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Most Americans probably never gave conservative – much less militant – Islam a thought prior to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. And even then, from 1980-2001 the mujahadeen were seen as independence-loving, anti-Communist freedom fighters, as portrayed in such books as Ken Follett’s Lie Down with Lions and Gaz Hunter’s The Shooting Gallery, or in films like “Rambo 3.”
But the British, with their centuries of global colonial adventurism, have long understood the power (if not outright threat) ...more
But the British, with their centuries of global colonial adventurism, have long understood the power (if not outright threat) ...more
John Buchan's Greenmantle is a combination spy thriller/swashbuckling adventure tale. It was written in 1916, and concerns a diabolical plot by those dastardly Germans to wreck the British Empire. Richard Hannay is the man selected to foil this nefarious scheme. To do this he must enter Germany, in the guise of an Afrikaner mining engineer. The tone is very Boys' Own Adventure. The only significant female character is the diabolical Hilda von Einem. Richard Hannay would much rather be back with
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Excellent WWI-era espionage. A little offensive and politically incorrect, but I forgive him for slighting my people. Other than that, it was fast paced and Buchan really integrates some nuanced geopolitics (his take on Ismail Enver is very interesting). Buchan was also an official propagandist- and it shows in some stalwart "stiff-upper-lip" rhetoric. The book also demonstrates that the fear of Jihadism in relation to the threat it could pose to international trade isn't a new phenomena. "Green
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Pretty interesting novel about a British led espionage team in Germany and Turkey during WWI.
A fun read, though a bit dated
I enjoyed this more than I expected. I couldn't stomach Buchan when I was 20 but as I get older I am becoming increasingly tolerant of British patriotic fervour. This is a well-constructed thriller. Buchan writes with admirable economy and skill.
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Jan 01, 2012
BookishLinda (Lateniteknitter)
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
early-20th-century,
adventure
Aug 25, 2013
Ralph
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LauraMarie
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Stephen Boiko
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Paul Craig
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