history, and now I'll do some Wiki-work to find out just how close to the facts he stayed in the story of the Afrika Corps' assault on Egypt.
This was apparently filmed as a TV movie in 1985, with Cliff Robertson and David Soul (as well as a bizarrely-cast Robert Culp as Erwin Rommel). Considering the amount of sex in the book, this adaptation was probably a disappointment on a whole lot of levels.
I haven't read a lot of Follett, but recall at least Eye of the Needle and Lie Down With Lions - the latter of which I particularly enjoyed at the time, but in historical hindsight is now kind of depressing, (Americans helping real-life Afghan Muj leader Ahmad Shah Masood fight the evil Soviets, back when both the Cold War and the War on Terror were still largely black and white). I have zero interest in his monster "Kingsbridge" or "Century" trilogies, but may look for more of his stuff from the 80's and 90's.
October 7, 2018
'The Key to Rebecca' is another unyielding, page-turner thriller set in the backdrop of WW2, involving the Axis-Allied struggle to control Egypt. Much like 'Eye of the Needle', Follet brilliantly creates a narrative surrounding 'real life' historical events and characters that are absolutely brilliant! The story revolves around a 'love triangle' between 'Wolff', a German spy and his lover, a famous 'Egyptian belly dancer'. Wolff has no boundaries in trying to capture 'British' secrets to aid the Germans in capturing Egypt. Opposing Wolff is captain 'Vadam', a British secretive agent who uses his entire unit to apprehend the German spy.
Follet uses an intricate machination to form a story that is densely filled with suspense, crazy 'chase' scenes and a a love triangle! There's tons of sex scenes, including a 'threesome' that believe it or not complements to the development of the story! Again, his 'sex scenes' are not done in ill taste nor are they gratuitous...he simply tells stories that are realistic involving human emotions, including sex.
Follet strikes a big thumbs up with 'Key to Rebecca', and those familiar with his writing will see shear brilliance in the setting of an intense WW2 spy thriller!
4 1/2 Stars
Follet uses an intricate machination to form a story that is densely filled with suspense, crazy 'chase' scenes and a a love triangle! There's tons of sex scenes, including a 'threesome' that believe it or not complements to the development of the story! Again, his 'sex scenes' are not done in ill taste nor are they gratuitous...he simply tells stories that are realistic involving human emotions, including sex.
Follet strikes a big thumbs up with 'Key to Rebecca', and those familiar with his writing will see shear brilliance in the setting of an intense WW2 spy thriller!
4 1/2 Stars
January 4, 2020
Quizás siempre recuerde a este autor por su Serie más famosa "Los Pilares de la Tierra" o la “Trilogía del Siglo”, sin embargo antes de ser mundialmente conocido escribió numerosos libros sobre aventuras y espionaje y ésta es una de ellas.
Una verdadera historia de espías ambientada en Egipto en plena Segunda Guerra Mundial, en la que como siempre Follett logra que te metas en ella, como si estuvieras viendo una película que no puedes dejar a un lado.
El libro es corto (para lo que he leído del autor), se lee bastante rápido en un juego de estrategias entre un espía alemán con ascendencia árabe y un comandante del ejército británico. Me sorprendí a mi misma teniendo afinidad con el espía alemán, olvidando por momentos el objetivo del dominio alemán sobre el mundo, pero pronto a medida que se desarrolla la trama, esto cambia.
Follett consigue mezclar nuevamente ficción con realidad, regalándonos una obra vertiginosa, con algunos giros inesperados.
Hace poco también me he enterado de que este libro fue llevado a la gran pantalla en el año 1985 de la mano de David Hemmings, tendré que conseguir verlo a ver que tal su adaptación cinematográfica.
100% recomendado
Una verdadera historia de espías ambientada en Egipto en plena Segunda Guerra Mundial, en la que como siempre Follett logra que te metas en ella, como si estuvieras viendo una película que no puedes dejar a un lado.
El libro es corto (para lo que he leído del autor), se lee bastante rápido en un juego de estrategias entre un espía alemán con ascendencia árabe y un comandante del ejército británico. Me sorprendí a mi misma teniendo afinidad con el espía alemán, olvidando por momentos el objetivo del dominio alemán sobre el mundo, pero pronto a medida que se desarrolla la trama, esto cambia.
Follett consigue mezclar nuevamente ficción con realidad, regalándonos una obra vertiginosa, con algunos giros inesperados.
Hace poco también me he enterado de que este libro fue llevado a la gran pantalla en el año 1985 de la mano de David Hemmings, tendré que conseguir verlo a ver que tal su adaptación cinematográfica.
100% recomendado
August 31, 2016
(review in English below)
Para mim foi uma desilusão (na verdade, é mais um 2,5 do que um 3).
Nunca me senti envolvida na história, não gostei particularmente dos personagens nem apreciei a escrita.
Lê-se bem, mas se calhar a espionagem não é para mim...
This was a big let down for me (it's more like a 2.5, actually).
I never felt involved in the story, I didn't particularly like the characters or the writing.
It reads OK, maybe I'm just not into spy novels...
Para mim foi uma desilusão (na verdade, é mais um 2,5 do que um 3).
Nunca me senti envolvida na história, não gostei particularmente dos personagens nem apreciei a escrita.
Lê-se bem, mas se calhar a espionagem não é para mim...
This was a big let down for me (it's more like a 2.5, actually).
I never felt involved in the story, I didn't particularly like the characters or the writing.
It reads OK, maybe I'm just not into spy novels...
January 31, 2021
Una estupenda aventura en el Cairo de la II GM, donde los dos protagonistas juegan al gato y al ratón. Con un logrado contexto histórico, nos descubre el Egipto de los nazis, y la figura de Rommel y el desierto.
No decae en ningún momento, con buenos personajes y una trama y resolución muy lograda que me atrapó por completo.
De lo mejor que he leído de Ken Follet.
4,5
No decae en ningún momento, con buenos personajes y una trama y resolución muy lograda que me atrapó por completo.
De lo mejor que he leído de Ken Follet.
4,5
August 9, 2020
A brilliant spy thriller, bit backdated.
August 23, 2016
Another excellent book, making the reader spin through all the action and strategy that evolves side by side with passion, sensuousness and a lot of historical background!
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon 23 August 2016.
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon 23 August 2016.
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