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A review by kashmir_splendid
The Polish Officer by Alan Furst
4.0
The Polish Officer, an engrossing and action-driven novel immersed in the realities of WWll, is completely unlike any other book I’ve ever read.
The protagonist, de Miljia, serves as an opportunity to readers to fully analyze the situations at hand, while also examining the perspectives of others. While de Miljia himself is not the primary focus of the story, we are able to experience the story through him as he serves a war-consumed country. This creates both emotional and pragmatic motives; as a loyal captain, he is trained to fight fervently for his beliefs. As a man who loses his country, identity, and humanity numerous times, he is character that is easy to empathize with, and thus propels the narrative in and engrossing manor.
As Furst builds scenes within the book, showing seeming arbitrary moments and conversations, the plot begins to unfold, revealing an expertly crafted glimpse into nearly half of the Second World War. He creates suspense seamlessly and drives situations to sheer uncertainly, only to shift the perspective upon climax, later answering readers’ nervous questions at to what came next. This aspect was deeply enjoyable and was done remarkably well, especially given the short length of the novel, in which most authors fail to create such fast-paced environments.
To other historical fiction lovers, this book is a must-read. Evoking a time of heartache, bravery, and the complexity of humankind, The Polish Officer presents 1939 in glorious detail, setting the bar for other books in the genre.
The protagonist, de Miljia, serves as an opportunity to readers to fully analyze the situations at hand, while also examining the perspectives of others. While de Miljia himself is not the primary focus of the story, we are able to experience the story through him as he serves a war-consumed country. This creates both emotional and pragmatic motives; as a loyal captain, he is trained to fight fervently for his beliefs. As a man who loses his country, identity, and humanity numerous times, he is character that is easy to empathize with, and thus propels the narrative in and engrossing manor.
As Furst builds scenes within the book, showing seeming arbitrary moments and conversations, the plot begins to unfold, revealing an expertly crafted glimpse into nearly half of the Second World War. He creates suspense seamlessly and drives situations to sheer uncertainly, only to shift the perspective upon climax, later answering readers’ nervous questions at to what came next. This aspect was deeply enjoyable and was done remarkably well, especially given the short length of the novel, in which most authors fail to create such fast-paced environments.
To other historical fiction lovers, this book is a must-read. Evoking a time of heartache, bravery, and the complexity of humankind, The Polish Officer presents 1939 in glorious detail, setting the bar for other books in the genre.