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158th out of 427 books
—
361 voters
Stained Glass (Blackford Oakes #2)
Stained Glass offers an intricate plot involving the restoration of war-damaged windows in a fabled German chapel. When Blackford Oakes takes a sabbatical from his work as a CIA spy, he ends up in the arms of a beautiful KGB agent -- and on the horns of a dilemma. He must betray her or pull the switch on an old friend who is rallying support for a reunited Germany.
Paperback, 273 pages
Published
April 1st 1997
by Cumberland House Publishing
(first published 1978)
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The second Blackford Oakes spy novel, like the fourth (The Story of Henri Tod), is set in the divided Germany of the Cold War era, and the shadow of tragedy gives William F. Buckley's storytelling unaccustomed depth and authority. The moral dilemma Oakes faces here is genuinely moving, even if the resolution and the coda (in which Oakes confronts Allen Dulles over the U.S. government's actions) are deeply unsatisfactory. When it came to writing spy novels, Buckley was no Len Deighton, much less...more
I’m old enough to remember a divided Germany and, very dimly, the Berlin Wall. But today’s world is rather different, so it is always interesting to read a book written during those decades of a divided Germany and a worldwide struggle between East and West. Stained Glass by William F. Buckley is one such story entrenched in the Cold War. It is full of secret agents, political intrigue and people talking to each other in code. I would compare it to a James Bond movie, except I’ve never seen a Ja...more
Oct 12, 2011
Judith
added it
At first glance this book is simply another good thriller. However, Mr. Buckley offers a subtle view into the 'what if' environment which adds depth to an otherwise common tale. His personal history makes me wonder about the fact-fiction ratio. His knowledge of words exceeds that of most readers so having a dictionary handy is helpful; but I appreciate the challenge. I thoroughly enjoy reading any of his works. On another note, I read a paperback version printed in the vey early 1980s and was su...more
Not as good as Saving the Queen but still a nice window into the Cold War zeitgeist.
My favorite Buckley novel, though it reminds the reader that we live in a fallen world.
My favorite of the Blackford Oakes books.
"Cuts closer to the bone than Le Carr� has ever cut." � New Republic
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One of the great books in a series about Blackford Oakes, CIA agent, inspired by William F. Buckley's service in Mexico as a CIA agent in the 1950's.
May 10, 2013
Katie
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Apr 15, 2013
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Apr 04, 2013
Earl
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Mar 26, 2013
Ben
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Feb 25, 2013
William Alan Ritch
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William Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American author and conservative commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line from 1966 until 1999, and was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. His writing style was famed for its erudition, wit, and use of uncommon words.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public int...more
More about William F. Buckley Jr....
Buckley was "arguably the most important public int...more
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