Series
Publication
Recorded Books (2005)
Original publication date
1988
Collections
Subjects
Description
Bulgaria, 1934. A young man is murdered by the local fascists. His brother, Khristo Stoianev, is recruited into the NKVD, the Soviet secret intelligence service, and sent to Spain to serve in its civil war. Warned that he is about to become a victim of Stalin's purges, Khristo flees to Paris. Night Soldiers masterfully re-creates the European world of 1934-45: the struggle between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia for Eastern Europe, the last desperate gaiety of the beau monde in 1937 Paris, and guerrilla operations with the French underground in 1944. Night Soldiers is a scrupulously researched panoramic novel, a work on a grand scale.
User reviews
LibraryThing member JackMassa
Deep, poignant, dark, ultimately satisfying, like a long difficult journey where much is accomplished and much is learned.
Interesting to compare Furst's Night Soldiers with the popular WWII spy thrillers of Ken Follett. Where reading Follett is smooth and easy as a skating rink, Furst is toilsome
Not an easy read. In part because of the brutally painful experiences lived by the characters. But also because of the fictional technique: at times as oblique and murky as the world of espionage it depicts.
Furst has a habit of introducing new viewpoint characters just for one or two scenes. The effect is enriching, as we are given multiple perspectives on events and characters. But it's also difficult to follow, as the reader struggles to piece together information about what is happening and why--sort of like the mental work required of a spy.
Overall this is an excellent book, but you have to think hard and pay attention.
Interesting to compare Furst's Night Soldiers with the popular WWII spy thrillers of Ken Follett. Where reading Follett is smooth and easy as a skating rink, Furst is toilsome
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as a narrow mountain trail, full of rocks, caves, dead-ends and thorny ledges. Not an easy read. In part because of the brutally painful experiences lived by the characters. But also because of the fictional technique: at times as oblique and murky as the world of espionage it depicts.
Furst has a habit of introducing new viewpoint characters just for one or two scenes. The effect is enriching, as we are given multiple perspectives on events and characters. But it's also difficult to follow, as the reader struggles to piece together information about what is happening and why--sort of like the mental work required of a spy.
Overall this is an excellent book, but you have to think hard and pay attention.
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LibraryThing member neurodrew
Khristo Stoianev is the protagonist of this novel about the years before World War II. He is a Bulgarian, growing up as a fisherman working the Danube. He is about 18 when his brother is beaten to death by a Fascist troop in his home town, and Khristo is thereby recruited into the Soviet NKVD as a
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spy. The first long part of the book is about his training in Arbat Street in the methods of spycraft, and the formation, among his companions, of a brotherhood that will tie together the plot through the sections that follow. Soianev is sent to Spain during the Civil War, but escapes the purges when one of his brotherhood warns him of his arrest, lives in Paris and is peripherally involved in a killing by Bulgarian emigres, and is sent to prison at the behest of British secret service. He is released by another of the brotherhood, joins the resistance and is smuggled out of France to Switzerland by the Americans. Sent back to Prague as a spy, he finally learns of a defection and enlists the aid of the Americans to exfiltrate the NKVD spy. The novel is always literate, well paced, with believable characters and interesting historical comments. Thoroughly enjoyable, and I will look for some of his other works, such as "Dark Star" Show Less
LibraryThing member elenchus
In this first book of his thematic series, Furst seems to lay out the entire sweep of what later books take up in parts. The entirety of his timeline, and perhaps geography, are bracketed in Night Soldiers: from 1934 rural Bulgaria to 1944 war ruined Prague, in between a rare look at American
The plot follows Khristo Stoianev and the repercussions of his training by Soviets for espionage work. Stoianev and his comrades style themselves BF 825 (Brotherhood Front plus the "true" team standings following a training exam which outcome was unfairly determined).
There are signs of how Furst will refine his approach in later books. I think here he overplays the character of Fay, who "made a difference, saved lives" -- in later books, this message is recast as a central question to be confronted, seldom answered so black and white as here. It wasn't necessary, either: Furst shows what happens after he tells it, and the showing was far more ambiguous than the telling. Should have let the showing stand for itself, and in later books he does.
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The last blurb in my Kindle edition notes Night Soldiers is proxy for the unwritten memoir of so many dead agents. The blend of personal narrative and seemingly accurate factual descriptions of operations, outlooks, challenges indeed fits the tone of such a memoir.
An anecdote reveals the origin of the term fifth column: (Spanish) Nationalist General Mola's siege of Madrid, and the question put by an international journalist as to which of his four columns would have the honour of entering the city first. Mola replies quizzically that he has a fifth column inside Madrid, and it will lead the assault.
The famed assassination at Brasserie Heininger, mentioned in so many other books, though the specific bullet in the wall behind a certain booth wasn't called out.
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espionage efforts, an extended detour into the Nazi & Soviet test grounds of the Spanish Civil War, a stint with the French Resistance in the Cambras region of southern France. In fact, locales cover the Continent and even reach New York City, and the story extends a few months into the post-war period, but the perspective throughout retains a decided feel for Eastern Europe, underscored in Furst's choice of protagonist. The plot follows Khristo Stoianev and the repercussions of his training by Soviets for espionage work. Stoianev and his comrades style themselves BF 825 (Brotherhood Front plus the "true" team standings following a training exam which outcome was unfairly determined).
There are signs of how Furst will refine his approach in later books. I think here he overplays the character of Fay, who "made a difference, saved lives" -- in later books, this message is recast as a central question to be confronted, seldom answered so black and white as here. It wasn't necessary, either: Furst shows what happens after he tells it, and the showing was far more ambiguous than the telling. Should have let the showing stand for itself, and in later books he does.
//
The last blurb in my Kindle edition notes Night Soldiers is proxy for the unwritten memoir of so many dead agents. The blend of personal narrative and seemingly accurate factual descriptions of operations, outlooks, challenges indeed fits the tone of such a memoir.
An anecdote reveals the origin of the term fifth column: (Spanish) Nationalist General Mola's siege of Madrid, and the question put by an international journalist as to which of his four columns would have the honour of entering the city first. Mola replies quizzically that he has a fifth column inside Madrid, and it will lead the assault.
The famed assassination at Brasserie Heininger, mentioned in so many other books, though the specific bullet in the wall behind a certain booth wasn't called out.
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LibraryThing member klaidlaw
Night Soldiers is a classic espionage story that takes place just prior to and during WWII. It is the story of a young Bulgarian trained by the Soviets as a spy. It is a tale of intrigue, double cross, suspicion and love--all things that go into a good espionage story. The book follows Khristo
The story is fascinating, but at times the book seems to drag. For the most part, the main character is a pawn of various forces, but in the end, he comes into his own and makes the journey he has to make.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an espionage thriller without the common blood and gore that seems too often to take the place of good plot and good story telling.
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Stoianev and a cast of characters through the Spanish Civil War, through Europe, across the ocean to the US and back again to Europe. It tells of the French resistance, the Stalinist purges, the beginnings of the OSS and much more in a very convoluted web. The story is fascinating, but at times the book seems to drag. For the most part, the main character is a pawn of various forces, but in the end, he comes into his own and makes the journey he has to make.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an espionage thriller without the common blood and gore that seems too often to take the place of good plot and good story telling.
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LibraryThing member dspoon
Bulgaria, 1934. A young man is murdered by the local fascists. His brother, Khristo Stoianev, is recruited into the NKVD, the Soviet secret intelligence service, and sent to Spain to serve in its civil war. Warned that he is about to become a victim of Stalin’s purges, Khristo flees to Paris.
the European world of 1934–45: the struggle between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia for Eastern Europe, the last desperate gaiety of the beau monde in 1937 Paris, and guerrilla operations with the French underground in 1944. Night Soldiers is a scrupulously researched panoramic novel, a work on a grand scale.
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Night Soldiers masterfully re-createsthe European world of 1934–45: the struggle between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia for Eastern Europe, the last desperate gaiety of the beau monde in 1937 Paris, and guerrilla operations with the French underground in 1944. Night Soldiers is a scrupulously researched panoramic novel, a work on a grand scale.
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LibraryThing member ZachMontana
Good historical fiction of the period 1934-45 in Eastern Europe, where the period is not as well documented. The audio book seemed too long, but was read nicely by George Guidall. It might be more enjoyable to read as a book if there was a map of the places involved in the book so one could tell
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where they are - I am not that familiar with especially smaller towns in these countries or how the river flows through them. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShellyS
I adore Alan Furst's writing. He specializes in historical fiction set in pre-World War II to early-World War II Europe, usually setting the story in one or two locales, but in this, he expanded his scope to great effect. His research is excellent, as is his attention to detail.
Night Soldiers is a
For much of the book, Khristo is a tool, a weapon, someone who is manipulated into playing a role. Yet despite the violence and dangers of the time, despite the conspiracies and conflicts, Khristo is a survivor, someone who longs to simply lead a normal life. By the time the story ends, in 1945, we've traveled throughout France, Spain, and Eastern Europe with Khristo and as I turned the last page and closed the cover, I was most reluctant to say goodbye to him.
If you haven't read Alan Furst, you should. And this is as good a book to start with as any.
Night Soldiers is a
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sweeping novel that follows the life of Khristo Stoianev, a young Bulgarian who, in 1934, saw his younger brother stomped to death by local fascists. Soon after, a Russian shows up, recruiting young men to the Communist cause. Khristo, having nothing to look forward to in his bleak town and caught up in circumstances beyond his control, goes with him. Trained by the NKVD, the precursor to the KGB, Khristo excels at intelligence and counter-intelligence and is soon stationed in Spain, a country in the midst of civil war while Germany and Russia vie for influence. A dutiful officer of the NKVD, Khristo is no ideologue and when he's warned he will be swept up in Stalin's purges, he flees to France, where his life grows yet more complicated.For much of the book, Khristo is a tool, a weapon, someone who is manipulated into playing a role. Yet despite the violence and dangers of the time, despite the conspiracies and conflicts, Khristo is a survivor, someone who longs to simply lead a normal life. By the time the story ends, in 1945, we've traveled throughout France, Spain, and Eastern Europe with Khristo and as I turned the last page and closed the cover, I was most reluctant to say goodbye to him.
If you haven't read Alan Furst, you should. And this is as good a book to start with as any.
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LibraryThing member AHS-Wolfy
Set just prior to and during WWII this novel follows Khristo Stoianev from his home town in Bulgaria where he is recruited by the Soviet spy instution, the NKVD, when a member of his family is killed after speaking out against the rising tide of fascism. Sent to a training camp full of people
After completing his training he finds himself sent to Spain where the Civil War is in full swing. Learning of his imminent arrest during the Stalin purges he manages to flee to France and tries to keep a low profile to avoid the notice of those who will be sent after him. Unfortunately, things don't work out for him here either and after being caught up in political manoeuvrings he ends up in jail until being freed with the German occupation ensues. From there he becomes involved in the rising of the French resistance and the book also relates the formation of the OSS (the spy team for the USA).
This book gives a great insight into the political situation in Europe and shifting tides during the run up and time of WWII and is very evocative of how life was during that period. A great read and I'll look forward to my next encounter with this author's work.
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gathered from similar situations to his own, Khristo forms an alliance with his team and despite the tone of distrust and watchfulness that his new masters instil it is this comradeship which threads throughout the narrative of the book.After completing his training he finds himself sent to Spain where the Civil War is in full swing. Learning of his imminent arrest during the Stalin purges he manages to flee to France and tries to keep a low profile to avoid the notice of those who will be sent after him. Unfortunately, things don't work out for him here either and after being caught up in political manoeuvrings he ends up in jail until being freed with the German occupation ensues. From there he becomes involved in the rising of the French resistance and the book also relates the formation of the OSS (the spy team for the USA).
This book gives a great insight into the political situation in Europe and shifting tides during the run up and time of WWII and is very evocative of how life was during that period. A great read and I'll look forward to my next encounter with this author's work.
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LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
The story starts off in 1934 with a violent bang. Khristo Stoianev is a Bulgarian teenager who witnesses the brutal beating and subsequent killing of his younger brother, Nikko. Nikko, only 15 years old, was used as an example of a growing power. Using this tragedy as a vehicle for change, Khristo
Furst paints a stunning picture of eleven years of Eastern European history complete with French underground guerrilla operations, lavish love affairs, the never ending quest for power and multidimensional aspects of war.
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is drawn into the NKVD, the Soviet intelligence service. From there he is sent to serve in the Spanish Civil war (although it is curious to note during his training he was taught English and French, not Spanish). Meanwhile,the political arena is heating up. Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia are arm wrestling over real estate in Eastern Europe. Stalin is starting to purge the undesirables and this is to include Khristo so he flees to France.Furst paints a stunning picture of eleven years of Eastern European history complete with French underground guerrilla operations, lavish love affairs, the never ending quest for power and multidimensional aspects of war.
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LibraryThing member chicjohn
Exciting, well plotted thriller
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
In Bulgaria, in 1934, on a muddy street in the town of Vidin, Kristo Stoianev saw his brother kicked to death by Fascist militia.
That's the first line of Furst's Night Soldiers, immediately introducing us to the book's central figure and hinting at the forces personal and political that would drive
This is a very well-written book. It has the kind of flow and strong prose you find in what is called literary fiction rather than a pulp thriller. I liked Kristo, but I don't know that I ever felt very attached to him as a character, or to any of the characters. It's more that Kristos and others we meet such as Faye Berns and Ilya Goldman are ways through which Furst can tell the convoluted and twisty tale of espionage and counterespionage in Europe in the 30s and 40s from the Spanish Civil War to the French Resistance during Nazi Occupation to the clanging shut of the Iron Curtain. It's a fascinating and educational tale at that.
That's the first line of Furst's Night Soldiers, immediately introducing us to the book's central figure and hinting at the forces personal and political that would drive
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him. Kristo is soon recruited into the NKVD--the Soviet Secret Police and sent for training to Moscow. There he is part of a class in espionage drawn from throughout Europe--Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, Germany. There he'll learn to cheat and kill to win and to survive--and those he meets there will have an impact on him and the world without for years to come.This is a very well-written book. It has the kind of flow and strong prose you find in what is called literary fiction rather than a pulp thriller. I liked Kristo, but I don't know that I ever felt very attached to him as a character, or to any of the characters. It's more that Kristos and others we meet such as Faye Berns and Ilya Goldman are ways through which Furst can tell the convoluted and twisty tale of espionage and counterespionage in Europe in the 30s and 40s from the Spanish Civil War to the French Resistance during Nazi Occupation to the clanging shut of the Iron Curtain. It's a fascinating and educational tale at that.
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LibraryThing member doncornell
I re-read Night Soldiers, published in 1988, to kick off a campaign to re-read all of Furst's novels in publication order before treating myself to his latest, published this month (June 2012). The story begins in 1934. In anticipation of a war to come, the Soviet spy service NKVD is recruiting
All through the book, Khristo and the other members of BF 825 are caught between fighting Germans and the competing demands of Soviet, British, and American intelligence services. This tension between friendship, nationality and ideology is the recurring theme of Alan Furst's next ten (and counting) novels, all of which are set in various parts of Europe just before or during World War II. I like Alan Furst for his believable characters, moody settings, and subtle touches of humor. My main quibble with this book, the first of a series of loosely connected World War II literary spy novels, is that he tries to cram too much into it. I would have loved the book to be cut into two, with the trip down the Danube from Bratislava to the delta on the Black Sea expanded into a full-length book. If you've never read Alan Furst, Night Soldiers is a good place to start.
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potential agents from all over Eastern Europe. Khristo Stoianev, a Bulgarian from a village on the Danube, is thrown together with a Yugoslav, a Romanian, and a Pole to compete as a team in the spy training games. Cheated out of a victory, they form a mutual-aid pact, the BF 825, which reappears at critical times in Khristo's adventures during the next ten years. He serves in the Spanish Civil War in Madrid, escapes to Paris, is betrayed, imprisoned for a couple of years, and released. He joins the French underground, then near the end of the war travels down the Danube to aid in the escape from Russia of his former NKVD mentor.All through the book, Khristo and the other members of BF 825 are caught between fighting Germans and the competing demands of Soviet, British, and American intelligence services. This tension between friendship, nationality and ideology is the recurring theme of Alan Furst's next ten (and counting) novels, all of which are set in various parts of Europe just before or during World War II. I like Alan Furst for his believable characters, moody settings, and subtle touches of humor. My main quibble with this book, the first of a series of loosely connected World War II literary spy novels, is that he tries to cram too much into it. I would have loved the book to be cut into two, with the trip down the Danube from Bratislava to the delta on the Black Sea expanded into a full-length book. If you've never read Alan Furst, Night Soldiers is a good place to start.
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LibraryThing member ashergabbay
“Night Soldiers” is a espionage novel set in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. Khristo Stoianev, a young Bulgarian, watches helplessly as his younger brother is kicked to death by pro-Nazi supporters and understands the darkness that is coming to his country. Helped by a Soviet agent, he flees to
Sounds complicated? That’s because it is. This is not your run of the mill, straight narrative espionage story. Not only is the plot twisted and complicated; so is Furst’s prose. It takes a while to get used to his writing, as he builds up the description of events for long paragraphs before revealing the main point. His style helps convey, more than the story itself, the dispiriting reality of war. Spies, refugees, soldiers, regular citizens – all come to life under Furst’s unique style. The “night soldiers” are anti-heroes, ordinary people who found themselves working for the NKVD, trying their best to survive and live to see another day.
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Moscow, where he joins the secret police, the NKVD. After his training he is sent to Spain to help fight Franco, but is asked to kill his comrades in arms because they are not “true Communists”. He flees to Paris where the Nazis finally catch up with him. He meets his love there, Aleksandra, but it turns out the NKVD has been following him and they make Aleksandra disappear. After a long prison term he is freed and send to Eastern Europe, where he joins forces with Western intelligence to help beat Germany.Sounds complicated? That’s because it is. This is not your run of the mill, straight narrative espionage story. Not only is the plot twisted and complicated; so is Furst’s prose. It takes a while to get used to his writing, as he builds up the description of events for long paragraphs before revealing the main point. His style helps convey, more than the story itself, the dispiriting reality of war. Spies, refugees, soldiers, regular citizens – all come to life under Furst’s unique style. The “night soldiers” are anti-heroes, ordinary people who found themselves working for the NKVD, trying their best to survive and live to see another day.
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LibraryThing member JBreedlove
The best novel I have read in a while. I time and a place that I have always been interested in brought to life. A little slow in a couple of places but always giving a sense of the way it might have been w these people in these places in those times. Most characters brought to life at least enough
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and always a sense of place w smells, sights and thoughts. Looking forward to the next Furst read. Show Less
LibraryThing member mausergem
The story begins in 1937. Kristo Stoinev, a Bulgarian is recruited by the NKVD, the Russian secret service, after he runs into trouble with the local Fascist group in his home town of Vidin. Here he trained in the art of espionage. He make friends with various people of differing ethnicities. He is
The beauty of this book lies in the details. The author lays stress on the little things and puts us on the ground with Kristo. Being a spy is not about the style, it is a constant struggle for survival. An excellent read.
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send to Spain to run an agent. Due to personnel and policy changes in the NKVD, he comes under suspicion and is forced to flee from Spain. He lands up in Paris determined to lead a straight life but is pulled into a net of con men and plans a robbery of gold from a Russian embassy personnel. The robbery goes well but he once again comes in the radar of NKVD. the NKVD catches up to him but in return to valuable information he is allowed to go but has to leave France and his girlfriend behind. On the run he is recruited by the OSS, the American secret service but is abandoned in the field. By this time it is 1945 and the war is at its end and Kristo seeks to go back home. The beauty of this book lies in the details. The author lays stress on the little things and puts us on the ground with Kristo. Being a spy is not about the style, it is a constant struggle for survival. An excellent read.
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LibraryThing member michigantrumpet
In 1930's Bulgaria, young Khristo is recruited to Moscow as a young trainee in the Russian secret service NKVD. As tensions in Europe mount leading up to WWII, our hero learns tradecraft, suffers betrayal, has great sex and works for competing intelligence organizations. Very atmospheric and
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generally well written. Don't get too invested in many of the characters -- they crop up only to disappear. Show Less
LibraryThing member sonofcarc
If you had to decide from internal evidence which was the first of Alan Furst's spy novels to be published, you would surely spot this one.: He tried to produce an epic and covered too much ground. From then on, he got his formula right. Epic is not his thing; depth and detail is his thing.
LibraryThing member name99
More Alan Furst, once again doing a great job of showing just how brutal the war was, this time focussing on Bulgaria.
LibraryThing member pussreboots
Night Soldiers by Alan Furst is the first book in a long series of books set in different places and times within the setting of World War Two. The books don't have to be read in order and in that regard are rather like Terry Pratchett's Discworld books.
Here it is Bulgaria, 1934. Khristo Stoianev
The other Furst books I've read have been trade paperbacks. This time I tried something different — an audio read by George Guidall. Here is one of those times when I wish I had opted for print, despite counting Guidall as one of my all time favorite audiobook readers.
Furst puts a ton of detail into his books, as well as observations on local customs and human nature. But these tangents and asides don't work as monologues. They need to be skipped, skimmed and re-read depending on mood — and none of those options are easy on an audio.
Here it is Bulgaria, 1934. Khristo Stoianev
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is recruited by the Soviet Union's KKVD (secret intelligence service) after his brother is murdered by the local fascists. He's sent to Span during their Civil War.The other Furst books I've read have been trade paperbacks. This time I tried something different — an audio read by George Guidall. Here is one of those times when I wish I had opted for print, despite counting Guidall as one of my all time favorite audiobook readers.
Furst puts a ton of detail into his books, as well as observations on local customs and human nature. But these tangents and asides don't work as monologues. They need to be skipped, skimmed and re-read depending on mood — and none of those options are easy on an audio.
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LibraryThing member idiotgirl
I liked the way this story takes place on the margins of world war II. Main character from the Balkans who is pulled into spy work for soviet union. Ends up in Spain during the civil war, in France during the German occupation, etc. Takes you into the obscure places of eastern europe. Ended up
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liking this quite a lot. Often find Furst complicated to follow with audiobooks. Quite loaded with information and talk. But this book did capture me (listed as audiobook, quite a bit on a road trip, maybe that was the secret). Show Less
LibraryThing member alanteder
2 out of 5 = it was ok.
I grabbed this audiobook edition at an Audible author sale to try out my first Night Soldiers after reading reviews that made comparisons to John Le Carre and other top espionage authors. It didn't come through for me though as it felt like a superficial travelogue through
I grabbed this audiobook edition at an Audible author sale to try out my first Night Soldiers after reading reviews that made comparisons to John Le Carre and other top espionage authors. It didn't come through for me though as it felt like a superficial travelogue through
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pre-WWII and WWII guerilla fights in the Spanish Civil War and the French Resistance with a cameo appearance in the Soviet Gulag. Sort of like Forrest Gump joins the NKVD and then has to get out (except it is spread out over 2 or 3 main characters (including an American that pops in about ½ way through). All of the background felt correct though, so the research was excellent. It was just that the lack of focus on a single character and too wide of a landscape made me miss the more human-weakness centred stories of those such as Le Carre. The reading by George Guidall was fine. Show Less
LibraryThing member nx74defiant
Was a little slow getting in to it for me. I'm not familiar with the Spanish Civil War, so it was hard to follower who the players were.
LibraryThing member rainpebble
Night Soldiers by Alan Furst; bk1; (4 1/2*)
Night Soldiers is a dense and dark novel, rightly so inasmuch as it covers the period 1934 through 1945 in Europe. I find this to be one of the most tragic periods in human history, albeit a fascinating time. While being a spy thriller, Night Soldiers is
This is a long book and not an easy read. Action switches quickly and not always with explanation. Characters appear briefly, never to be heard from again. The story rambles forward rather than being propelled by the plot. However I found myself so invested in the characters that I could hardly put the book down.
Night Soldiers is a dense and dark novel, rightly so inasmuch as it covers the period 1934 through 1945 in Europe. I find this to be one of the most tragic periods in human history, albeit a fascinating time. While being a spy thriller, Night Soldiers is
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so much more in that its real strength is the atmosphere it creates through the author's fine writing and his well done historical and geographic research. I was sucked right into the times in a way that only very good fiction can do.This is a long book and not an easy read. Action switches quickly and not always with explanation. Characters appear briefly, never to be heard from again. The story rambles forward rather than being propelled by the plot. However I found myself so invested in the characters that I could hardly put the book down.
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LibraryThing member etxgardener
I love Alan Furst's noir thrillers of the 1930's and 1940's. He always has the atmosphere of his stories pitch perfect. However, I came to his books in the middle of his series and now am looping back to start reading his earlier books in order. The Night Soldier is his first; the story of a young
There he arrives just in time for Stalin's purges. He manages to bob and weave and avoid being sent to the Gulag, but ends up in the Spanish Civil War instead. There he learns that the fascists and the communists are pretty much alike in their cruelty and manages to escape to France. There he is arrested and imprisoned, but when the Germans invade, is set free by partisans and begins life again as a resistance fighter.
Like all of Furst's heroes Khristo is wily and cynical and not about to fall for any given ideology. He is, however, loyal to his friends and incredibly brave, so I appreciated the outcome of the book very much.
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Bulgarian, Khristo, who is driven from his home after his brother is killed by fascist thugs and is recruited by a Russian NKVD agent and brought to Moscow for training.There he arrives just in time for Stalin's purges. He manages to bob and weave and avoid being sent to the Gulag, but ends up in the Spanish Civil War instead. There he learns that the fascists and the communists are pretty much alike in their cruelty and manages to escape to France. There he is arrested and imprisoned, but when the Germans invade, is set free by partisans and begins life again as a resistance fighter.
Like all of Furst's heroes Khristo is wily and cynical and not about to fall for any given ideology. He is, however, loyal to his friends and incredibly brave, so I appreciated the outcome of the book very much.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
This first book of Furst's Night Soldiers series was headed for a 2.5 - 3 star rating until about halfway through. The description of how Khristo Stoianev was recruited into the NKVD & his training there didn't enthrall me. I am sure that it is excellent historical fiction but it is of a time &
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place that was grim. However, I am glad that I perservered because eventually I did become caught up in the plot and wanted to find out what would happen. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Other editions
Night Soldiers by Alan Furst (Paperback)