Kingdom of Shadows
Paris, 1938. As Europe edges toward war, Nicholas Morath, an urbane former cavalry officer, spends his days working at the small advertising agency he owns and his nights in the bohemian circles of his Argentine mistress. But Morath has been recruited by his uncle, Count Janos Polanyi, a diplomat in the Hungarian legation, for operations against Hitler’s Germany. It is Morath who does Polanyi’s clandestine work, moving between the beach cafés of Juan-les-Pins and the forests of Ruthenia, from Czech fortresses in the Sudetenland to the private gardens of the déclassé royalty in Budapest. The web Polanyi spins for Morath is deep and complex and pits him against German intelligence officers, NKVD renegades, and Croat assassins in a shadow war of treachery and uncertain loyalties, a war that Hungary cannot afford to lose.
Alan Furst
Alan Furst is a renowned American author celebrated for his contributions to the genre of historical espionage fiction, particularly during the 1990s and into the 21st century. His novels are predominantly set in Europe before and during World War II, creating a rich atmosphere that intertwines thrilling plots with historical detail. Furst's writing is characterized by a focus on complex characters, often depicting protagonists who are involved with communism or who navigate the intricacies of ideological struggles in a time of great political upheaval.
Born in 1941 in New York City, Furst’s background includes a solid education in English literature and a significant period living in France, which greatly influenced his literary style and thematic choices. His acclaimed series, beginning with *Night Soldiers* (1988), marked a shift in espionage fiction, emphasizing psychological depth and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals caught in the tumult of war.
Night Soldiers
Night Soldiers consists of fourteen books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
