Customer Reviews

Turkish Gambit

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin series has been spectacularly successful in Russia. Akunin's books have sold millions of copies there. Akunin, whose real name is Grigori Chkhartisvili, was born in (Soviet) Georgia. He grew up in Kazakhstan and then Moscow. Highly educated, Akunin was a student of linguistics, editor of a scholarly literary journal and a Japanese-Russian translator. He turned to writing these stories at age 40 during his self-described mid-life crisis. He saw a niche between the serious tomes that marked Russian literature (Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, etc.) and the mass market pulp fiction that dominated the low end of the post-Communist literary market. His book sales both in Russia and in Europe and the United States have proved him correct.

Turkish Gambit takes place in 1877. Russia is at war with Turkey after Russia and Serbia came to the aid of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria in their struggle to free themselves from rule by the Ottoman Empire. The war had important implications for all of Europe. The war was concluded at the Congress of Berlin, a congress that pretty much stripped the Russians of the gains they had made in the war. The Congress of Berlin humiliated the Russians and paved the way for future unrest in the Balkans that eventually led to the First World War. Newspaper reporters and others (including assorted spies) flocked to the battlefront from all over Europe. This is the historical context in which we find Fandorin and the Turkish Gambit's cast of characters.

The story centers on a young lady, Vavara Surovova. Like many children of the Russian aristocracy she considered herself progressive, smoked, enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh, and had a great disdain for Tsarist rule. Nevertheless, she decides to travel from Moscow to meet up with her fiancé, a Russian officer serving in the corps of cryptographers. No sooner does her journey start than she encounters a life threatening situation. It is here that Fandorin makes his initial appearance. Although she has no small amount of disdain for the man who rescued her they make their way to the front, near the town of Plevna where the Russian army is laying siege to a Turkish stronghold. As the story progresses Vavara soon becomes the focal point not only of the romantic advances of the soldiers and reporters encamped near Plevna but also of the spies and counter-spies who are trying desperately to influence the course of the war. The intensity of the story and Akunin's writing builds as the siege reaches its conclusion. As was the case in both Winter Queen and Leviathan nothing is truly as it seems and the layers of mystery created by Akunin are peeled away slowly by Fandorin. Akunin does an excellent job in maintaining the mystery throughout, even for those very familiar with plot devices and red herrings in stories of this sort.

One of the more interesting aspects of this series of books has been the marked change in the style of each book. Winter Queen may be described as an action-adventure yarn with the young, optimistic and idealistic Fandorin racing from pillar to post, Indiana Jones-style, saving the world, or at least Moscow from some spectacularly murderous evil-doers. In Leviathan, we see a more subdued, thoughtful Fandorin playing the role of Hercule Poirot in an Agatha Christie parlor mystery. Fandorin was not center stage but would appear at critical moments to use deductive reasoning to advance the story and solve the mystery. In Turkish Gambit we see Fandorin in 19th-century spy mode reminiscent of Joseph Conrad's Secret Agent. Fandorin is more involved in the action than in Winter Queen but is placed a bit off-center as Vavara and her mishaps takes center stage.

Turkish Gambit should not disappoint any Akunin fan that has been awaiting the publication of his third story in English. The Turkish Gambit is a highly enjoyable period piece marked by good writing and better than average characterizations. Turkish Gambit is the third Erast Fandorin mystery series translated into English, following the publication here of Winter Queen and Leviathan. However, Turkish Gambit was the second in the series published in Russia. For those new to Akunin's Fandorin mysteries I suggest beginning with Winter Queen, followed by Turkish Gambit and then Leviathan.

So far there are a total of eleven Fandorin mysteries published in Russia. Akunin has also written another four books in which Fandorin's grandson is a detective in contemporary Moscow. I eagerly await the publications of these volumes. Turkish Gambit was a delight and I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in a good yarn.

I purchased the Turkish Gambit because the novel takes place during the interesting but relatively unknown Russo Turkish War of 1877. The novel's backdrop is the memorable seige of Plevna, a bloody precursor to the trench warfare that Europe would experience during the Great War.

The hero of the novel is Erast Fandorin an agent of the Russian Secret Police charged with shutting down the network of a master Turkish spy. The novel's greatest strength is the rich atmosphere in which Boris Akunin places his story. With its haughty noblemen,dashing hussars and cosmospolitan foreign correspondents, I was reminded of Agatha Christie's Orient Express.

In my mind, The Turkish Gambit falls into the realm of the Victorian Adventure story. Like Harry Flashman or Sydney Riley, Erast Fandorin travels the Victorian world going from one adventure to the next. However, unlike Harry Flashman or a young Winston Churchill, Fandorin is never in the middle of the action. In this novel, he spends most of his time in camp searching for the Turkish spy. In temperment he is closer to Sherlock Holmes than Richard Burton. It may sound callow but I would have given this novel five stars, if Fandorin had been a more physical character. However, this is the first book in the series that I have read and I am impressed enough to purchase a second book.

For anyone else interested in the Russo Turkish War, I highly recommend Captain R.W. Von Herbert's, "The Defense of Plevna", a first hand account of the seige by an Englishman who served as a Turkish officer. It is out of print but can easily be found. This is a well written account in the same vein as Winston Churchill's early books.

Turkish Gambit is the 3rd novel in the Erast Fandorin series published in English (after 'The Winter Queen' and 'Leviathan'), but actually it's the second in the series.
The book takes place during the Russian-Turkish war in the Balkans and follows the real events, mixing fact and fiction seamlessly.

There are several things which, I think, contributed to it being published after 'Leviathan'. First - the hero of the series, Fandorin, is not as much of a central figure here, as he is in previouse books. Second - this is more of a war story, then a detective story. There is a search for a spy in the Russian camp, but mostly is about men (and a woman) at war. As a result, the book does qualify as a mystery, but just barely. As was said before (by me, and other reviewers), each Fandorin novel is different in style, and explores another sub-genre of mystery literature. It helps the series remain fresh, but it also can put off some readers, who prefer their mysteries to be more standard in structure:
mysteriouse and/or horrible murder - detective takes the case - a pretty girl, related to the victim - some missing files/jewelery/artifact - a chase - some sex - a fight - girl is kidnapped - the villain revealed/girl saved (not saved if she is the villain) - the end.

Sadly, while this book is not formulatic, the marriage of detective fiction and war fiction here is not as exciting and easy-going as the other Fandorin tales. Still, even when this novel drags a bit, it isn't lacking in style.
The war of Russian Empire with the muslim Turkey gives Akunin a chance to speak some thoughts of the West-East conflict in general. These thoughts can be relevant to the current situation in the Middle East, but I have to point out, that in reality they are about Chechnya (the book was written in late 90s).

P.S. A movie version of 'Gambit' was released in Russia just two weeks before the 1st American edition of the book, and it was an immediate box-office success. If you like the book, you would probably like it, too.

If you haven't tried an Akunin mystery do yourself a favor and order yours now. This is one of the most charming and delightful series I've ever read and I can't possibly enthuse about them enough. From absolutely out of nowhere this series popped into my life and now, after blazing through the first four available in English, I am wistfully sitting around waiting for the next seven to be translated from Russian. I am not quite sure how I stumbled on to these but I do know it was through rummaging around Amazon somehow. Kudos to whoever brought these to my attention. If you like History, Mystery, fun and aventure, you'll love the Fandorin series. It's something of a cross between the Prisoner of Zenda, Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie only a lot more exciting and dashing.

The year is 1877 and Mother Russia is at war with the Ottoman Empire (the book is fascinating simply for the explanation and history of this conflict which I had never even heard of before). Varya, an attractive young lady, steals away from Moscow to the front lines to be with her husband, a young communications officer. She gets somewhat lost in the Balkans, and nearly comes to a bad end in a seedy bar but for the timely intervention of Erast. They don't much like each other these two and both have to be rescued shortly afterwards by a Russian general and some foreign press corps. Arriving at HQ, Varya's husband is promptly denounced for espionage and Erast Fandorin is ordered back into service to uncover plots against the Tzarist war effort.

This is a wonderful novel of war, romance, dash and pomp, battles won and lost, duels fought with swords and wit, set against the backdrop of the Balkans in conflict. Two vanished, but resonantly fabulous societies, the Imperial Russian and the Ottoman Empire, have at each other, flailing away with all the strength of punch-drunk boxers in the 14th round, both in the waning years of the 1800's and in the waning years of their empires. Against this backdrop, a bitter and demoralized Erast, still reeling from the assasination of his wife, must once again put his heart and mind to work for the sake of Mother Russia, foil the ploys of Ottoman spies, uncover the deviltry in HQ, clear the name of Varya's husband, while at the same time doing his damndest to avoid being caught up in the idiotic pageantry and pomp of the times. A first class and first rate tale for lovers of History.

Not as good as 'The Winter Queen' or even 'Murder on the Leviathan' (which I did not like all that much).
Had a hard time keeping track of all the characters and military movements.
I'm very disappointed, as 'The Winter Queen' was so entralling; a classic mystery if ever there was. Unfortunately, this series seems to be going precipitously down hill with each succeeding book.
BUT... I hope the next one will be better.

'The Turkish Gambit' continues the career of erstwhile Russian police detective Erast Fandorin in this the third in Boris Akunin's distinctive mystery series (which is wildly popular in Russia). The book is set during the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War (the Russian and Ottoman Empires fought some 11 wars altogether and this was the last one, excepting WWI).

Fandorin, now in the Russian Army, but still stunned from his tragic loss in 'The Winter Queen' (the first book in the series), takes a back seat for most of the book to the primary narrative voice of the young radical Varya Suvorova. As usual Akunin's tale twists and turns with delightfully chameleon-like characters. The book's denouement centers on the Siege of Pleven - was a traitor providing information to the Turks? Or perhaps a murderous spy was afoot? Or was it just bad strategy implemented with poor tactics by the Russians?

Actual historical characters such as the 'White General' Mikhail Sobelev mix with Akunin's inconstant inventions in a complex web of international warfare and intrigue. Highly recommended.

In this book (the 2nd of the series but the 3rd to be published in the U.S.), young 19th-century Russian police detective Erast Fandorin is recovering from the devestating tragedy at the end of the first book, "The Winter Queen." Author Boris Akunin seems to deliberately take the focus off Fandorin and onto the proto-revolutionary damsel-in-distress Varya. Varya pursues a hapless fiance to the front of a Russian-Turkish war, and encounters Fandorin as he must uncover a saboteur in the Russian ranks. As in Winter Queen, Akunin stylishly conveys the culture of 19th-century Russia and has a tight rein on his plot, although the Russiain patronymics take some concentration on the part of the reader.

Fandorin's emotional detachment is the believable result of what he went through in the first novel, "The Winter Queen," and is all the more intriguing for being distant. As a result of this device a lot of Fandorin's brilliance happens off-screen, so to speak, reported only after the fact. Because of this, Fandorin seems well on his way to being more like Sherlock Holmes - brilliant but emotionally unconnected to everything around him. Readers will have to wait and see, it seems, whether Fandorin is doomed forever to a lonely life.

Definitely wait to read "Turkish Gambit" until you've read "Winter Queen" first, or Fandorin's detachment will make him seem unsympathetic rather than sad.

She's young, beautiful - and abandoned. Varvara Suvanova, a "modern woman" in late 19th Century Russia, has been deserted by her "guide" in a remote Bulgarian inn. Rescued - in a manner of speaking - by a diffident, but clearly significant, middle-aged man, Varya quickly finds herself embroiled in a web of war, intrigue and contrary values. Russia is [again!] at war with Turkey, a conflict viewed with concern by the European Powers - especially Great Britain. Varvara is seeking her fiance Pyotr, who is a cryptographer at Russian military headquaters. Her rescuer, Erast Fandorin, is a man of mystery, and Vavara is brought into his machinations by becoming his assistant. With this opening, Akunin launches a tale of Chekhovian proportions. In fact, describing this book as "Chekhov light" would be fitting.

A dispatch concerning Turkish military dispositions around Plevna launches the complex situation embroiling Varya and Erast. Hardly equipped to deal with state secrets, she can only mourn the easy victory that became a disastrous rout for the Russians. How did the Turks manage to intercept the battalions before they were even disposed for the planned assault? On this question, the entire story pivots as it becomes increasingly clear that the defeat was neither chance nor hinged on superior Turkish military skill. Something else is involved, here, and Fandorin's job is to determine what that is and who might be responsible.

As this story progresses, each new character is introduced with his [they are all men] pedigree trailing along behind. You can almost hear the military fanfare for each officer, and national anthems for the Europeans. For there are "observers" resident at this headquarters to report on activities. There is the Frenchman "Paladin", the Britisher McLaughlin - who is actually Irish, and a Bulgarian nobleman. Varya is continually plagued by indecision as to her role in this conflict. She doesn't wish to be treated as a "frail female", but is insulted when proper deference to her gender isn't given. She has no nursing skills, breaking into tears at the sight of wagonloads of wounded. Resentment at the hierarchical structure of Russian society is offset by her patriotism for the Motherland. The challenges are many and varied - more than once leading to fatalities.

While all this sounds terribly grim and foreboding, Akunin keeps the pace fast and the dialogue rich and delicious. It's hardly an example of Slavic despondency usually encountered in Russian fiction. The author is writing to a new market in Russia - middle class readers seeking entertainment without it being farce. Without contrivance, he keeps the reader smiling at Varya's struggle to maintain her self-generated identity. Her foil is Fandorin, who, although hardly an easily defined character, keeps offering surprises for her to cope with. Not the least of which is what drives him to his feats. A fine tale, well worth any reader's time. Fans of intrigue will find it a real gem. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Even though this is the third "Erast Fandorin Mystery" to be published in English translation, it was the second written by "Akunin". Because of the way the series is written, the occurances in "Murder on the Leviathan" do not in anyway suffer from this out of chronology publication. Nothing that happens in 'Gambit' change the way you would read 'Leviathan'.

Once again our intrepid young (twenty-one) adventurer is working for the 'third section' (diplomatic intelligence) during the Russo-Turkish War in 1878 helping to liberate Romania and Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. The war had been going well until the army arrived in front of Plevna where for some reason the 'Turks' seemed to know exactly what the Russians planned to do (sometimes even before the Russians did).

Erast has been ordered to find out if there is a traitor in the Army and if not, how the Turks are getting their information and from who. Our young man has been saddled with a young 'modern' Russian woman (Varvara or Varya) who had traveled to Bulgaria to be with her 'future fiance'. Erast doesn't lack for suspects and is led a merry chase by the actual culprit who constantly is able to remain one step ahead of him. But as in all great stories good triumphs and the bad guy is caught and brought to justice. Erast then goes off to Japan (where his sea voyage is the scene of "Murder on the Leviathan").

This series is in many ways a parallel to George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman" series. They both occur around the same time (mid- to late- nineteenth century) and use the "Great Game" in Asia between Russia and Britain for their background. The difference between the two series is that Fandorin is truly an intelligent man. He is articulate and well read, whereas Flashman is a comedic figure who is always finding the diamond in the manure pile he has fallen into.

Unlike Flashman, Fandorin is more historically tied into the period and much less broad in satire. Flashman is much more polemic in the way that both the main character and the British as a whole are treated, more of the Moliere type farce. Fandorin on the other hand is more of a Pinter or GB Shaw, tongue-in-cheek (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean) and is more subtle in it's skewering of the other characters. At this time only five of the eleven books have been translated, but it's worth looking out for each new volume as it comes out.

I found this on a remaindered table and was pleasantly surprised. The Turkish Gambit, somewhat stuffy in its presentation (in a nineteenth century sort of way), is in fact a breath of literary fresh air. The mystery central to the storyline, such as it is, arises from the question of who is the Turkish spy, Anwar-effendi, who is running the Turkish secret service and making a fine hash of Russian battle plans in its mid-ninteenth century war with the Ottoman Empire?

The "Serbian volunteer" Erast Fandorin, the protagnoist in this tale, is secretly attached to the Russian secret service and is, in fact, a rather distant, enigmatic figure who seems to mostly lurk in the background, observing, thinking but engaging in little interaction with the others in this tale. Nor are we treated to much information about his working out of the problems he's confronted with, as he struggles to figure out just how close their clever Turkish adversary is.

The inevitable murders don't actually begin until well into the book and then they happen quickly as the Russians find the Turks blocking their every move. Who is Anwar-effendi and how is he disrupting Russian war plans? These questions are less important in the end than what his game is. In fact, it's not so difficult to guess his identity. It's all but given away in one surprisingly swift scene midway through the book when the noble villain briefly steps out of character to demonstrate unlooked for prowess in a certain martial skill. But what makes the story surprising, even so, is to hear his confession regarding what he is actually after at the end.

The story is ultimately rather thin (weak characters and a somewhat underdeveloped plot) and it takes a while to get going. But it's fast moving, once it does, as it proceeds to provide us a fascinating glimpse into the world of nineteenth century European politics from a Russian perspective. It successfully melds a vision of nineteenth century Russia and eastern Europe with a 21st century post-Soviet understanding of the dynamics of historical events which had Russia and other European states of the time in their thrall.

As a mystery it's not that difficult to second guess. As a window into another era this book's a charmer. Intelligent, ironic and solidly rooted in the age it portrays, this is precisely the sort of historical fiction that deserves to be called that.

SWM

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