This suspense thriller begins on the eve of World War One in Russia. The main protagonists are Feliks, a terrorist, Lydia,Feliks' lover, and Charlotte Walden, Lydia's daughter. Feliks wants to prevent Russia from entering any war and allied itself with Great Britain. He plans to assassinate Prince Aleks, nephew to Czar Nicholas the second while the Prince is in London to negotiate a deal with Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty. But everything goes awry for Feliks. This was a never ending suspense thriller that I could not put down.

The Man from St Petersburg
- Ken Follett.

I just can't get enough of Ken Follett ever since I read his century trilogy and here's the latest one which I finished in just over a day. This one is a combination of romance, drama, politics, thrills - everything transpiring in the days just prior to World War 1. In the very first chapter itself, he introduces Winston Churchill into the plot, which is typical Follett. Not sure if it's fascination or aversion but the detail in which he describes the lifestyle of the British nobility is fascinating - right from the elaborate breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner menus to the presenting of young girls in the Buckingham Palace as debutantes. The suffragettes also get detailed coverage in this one just as they did in 'Fall of Giants'.
However, the social political themes only appear as part of the story and not as a sermon ; the Novel aptly is about the man from St Petersburg - Feliks Kschessinsky. His actions are a personification of the phrase - "One man's hero is another man's villain". He's on a desperate mission to kill someone and the killing could potentially stop Russia's alliance with England in a European war which can happen anytime . This man knows no fear, is extremely resourceful and is fairly confident that he can finish off the Russian Prince with consummate ease. But his world is turned upside down when he has to confront ghosts from his long forgotten past as the love of his life appears in front of him, just when he's about to pull the trigger. The story moves very swiftly from then on building up to an exciting climax.
The ending, was partially predictable because Ken Follett never distorts historical facts, so you do know that the world war will happen and who'll be fighting on whose side. I was thinking whether he could have provided a better ending but couldn't come up with anything else, so I'm happy with what he's done.
Verdict - well worth a read, though definitely not amongst his best works. I'll call this his Masala offering which will surely keep you engaged.
4/5

I read this many years ago, and have now re-read it. It is a great thriller with an unusual twist: it may be that you consider the assassin (the man from St. Petersburg) to be the good guy with higher morals than those (the Brits) opposing him. The action sequences are superb, and the "teaching narratives" short enough and clear enough not to intrude.

Ken Follett sure has written a hell of a lot of good books at this point in time. He is remarkable for the consistency of his style and the well-groundedness of everything he does. As well as several other fine points of skill. Follett is perhaps the foremost author able to combine historical fiction with espionage fiction. Before his career shifted whole-heartedly into hist-fic he was responsible for big hits like, 'The Eye of the Needle'. That romp is among the best WWII yarns ever penned.

Around the same time --as he was building his career--he also conceived this interesting and fun little tale I'm reviewing now. I really feel it's one which you shouldn't miss if you can help it. You won't come away wanting; Follett is too solid in his craftsmanship.

It takes a lot of restraint to write action-intrigue in a controlled manner which builds suspense in proper, measured, stages. Follett does that. At the same time, his prose is supple and breezy; one never gets 'bogged down' reading him. This particular tale is enticing too; because he pulls off the feat of setting it during the wild-and-woolly anarchist era. The story concept is frankly wonderful and he manages it off admirably. Over time, I have come to regard this as one of Follett's most charming outings.

I'm not ignoring the fact that some readers rise up with minor quibbles: but overall this is a very fun, lively diversion. Of course it's lightweight; but yields up gobs of atmosphere, memorable bits of 'period detail', and impassioned characters. Cigars, brandy, English country houses, railways and seaports, nitrogylcerine, affairs, top hats and greatcoats, and men leaping from carriages. Hurrah!

If you’re looking for a story that will grip you from start to finish, look no further. Riveting story telling by a master and performed with perfection by another (Richard Armitage) on audio. Having just finished, I’m unable to write much more as I process. Highly recommend.

Don't read this one first. Follett is a really entertaining writer and I think that this is one of his weakest texts. This is something that a Follett fan should read to understand how he has developed over the years, but I doubt it would spur "Follett mania" for the average reader.

I enjoyed this book as I have all of Folletts books I've read. I wouldn't call it literature, but its not pop trash either. Something in between. Follet gives the reader what the reader wants. Its fast paced, character driven, scandalous, juicy. This is the first of his earlier works I've read, and I liked the straightforwardness of it. The simplicity. I'm reading "How to Write a Blockbuster Novel" by Follett's editor, Al Zuckerman, and in that book, Zuckerman includes four complete drafts of the outline for "The Man From St. Petersburg." That's why I read it. As I read through the four versions of the outline, and Zuckerman's commentary and recommendations to Follett on each of them, indeed it was clear that the goal was to write a blockbuster novel. A novel that would appeal to a large number of people. Imagine a soap opera set just before World War I about the lives of key British and Russian political figures and nobility and thier wives, children and lovers and throw in a Russian anarchist secretly in Britain, plotting an assasination that will determine the outcome of WWI, and imagine that all of thier personal lives are passionately intermingled. That's why its easy to forgive Follet all the coincidences and over dramatizations, because its so fun to read!

A very great historic fiction, it let me know about how the British prevent a invasion through a war happened in other counties territory. Is it right I don’t know. They just consider their own country.That is the true history and politic.

This was my first Follett and I was certainly impressed. He weaves an interesting story related to events taking place in England, France, Germany and Russia in 1914 and interjects another story line concerning a respected, aristocratic family who has based their life together on lies, secrets and deception. The truth comes out in a fiery conclusion which will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

কেন ফলেটের অসাধারন লেখনী আর শেখ আবদুল হাকিমের চমৎকার অনুবাদে পড়লাম 'দ্য ম্যান ফ্রম সেন্ট পিটাসবার্গ' এর বাংলা অনুবাদ 'আততায়ী'। সত্যি বলতে, মূল বইয়ের চেয়ে বাংলা বইয়ের নামটাই কাহিনীর সাথে বেশি সঙ্গত মনে হয়েছে। পড়ার মাঝে মাঝেই মনে হয়েছে এতো সাবলীল অনুবাদ কিভাবে সম্ভব?
প্রথম বিশ্বযুদ্ধ কড়া নাড়ছে দরজায়। নিজের স্বার্থেই রাশিয়াকে প্রয়োজন ইংল্যান্ডের। রাশিয়া যুদ্ধে সামিল হলে এতে পরিস্থিতির স্বীকার হবে রাশিয়ার নিরীহ জনগন, অন্যায় ভাবে যুদ্ধ চাপিয়ে দেয়া হবে তাদের উপর। কিন্তু রুশ কূটনীতিককে খুন করলে রাশিয়ায় বিপ্লব ঘটবে বলে বিশ্বাস করে ফেলিক্স কশেসিনস্কি, সে লক্ষ্য নিয়েই লন্ডনে আসে সে। কিন্তু এসেই সে মুখোমুখি হয় তাঁর অতীতের, দেখা হয় উনিশ বছর আগের হারিয়ে ফেলা প্রেমিকা লিডিয়ার সাথে, সম্পূর্ণ অনাকাঙ্ক্ষিত পরিবেশে। তাঁর উপস্থিতি নতুন করে অস্থিরতায় ফেলে দেয় লিডিয়াকে। আচমকাই ফেলিক্সের সামনে উন্মোচিত হয় এমন এক সত্য, যা তাঁকে দোটানায় ফেলে দেয় নিজের লক্ষ্য সম্পর্কে। তবু নিজের মাতৃভূমির কথা ভেবে নিজেকে সামলে রাখার চেষ্টা করে সে। কিন্তু আসলেই কি সে পেরেছিলো? পেরেছিলো তাঁর লক্ষ্য অর্জন করতে?... জানতে হলে পড়তে হবে। :)

Ken Follett is a a prolific writer--not as prolific as James Patterson, but pretty close. Although prolific, Follett does not miss details or historical minutia. In this book, the Earl of Walden is convinced by Winston Churchill and King George to broker an alliance with Russia in 1914. Germany is creating swords out of plowshares and war appears eminent. It is crucial that Russia align itself with England.

The Earl of Walden's wife is from Russian aristocracy and her past is linked with a Russian anarchist. How this impacts her, her husband and daughter ties closely into this drama.

I liked this book and the dynamics between the characters. Follett's style of writing is delicious to read and creates clear visions of each scene and character.

One thing that I was not "hip" on was the women's suffragette movement being intwined in this book. I understand why Follett put in the book to help connect the characters together at crucial points but this movement took away from the bigger issue of impending WWI.

aqui

Ken Follett é um dos grandes nomes do thriller e do romance histórico. Em qualquer destes dois géneros literários, o autor dá cartas com os seus livros cheios de acção e com informação histórica precisa e em abundância. A forma como ele mistura o facto com a ficção é também um dos seus grandes talentos. Pegando nos relatos históricos e naquilo que é conhecido, o autor pega em personagens fictícios e insere-os no universo histórico sem qualquer dificuldade, ao ponto de o leitor chegar a pensar “esta pessoa pode realmente ter existido ao lado dos grandes nomes da Humanidade”. Neste livro, O Homem de Sampetersburgo, somos transportados para Londres e para as grandes maquinações políticas entre Rússia e Inglaterra que tentam firmar um tratado que permita à Inglaterra o apoio russo caso os primeiros entrem na guerra. Em troca, Inglaterra promete dar aos russos os territórios dos Balcãs. Os radicais russos que não vêm nesta guerra grande interesse, querem é que a Rússia entre numa das maiores revoluções que a História já viu. E para isso, algo trágico tem que acontecer. Como um assassínio ao diplomata russo que se encontra em Londres em negociações com os ingleses.

Durante a leitura deste livro apenas pensava que estas páginas descreveriam a calma antes da tempestade da primeira Guerra Mundial. De calma é que este livro não teve nada. Está recheado de momentos bem intensos e o nível de acção está sempre no máximo.
Gostei de várias coisas neste livro. O contexto histórico onde está inserido (gosto tanto de política quanto a Charlotte), as personagens e a escrita do autor – que já é bastante conhecida por estes lados. Como disse antes, a forma como o autor equilibra facto/ficção é verdadeiramente interessante. Manipulando os acontecimentos verídicos, o autor constrói um enredo fictício que nos deixa sempre ansiosos para ler mais. A sua escrita ajuda em muito a que isto aconteça, claro. Um bom enredo sem uma boa escrita não resulta bem.

Contudo, confesso que o livro me surpreendeu mais por se ter revelado algo que eu não estava à espera. Quando comecei a ler o livro, esperava encontrar um thriller histórico, com muita política à mistura. E sim, encontrei tudo isso, mas também encontrei umas personagens com uma história de vida muito interessante e que deram uma graça diferente a este livro. De facto, o livro todo ele gira em torno deste homem de Sampetersburgo, que vem tentar assassinar o diplomata russo e assim despoletar uma revolução russa. Um homem que à partida parece um animal, sendo que a única coisa que gere a sua vida são os seus instintos de sobrevivência. Acabei por encontrar e conhecer um homem que, como qualquer outro humano, tem sentimentos e acaba por hesitar na sua missão, trazendo assim consequências graves ao curso da História. E no entanto, este homem tem ligações inegáveis a outras personagens que trazem cor a este relato político de 1914. É um livro rico na dimensão humana e na verdade, quem faz este livro, são os personagens que o povoam. Foi o que mais apreciei neste livro.

No entanto, não posso deixar de referir uma coisa que me entristeceu e que embora tenha sido um erro pontual, não deixa de me chatear. Na página 406 encontrei a seguinte frase: ” Faça o melhor que poder (…).” Até doí ver este tipo de erros.

Uma leitura muito agradável e que não desaponta.