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The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice -- their choice.
— Dwight D. Eisenhower |
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Book Review: Stained Glass by William F. Buckley Jr.
Posted on Sunday 27 January @ 19:04:34
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Every week (or thereabout) HGLEE.COM will make a book recommendation. Each book will have a brief review and a quick link to Amazon, should you decide to pick up a copy for yourself. This week's selection: Stained Glass by William F. Buckley Jr..
This is the first Blackford Oakes book that I read. It is set in post-WWII Germany, where a young politico, Count Alex Wintegrin, is a rising star on the German political scene.
American and Russian intelligence recognize that Wintegrin's unique and unorthodox bid for German reunification may just launch the third world war. The mutual cat-and-mouse antics of the intelligence players does indeed complicate the monitoring and disposal of the situation, but it makes for interesting reading.
Buckley's mastery of history and language is superb, and he consistently uses both to full benefit. He creates characters that the reader cares about, and he sets them in credible political situations. To me, the book was not quite as challenging as it could have been, given Buckley's prodigious intellect.
I found the reading enjoyable, but much more of a beach read than a challenging thriller. I do plan to read more Blackford Oates novels as a result of this introduction, but I have not rushed out to purchase any right away. This is a solid "B" in my book...I hope the others challenge the reader a bit more.
Purchase:
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