This is the last installment of the old Alan Furst. Soon he would be immersed in the shadows and espionage of pre-WWII Europe. These works are the works of Furst, the Master. Shadow Trade is a damn fine read though. Suspenseful, with splendid charactor development and wit. If this book were to be rewritten w/today's technology advancements, it'd be a best-seller.

This is the fifth of Furst's seven WWII espionage novels I've read, and not one of his best. To be sure, it has all the trademarks of his work: good writing, dedication to period detail, oppressive and dreary atmosphere, exotic locales (Paris, Istanbul, Odessa, Belgrade, etc.), a middle-aged loner protagonist caught up in the espionage intrigues of the time, love interest, a blurry web of operatives. But that's the problem-if you've read a few of his books, you've basically read this one. The characters (especially the heroes) in his books are all starting to run together rather distressingly, and he's over-reliant on atmosphere to carry the minimally plotted stories. What's worse is that the pace of this one is absolutely glacial, there's barely any thrill in the thriller!

The gist here is that in 1940 the Allies are desperate to interdict German access to the vital Romanian oil fields. Having tried to sabotage them once before, they're faced with a tough problem. Paris-based Russian émigré writer I.A. Serebin is drawn into a plot to resurrect an old spy network in an attempt to strike a blow. However, Serebin's recruitment into this venture is never really convincing, and the weaving of the plot is so oblique that it's hard to get drawn in. It's as if Furst is so faithful to building the shadow world that his characters live in that he's forgotten about the reader. Which is not to say this is an awful book or anything, just that he's written better and might benefit from straying a little further from the European theater he's set seven books in.

This is the most recent espionage novel from Alan Furst. Set in WWII, it concerns the efforts of British Intelligence to impede the flow of Rumanian oil into Germany. As with all of Furst's books, the quality of writing is good, the plot interesting, and his attention to period detail is excellent. This book is clearly superior to most thrillers. Despite these positive features, this book has a major shortcoming. Furst seems to be writing the same book over and over again. The plots and central characters of his books are all relatively similar. It is not fair to say that if you've read one, you've read them all but the repetitive elements are becoming stale.

No one writes about the spy game right before and during WWII in Central and Eastern Europe like Alan Furst. His spare prose, almost poetic at times, conveys quite quickly the murky world of intelligence operatives. We see the dark underbelly of Europe, with the furtive meetings and the casual betrayals inherent in this type of work. The characters are, as always, extremely well-drawn, even the very minor ones. Often the real plot line gets lost, but it doesn't really matter, because of the quality of the writing. The reader is hooked from the beginning, and turns page after page as quickly as possibe, to see how everything develops. There are some old friends from previous books in this one, and some locations that we've seen before, and that adds to the authentic feel of the work. I look forward quite eagerly to every Furst book, and hope that he writes and publishes them for many years to come!

"The World At Night", is actually the first of a pair of books that tell the story of Jean Casson, a former movie producer who is faced with finding a way to survive the onset and extended occupation of Paris in World War II. France was not only divided into parts by the Germans, it was further sub-divided by a variety of groups that had their own agenda. Jean tries to maintain his life, and protects those he cares about, all the while coping with what it means to be a patriot.

Alan Furst writes about a narrow by eventful time from 1933 to 1945. His books are meticulously accurate to the point they would pass inspection by many readers of history. The author takes an unusual step at the end of his books by sharing with readers his sources for the novels he creates. This is not done in an academic bibliography or a blizzard of footnotes, rather he writes conversationally about what he reads, and what he suggests as reading for those who are interested.

In this first book Jean Casson will take part as a photographer during the short-lived French defense. He eventually finds himself taking on a task he believes will help France through his aiding the British. This is not a character that has a desire to be heroic; he seems to just want to find his place. Questions of what is honorable, and what constitutes loyalty constantly shadow him. In many ways he is the personification of the nation he lives in. He is conflicted to the point of pondering whether a barber who continues to cut hair during the war, including that of the German occupiers is a collaborator. At this level the question may appear simpler than the so-called larger issues, but the philosophical issue is the same.

Jean is given the opportunity to escape to England and continue to work in some manner for France. As he makes his way to The English Channel he continues to torture himself with issues both political and personal. His final act and the justification for it will surprise many, and seem appropriate to others. Whatever you may feel at the close of the book, you will feel your time has been well spent.

This book is the first in a series of books by Alan Furst about men caught in the turmoil of the early days of Wrold War II in Europe. This one is the first to consider Jean Casson, a French film director, who scrambles to stay alive and fight the Germans in the game of espionage. Furst uses his story to draw a picture of how it was then, and this is as interesting as one can be in the events of that time in that place. Two other of his books, The Polish Officer and Kingdom of Shadows, take this approach further East, and are much the better for it. Worth reading as a beginning to his other books

The one feeling that pervades all of the work of Alan Furst is HOPE...despite the political terror going on all around his characters, one nevers feels that they have reached the realization that the only future remaining is one of despair. In the case of the World at Night, Jean Casson (who continues his adventure in Red Gold) attempts to continue a somewhat normal life despite the Nazi Occupation of France and an ever increasing political vortex from both the right and the left pulling him in and away, constant reminders that he cannot continue his normal existance in abnormal times. He is ultimately compelled to make a choice and follow his conscience which nearly leads to disastrous results. The characters are well drawn and the story is exciting and like all of Furst's books, difficult to put down. This and the other books in the series are highly recommended.