North From Rome

This cold war spy thriller from 1958 is as nail-biting now as it was when it was written. The political background of the "the West" vs. Communism, particularly Soviet Communism is no longer topical, but it was VERY real at the time. Bill Lammiter, the protagonist, is a young American playwright who is unwittingly drawn into the thick of a complex political game. He has come to Italy to see if he can salvage his relationship with his ex-fiancée, who took a job in Rome when his sudden success drove a wedge between them. After receiving a "Dear Bill" letter informing him that she has moved on and is now engaged to an Italian count, he had followed her in hopes of remedying the situation, to no avail. But when a mysterious Italian woman show more is nearly abducted in front of his hotel balcony, he finds himself sucked into the middle of the "great game" between the East and West. Especially when he learns that the rival Count may be all part of this as well . . . .

Don't be fooled thinking that because Helen Macinnes was female, that her novels are romantic suspense. Though there is a romantic subplot here, this book, and all her thrillers are much more in the style of John LeCarre than Mary Stewart. Her husband, a British man who after WWII took a job as a professor of Classics at Columbia University in the US, was also, quietly, a long time agent for MI-6, British Intelligence, and this gave her inside knowledge of the workings of spycraft.

It's not a modern book, but it's still a riveting one. show less

4486. North From Rome, by Helen MacInnes (read 18 Sep 2008) This is a 1958 novel. In the past I have enjoyed MacInnes books, but this one was a bore and I cannot say I felt it well-written. An American playwright is in Rome because his ex-girlfriend is there and is hooked up with an Italian who is in a drug ring being taken over by communists. They chase around in Rome and north of there and of course all turns out peachily. Not well written and not exciting.

A young American goes to Italy in hopes of reuniting wth his former fiancee and finds se is now engaged to an Italian nobleman who may be involved in a drug ring. There are alsi indications of communist involvement. My mother liked MacInnes but I have ever been able to get interested in her work.