Eye of the Needle

by Ken Follett

Book Overview

The worldwide phenomenon from the bestselling author of The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, and A Column of Fire His code name was "The Needle." He was a German aristocrat of extraordinary... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380733358
• ISBN13: 9780380733354
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Who are you going to cheer for?

Of course, Ken Follett writes wonderful historical fiction but add a fantastic spy story and what you have is a book that you can not put down. Follett's writing is so good that there are parts where you are not sure who you are cheering for: is it the spy or not? The writing is that good. Just read the novel to find out what I am talking about. No giving away clues here.

Un buen libro sobre espias

Es un libro interesante sobre los espias en la segunda guerra mundial, agradable y rapido de leer, todo el tiempo esta en el tema y rara vez se sale del tema con descripciones de bosques y casas, siempre esta en suspenso la historia hasta el final.El final esta un poco fuera de la realidad pero eso no le quita puntos al libro.

One of the Best of the Type

Ken Follett was probably the best of this type back in the 70's; I would even go so far as to say that was his best period outside of The Pillars of the Earth. This book gives you a very good story that I found difficult to put down. Follett is great at developing his characters; you really get a feel for them. He also always gets the facts correct and is very generous with the historical items. He also writes a book that does not talk down to the lowest common denominator of the audience. This book is very good and one that should be read before many others of the same type.

Superbly written; quite an emotional tale

This was the novel that gave Follet star quality status in publishing circles. Not only was it a best seller but it also was adapted into a movie, starring Donald Sutherland.Here are some reasons to read THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE:(1) PRECISION: you like reading about cool, precise heroes or anti-heroes or villains who are painfully precise in their plans, the best at what they do and are totally "stone cold.";(2) WWII BUFF: you love to read about the "big thrills" of WWII; this has it since the German spy discovers D-Day plans and tries to get back to Germany to warn the High Command (i.e. his tap was taken after he was shortly exposed);(3) TAUT THRILLS: if this turns you on, Follet is right up there with Forsythe, Higgins and other masterful spy thriller novelists.;(4) MOVING LOVE/LUST TALES: Follet has always been unusually good at the subplot love stories in his tales; the intimacy level is higher than some people encounter in their real lives; the details of the lovemaking is hot. I still remember, at one point, the female interest asks the male love interest why he never married and he replied to something along the lines as: "I never loved any woman enough to marry them."; and(5) LOTS OF COMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHARACTERS: especially for the villain who seems to overcome almost all of them.Follet also does a good job of centering the story on the villain so that you like him and then switching over to another character later. The transition works for a number of reasons but saying more would spoil the story.

A brilliant novel of suspense

Using late World War II as a backdrop for a breathtaking tale of espionage, Ken Follett brings together a ruthless German spy and a resourceful young Englishwoman, a combination that, believe it or not, serves at a catalyst for the Allies' victory. Though a work of fiction, EYE OF THE NEEDLE is utterly convincing from explosive beginning to explosive climax. The structure of the novel is fairly straightforward, but Follett manipulates the plot expertly and deftly, placing this story notches higher than the average chase thriller. What's notable here is the deft combination of wry British wit, skillful characterization, and flawless research, that makes this an adventure story worth reading for its intelligence and realism as well as its ample chills. As one of the character puts it, "Jolly good show."

Just another review

Well, what can I say!? I mean, all those other reviews down there really tell what this book is like. Ken Follett at his best. And THAT is something, huh? "The Needle" Faber is the only german spy in english soil that can turn the war back for the Nazis, as he learned the secret that Churchill was hiding so well with the help of the americans. The book tells his adventures up the Brittany Island in order to contact a U-boat. The final sequency on Storm Island is something of a genious. Follett has written some very good thrillers about WWII, like this one and "Night over water". But his best still is "The key to Rebecca". Anyway, "Eye of the needle" is a page turner like Grisham in his early years, a book one with interests in spies and the War won't regret reading.