Book of Kings

by James Thackara

Book Overview

In this electrifying grand-scale novel set on the eve of the Nazi invasion of Europe, the idyllic student life of four friends in Paris gives way to the frenzy of war. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585670502
• ISBN13: 9781585670505
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Overlook Books
• Length: 773 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.0" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A masterpiece, pure and simple.

I take issue wholeheartedly with the detractors of this amazing work; This book is a masterpiece, pure and simple. Historically rich, masterfully written, lifelike characters, brilliantly insightful, unique in it's approach, entertaining, powerful, and deep. WWII is no easy subject and does not lend itself to a lightweight breezy treatment. This is a heavy, serious book and as well it should be. Don't read this if you aren't willing to make a committment both emotionally and in time. One quote that exemplifies the authors masterful insight; Paraphrasing, and commenting on the appeasment of Hitler, Thackara writes; "Love is blind, and blindest of all is the love of peace." In light of today's events as well as history, this explains an awful lot.

"5 stars with a bias"

I can honestly say that this is the best book I've ever read. The bias I have in my opinion is that I read it while I was temporarily living in Germany. I read the book, and then went and visited the places I had just read about. The way James Thackara used real historical events and people, and then wrote his story around it was brilliant. You won't be able to put this one down.

Intermittently Wonderful

Yes, you do need to know a little French, and you do need a vocabulary of a college grad, but no- this book is not pompous. Romantic? Yes. Grandious? Yes Occassionally tedious? Yes. Riveting? Often. Wonderfully coreographed? Absolutely,especially the set pieces whether it is a dinner party at a German estate or a war battle in Russia. I guess the thing I most liked about this book the most was that it painted a picture of pre- WWII Europe without inserting any late twentieth century sensebilities- excellent social and philisophical commentary. Well worth getting through the 775 pages. Only one unhappy note: it occassionaly degenerates to soap opera.

Tough read - you can brag about finishing it.

I was tempted several times in the first 200-300 pages to put this book away. Although I generally enjoy historical fiction, the author goes into painstaking detail of the political and social climate of pre-WW2 Europe. The characters discuss fascism, socialism, communism and every other "ism" fashionable at the time. After the philosophical groundwork has been laid, the book picks up. Although it then takes place primarily during the war, it is not your standard WW2 book. The book remains focused on the main characters. Each of them had envisioned a bright future and the war has changed everything. How they act, what they become and the choices they make are all shaped by their backgrounds and beliefs. The story becomes very readable and the events described are as interesting as they are detailed. This is not an easy book to read, and I had to re-read paragraphs many times. It does offer a great insight into the political and social climate of the times. If James Thackara isn't an English professor somewhere he should be. Finishing the book also made me feel like I deserved some easy fiction...I read the Lion's Game by DeMille after this book and it read like it had been written by a 13 year old.

Grandiose, sometimes incomprehensible, but worth it!

The first time I picked up this book, I put it down after a few pages-the writing is often very obscure, and understanding it is difficult: but when I tried again I ignored the language when verbose, and became involved with the story itself and the characters. It really is a wonderful overview of the European world as it is swept up in unbelievable evil and suffering. Not told from just one point of view, it shows that noone is perfectly pure, or without ulterior motive, and that alliances are constantly shifting. Ultimately fascinating-and not one graphic sex scene!!