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The Polish Officer (Night Soldiers #3)
by
Alan Furst
September 1939. As Warsaw falls to Hitler’s Wehrmacht, Captain Alexander de Milja is recruited by the intelligence service of the Polish underground. His mission: to transport the national gold reserve to safety, hidden on a refugee train to Bucharest. Then, in the back alleys and black-market bistros of Paris, in the tenements of Warsaw, with partizan guerrillas in the fr...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
November 6th 2001
by Vintage Books
(first published 1995)
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The Polish Officer, like Night Soldiers and Dark Star, is good for its picturesque detail and rich understanding of the deep ties and rivalries between European states during World War II. But what makes each of these novels excellent is the infusion of stories within stories, of the heroes among millions, who give to the inhuman scale of war a believable realism. In The Polish Officer, you find these stories in a seventeen-year-old Polish girl working at a wireless transmitter in a Paris wareho...more
Actually I now have either read all of his books or the library will send on the last 2 in a few days. That will make 7 in a week. I don't know why I'm obsessed with these spy novels by Furst, but maybe because we were in and out of these countries in eastern Europe several years ago, only a few days here and there, just as the characters cross back and forth between borders. The various countries portrayed in the short time before the US entered WWII blended together in ways that were interes...more
This is a work of historical fiction - a spy tale set in various locales during the start of WWII. Furst's attention to detail and research is admirable. However, I felt this read more like a TV series - episodic, with none of the episodes building on the other, except, perhaps, in the incrementally positive worldview of the protagonist, Alexander de Milja. Also, I hate to nitpick on style, but I'm really starting to get annoyed with excessive use of sentence fragments by many writers, not ju...more
This is the third in a series of spy novels Furst has written about Europe during World War II and the period immediately preceding it.
The Polish Officer is Alexander de Milja, a mapmaker in Polish military intelligence who, as the German army closes in on Warsaw in 1939, is inducted into the Polish underground. de Milja's first assignment is to oversee the removal of Poland's gold reserves to Romania, a neutral country at that stage of the war. The novel follows him as he undertak...more
The Polish Officer is Alexander de Milja, a mapmaker in Polish military intelligence who, as the German army closes in on Warsaw in 1939, is inducted into the Polish underground. de Milja's first assignment is to oversee the removal of Poland's gold reserves to Romania, a neutral country at that stage of the war. The novel follows him as he undertak...more
This book has a scene of such heartbreaking sadness, desperation, fragility and beauty that I think about it quite often. For those that have read it, it's the scene near the beginning with young girl who wants on the train. It says something about the impact of war on the innocent and something else that I can't quite put my finger on. It's small scenes like this which make his books so dependably good.
The career of Polish intelligence officer during World War II; kind of a thriller, but fighting against it every step of the way. Furst is best known for his pontilist detail in setting, with each sentence sometimes seemingly like an entire research project into what sort of nails were used in this railcar construction, what substance was used to clear tank parts in German repair facilities (gasoline), etc. His characters are all Hemingway pastiche, but well done enough so as not to become uni...more
One of my favorite of Furst's books, this is a great look into the war from the viewpoint of the Poles; who writes about that? Like many Furst books this one ends up in Paris, which is never a bad place for a book setting, and de Milja is a great character. The events portrayed in the book have the feeling of historical fiction; while they may not be true, they make me smell, feel, & taste the time.
This is superior historical fiction: obviously well-researched, strongly narrated, with excellent characterization and some of the most effectively subtle prose I've ever encountered. If you can imagine the grit lack of sentimentality of The Sandbaggers set in Poland during WWII, you're close.
The Polish Officer is the story of Captain Alexander de Milja, a military cartographer recruited into the Polish secret service at the 11th hour, literally as Warsaw burns around him. The novel ...more
The Polish Officer is the story of Captain Alexander de Milja, a military cartographer recruited into the Polish secret service at the 11th hour, literally as Warsaw burns around him. The novel ...more
I'm probably being a bit harsh giving it only two stars; it's probably a 2.5. I do agree with one reviewer who called the novel "mesmerizing": there is something hypnotic and appealingly atmospheric about the tale of mapmaker Captain Alexander de Milja's reluctant and daring missions on behalf of Polish intelligence in German-occupied World War II Europe. But it's also mercilessly episodic and needlessly confusing, and it doesn't even pretend to add up to much: I honestly thought my co...more
Well written novel following the course of a Polish Officer Captain Alexander de Milja throughout the course of the war. Recruited into the Polish Intelligence service of the underground in August 1939, his career involves transporting polish gold reserves to safety, running a spy service in Paris, recall to London, and joining with the Ukranian partisans in the frozen forests of the Eastern front.
It has an authentic feel, in particular the early pages set in Warsaw and Poland. The i...more
It has an authentic feel, in particular the early pages set in Warsaw and Poland. The i...more
Maybe it is the authenticity of Furst's books that keeps me reading his books. His books don't grab the reader--the books don't seem to exist to serve a reader but rather to give substance to the struggle of the particular character. The dialogue is so subtle, so satirical that it conveys the sense of futility that so many must have experienced in the depth of the Europe of WWII. In this book, the main character is a Polish officer who goes underground to France and finally to Russia in resist...more
Until recently I didn't know of Alan Furst's writing at all, but I'm very pleased to have now discovered it. This was my first of his books, and from other reviews out there it looks as though there are plenty more to enjoy which will be even more satisfying than I found this one. I don't often read what might be called 'spy thrillers', but I am a fan of historical fiction. This book - and I gather the others of Furst as well - is a successful blend of the two genres.
In a word I would ...more
In a word I would ...more
People seem to love the bejesus out of Furst; I was prepared to, as well. But, alas, I did not. He's certainly mining an atmospheric, fog-shrouded period with all this 1930s and 1940s European espionage, and he writes well enough. But I found his approach off-putting. He obviously is going for realism and ordinary lives in the midst of war madness, but to my mind it's at the expense of story. He goes out of his way to make this tale, well, too ordinary. My first foray into Furst wasn't helped by...more
I had read one Furst novel before, The Foreign Correspondent. I was happy to find this volume as good as that one.
Furst's style is the most noticeable part of his work. Many scenes feel more like an impressionist painting than a photograph of historical events. A times this works very well, as in a scene describing a duel between a British Beaufighter and German anti-aircraft gunners over a Belgian port. At other times it feels a bit overly lyrical, like the repeated invocation o...more
Furst's style is the most noticeable part of his work. Many scenes feel more like an impressionist painting than a photograph of historical events. A times this works very well, as in a scene describing a duel between a British Beaufighter and German anti-aircraft gunners over a Belgian port. At other times it feels a bit overly lyrical, like the repeated invocation o...more
The Polish Officer was a really great read and a good follow-up to Dark Star, which was, sadly, forgetable. ((It does not trump Night Soldiers, however. Night Soldiers remains THE book I'd suggest to others looking to get into Furst.)) The Polish Officer centers on the compelling story of a... Polish Army officer forced by circumstance (the Nazi invasion of Poland) to become an operative for the ZWZ, the Polish resistance movement. The novel tracks his development across World War II Europe and ...more
Lance Charnes
rated it
Recommends it for:
fans of spy noir, Le Carre or historical intrigue
Shelves:
fiction-mystery-intrigue
Alan Furst is my writing hero: he writes about obscure people in obscure places doing obscure things to each other in an obscure time, and he makes it fascinating. He owns the 1930s Mitteleuropa spy genre. While I believe he's written only one true sequel, all his books can be considered part of the same larger story, the dark, messy collision of nations and ideologies in a war-haunted Europe that eventually led to World War II.
Leading The Polish Officer is a typical Furst protagonis...more
Leading The Polish Officer is a typical Furst protagonis...more
Very exciting, lots of interesting atmosphere, and good writing.I really enjoyed reading the Polish Officer. Here is a character who changes. The young military man evolves from a cartographer in service to his country into a spy who experiences life in Poland, France, England and Russia during the first few years of the war. Like other Alan Furst stories there are abrupt changes in scene, characters who come and go, but it all hangs together. I'll definitely read more of Alan Furst's stories,...more
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Elli
rated it
Shelves:
biographical-fiction,
conspiracy,
espionage,
international,
intrigue,
historical,
political,
world-war-2
Another person in Alan Furst's gallery of stories of people caught in the historical web of the coming world war II. In Poland it was a done deal almost before it started. Poland is a small country with big bully neighbors who had strong ideas as to how it should fit into their concepts of what it should be. This apparently was the case historically, and the Poles were used to it. Their conquerors and others involved were never really allowed to relax very long and glory in their winnings. F...more
A somewhat dense, well-written, slowish, compelling book. I'll go out on a limb and say that Alan Furst doesn't suffer fools; this book doesn't pander. I guess I'm somewhat disappointed in myself that I found it somewhat slow, maybe because of its episodic nature. Maybe it was just TOO realistic, not giving readers satisfying beginnings-middles-and-ends in the episodes. I mean, I wasn't there, but my understanding is that much of the time during World War II there weren't episodes with delig...more
Captain Alexander de Milja defends his city of Warsaw as the Germans advance in 1939, but the Germans have too much firepower. The war in Poland is over almost before it is begun. Except it really isn't.
The Poles fight on by other means, implacably opposing their invaders in ways both great and small, but stealthily, indirectly, underground. Before the last shot of the direct war is fired, Captain de Milja is recruited to help carry on the indirect war. His first task is to trans...more
The Poles fight on by other means, implacably opposing their invaders in ways both great and small, but stealthily, indirectly, underground. Before the last shot of the direct war is fired, Captain de Milja is recruited to help carry on the indirect war. His first task is to trans...more
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The Polish Officer follows the intelligence activities of Captain Alexander de Milja during the first years of the Second World War. The novel is an accumulation of short episodes – identity building, logistical preparations, reconnaissance, clandestine meetings, enemy soirees, sabotage, skirmishes, escapes – which together paint a picture of the captain, his craft, and of occupied Poland and France.
When circumstance allows we see glimpses of humanity too – a passionate affair, a phil...more
When circumstance allows we see glimpses of humanity too – a passionate affair, a phil...more
For the last few years, I’ve become increasingly interested in WW2. I’ve read some non-fiction books on the OSS. I drive my wife crazy with World War II magazine purchases at the grocery story. Naturally, I sought out the best I could find in WW2 fiction.
I found it in Alan Furst. About a year ago, I discovered his work and bought several novels. He has several mysterious and appealing novels. I even recently picked up on in audio CD.
For my first foray, I read The Polish Corre...more
I found it in Alan Furst. About a year ago, I discovered his work and bought several novels. He has several mysterious and appealing novels. I even recently picked up on in audio CD.
For my first foray, I read The Polish Corre...more
Ed
rated it
Recommends it for:
WW II, Spy Literature, lovers of good writng.
Recommended to Ed by:
Head Butler
Shelves:
spy-political-thriller,
reviewed
This is my fourth Alan Furst book and the best so far. I got so caught up in the story that I finished it in two days. I literally could not put it down.
The struggles of Alexander de Milja, a Polish map maker, working for his government's intelligence services, to survive the German/Russian invasion of Poland in 1939 and the ongoing war, while maintaining his integrity and honor, is spellbinding.
The writing is so realistic that it would be easy to believe that Furst e...more
The struggles of Alexander de Milja, a Polish map maker, working for his government's intelligence services, to survive the German/Russian invasion of Poland in 1939 and the ongoing war, while maintaining his integrity and honor, is spellbinding.
The writing is so realistic that it would be easy to believe that Furst e...more
1939, the Polish government goes underground. This is the story of a Polish officer who with Hitler's invasion, serves his government in the shadows of Europe. Furst is a master at drawing complex characters. In a way, these books are a portrait of the war, the hidden side of it, without glamour that Hollywood would bring, the darkness of it, and the heart of the individuals caught in it.
I read this book on a recommendation from my husband. It is a thriller. It has kind of an old-timey feel to it although it was written in 1995, which I guess IS pretty long ago. My husband, who is a scholar of all things German, was able to follow the history. I, on the other hand, focused on the Polish Officer himself. In this book the officer, Captain Alexander de Milja is recruited by the intelligence of the Polish underground to transort the national gold reserve. de Milja is all spit...more
A story of suspense and hardship following the invasion of Poland by Germany. Alexander de Milya, the officer of the title, is a military mapmaker who becomes a spy. He sees the results of Germany's occupation in Poland and France and tries to aid his beloved country. This is not a classic spy novel but one that plumbs the depths of one man and his feeling of futility.
Furst is expert at recreating the dark days which engulfed Europe during the Second World War and with the exploits of Captain Alexander de Milja, a Polish Intelligence Officer, the novel held great promise.
Charged with the responsibilityto smuggle the national gold reserves out of a country being torn apart by the onslaught of Nazi and Stalinist forces, de Milja also seerves as an undercover agent on the streets of paris, before returning east to act as an underground saboteur within the ...more
Charged with the responsibilityto smuggle the national gold reserves out of a country being torn apart by the onslaught of Nazi and Stalinist forces, de Milja also seerves as an undercover agent on the streets of paris, before returning east to act as an underground saboteur within the ...more
Jo
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
historical fiction, character studies,WWII lovers.
Recommended to Jo by:
No one
Audio book narrated by George Guidall. George, as always, brings his best to the book.
A novel about the lead up to WWII, the downfall of Poland and the occupation of France through the experiences of a Polish Officer who stays in Poland and then France to aid the allies with information. The ending was a bit abrupt, making me wonder if there is a sequel.
A novel about the lead up to WWII, the downfall of Poland and the occupation of France through the experiences of a Polish Officer who stays in Poland and then France to aid the allies with information. The ending was a bit abrupt, making me wonder if there is a sequel.
Third in a series of eastern European, WW II espionage novels. I find the subject and time period interesting so I'll cut the book a little more slack than otherwise. The writing style is a little difficult to follow at times as it seems a little stream-of-consciousness. The story and characters were engaging and it was an easy book to finish.
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Alan Furst is widely recognized as the current master of the historical spy novel. Born in New York, he has lived for long periods in France, especially Paris. He now lives on Long Island.
Night Soldiers novels
* Night Soldiers (1988)
* Dark Star (1991)
* The Polish Officer (1995)
* The World at Night (1996)
* Red Gold (1999)
* Kingdom of Shadows (2000)
...more
More about Alan Furst...
Night Soldiers novels
* Night Soldiers (1988)
* Dark Star (1991)
* The Polish Officer (1995)
* The World at Night (1996)
* Red Gold (1999)
* Kingdom of Shadows (2000)
...more
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