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Lädt ... 72 | 1 | 366,758 |
(3.75) | 2 | A gripping murder mystery and a profound meditation on the nature of evil The scene is 1930s India during the waning days of British colonization. The Thompsons, a prosperous and respectable English family, are enjoying a summer at their beautiful villa when a brutal murder is committed that will tear the family apart. But what seems at first to be an act of terrorism against British rule will turn out to be something much more sinister. After a series of surprising twists and turns, the truth behind the abominable crime will at last be revealed, an explanation far more shocking than anyone could have ever imagined ... One of the most distinguished English novelists of the 20th century, Francis King (1923-2011) wrote fifty books over a sixty-five year career. Act of Darkness (1983) was the author's best-selling and most universally acclaimed work, a remarkable achievement that is both a beautifully written literary novel and a gripping, page-turning thriller that is almost impossible to put down. 'A terrific mystery . . . Unfolds like an evil blossom, each layer of petals curling down to reveal another layer of ambiguity and menace' - New York Times 'Dark, lurid and shattering . . . he is a master novelist' - Melvyn Bragg 'Unputdownable' - Paul Bailey, Evening Standard 'Beautifully written . . . brilliantly successful' - Auberon Waugh, Daily Mail… (mehr) |
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Die Informationen stammen von der englischen "Wissenswertes"-Seite. Ändern, um den Eintrag der eigenen Sprache anzupassen. To the memory of Alex Kellar 1905-82
in gratitude for that rare thing, an act of totally disinterested kindness | |
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Die Informationen stammen von der englischen "Wissenswertes"-Seite. Ändern, um den Eintrag der eigenen Sprache anzupassen. The six-year-old boy, Peter, Pete, Peterkin, Petal, Pet, sprawls on his stomach, chin popped on hands, and stares down at the copy of the Illustrated London News in an attempt to decipher what is written below the photograph of the Indian Army officer whom he has always known as Uncle Jack. | |
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▾Literaturhinweise Literaturhinweise zu diesem Werk aus externen Quellen. Wikipedia auf EnglischKeine ▾Buchbeschreibungen A gripping murder mystery and a profound meditation on the nature of evil The scene is 1930s India during the waning days of British colonization. The Thompsons, a prosperous and respectable English family, are enjoying a summer at their beautiful villa when a brutal murder is committed that will tear the family apart. But what seems at first to be an act of terrorism against British rule will turn out to be something much more sinister. After a series of surprising twists and turns, the truth behind the abominable crime will at last be revealed, an explanation far more shocking than anyone could have ever imagined ... One of the most distinguished English novelists of the 20th century, Francis King (1923-2011) wrote fifty books over a sixty-five year career. Act of Darkness (1983) was the author's best-selling and most universally acclaimed work, a remarkable achievement that is both a beautifully written literary novel and a gripping, page-turning thriller that is almost impossible to put down. 'A terrific mystery . . . Unfolds like an evil blossom, each layer of petals curling down to reveal another layer of ambiguity and menace' - New York Times 'Dark, lurid and shattering . . . he is a master novelist' - Melvyn Bragg 'Unputdownable' - Paul Bailey, Evening Standard 'Beautifully written . . . brilliantly successful' - Auberon Waugh, Daily Mail ▾Bibliotheksbeschreibungen Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. ▾Beschreibung von LibraryThing-Mitgliedern
Zusammenfassung in Haiku-Form |
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Aktuelle DiskussionenKeineGoogle Books — Lädt ... Tausch (2 vorhanden, 2 gewünscht)
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The mystery aspect of the book is fun, and its digging into ideas about guilt and atonement is interesting too, but the real reason for reading it is its minute and detailed dissection of the complex mix of social, sexual and cultural tensions going on in the Thompson household against the background of the crumbling Raj.
It struck me as a very visually-constructed novel too, I'm sure it would have made a great TV miniseries back in the day, when the Raj was in fashion — but the LGBT plot lines might have been a bit challenging for British TV in the eighties. King's reputation for getting into difficulties with the libel laws would have put producers off as well. ( )