Nicholas is a gullible young man in dire finacial trouble who is tricked into believing he is to carry out some industrial espionage by getting a formula for … An excellent spy thriller. The Night of Wenceslas (9780571326846).pdf writen by Lionel Davidson: The award-winning debut thriller from the bestselling author of Kolymsky Heights 'Quite simply the … The Night of Wenceslas is the debut novel of British thriller and crime writer Lionel Davidson.It describes the reluctant adventures of Nicolas Whistler, a dissolute young man of mixed English and Czech parentage who finds himself caught up against his will in Cold War espionage. About this title Originally published in 1960 and now reissued in paperback, the author's first thriller, set in Prague during the Cold War and following the escapades of a reluctant spy. In London, young Nicholas Whistler leads a disappointing and repetitive life. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The story moves along at a breathless pace that wonderfully builds the tension as it goes along. The award-winning debut thriller from the bestselling author of Kolymsky Heights. It was refreshing to read and a very enjoyable holiday companion! To see what your friends thought of this book, 3.5 stars. [PDF] [EPUB] The Night of Wenceslas Download by Lionel Davidson. Lionel Davidson wrote some really interesting thrillers in the sixties and seventies, and then his production tailed off; he didn't do much in the eighties before producing one last novel in 1994. This narrowly misses out on five stars due to the stupidity of the main character making some ridiculous choices (the thing that starts to get him into trouble: just find a bin!) We’d love your help. Members: Reviews: Popularity: Average rating: Mentions: 169: None: 121,104 (3.45) 5: Lionel Davidson's debut thriller was a massive success on first publication in 1960. The Night of Wenceslas is the debut novel of British thriller and crime writer Lionel Davidson. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. On the second trip, Maura gives him another Norstrund as a present, so he has two. Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's, a form of autism. The story is told in the first person by young Nicholas Whistler. Otherwise, this book is recommended for anyone who enjoys thrillers or Cold War era novels. Wenceslas was regarded as a martyr and saint almost immediately after his death but he wasn’t promoted from Duke of Bohemia to King of Bohemia until Holy Roman Emperor Otto I gave him the title posthumously a few years after his death. To find a pristine paperback in a second hand bookshop is a rare thrill. The story develops quickly but the ending implodes and the slower paced ending seems inappropriate in comparison with the rest of the book. Author:Davidson, Lionel. The award-winning debut thriller from the bestselling author of Kolymsky Heights'Quite simply the best thriller writer around.' "minutes afterwards the adrenalin aftertaste still tickles the roots of the tongue". It describes the reluctant adventures of Nicolas Whistler, a dissolute young man of mixed English and Czech parentage who finds himself caught up against his will in Cold War espionage. At least that's what he's been told. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. He takes with him a "Norstrund" guidebook, which he is to leave on a desk in the glass factory during his tour. It is the city of his childhood, and he stays in a plush hotel on Wenceslas Square. Search the BBC Search the BBC. Image:The Night of Wenceslas.jpg is being used on this article. Lionel Davidson has been compared favourably as a writer to Rider Haggard and Rudyard Kipling. Davidson went on to have a successful career, writing many bestselling espionage and adventure thrillers. The Night of Wenceslas (1960) by Lionel Davidson. Internet Publisher, and format changes The Night of Wenceslas 1962 0140017585, 9780140017588 Politics in America Texas Edition, Lydia Andrade, Thomas R. Dye, L. Tucker Gibson, Clay Robinson, 1997, Political Science, 312 pages Implementing Management Innovations: The Night of Wenceslas by Lionel Davidson starting at $0.99. Nicolas escapes, and hides out in Prague. You have things to do, children to feed, even work you get paid for. His bumbling efforts and cowardice result in an almost Flashman-like ability to come out on top when only trying to escape. The first half of the book was quite boring. The Night of Wenceslas by Davidson, Lionel. After reading Kolymsky Heights and the Rose of Tibet recently, it only seemed right that I track down the book that started Lionel Davidson's career as a novelist. Found this book to be quite disappointing. However, Cunliffe informs him that the formula is incomplete and requests him to make a second trip. It is based on the 1960 novel The Night of Wenceslas by Lionel Davidson. Nalezeno: 4964 produktů. Its taut prose and masterful plot pushed him to the front ranks of the genre. The novel won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger Award in 1960 and the Author's Club First Novel Award. His knowledge allows the British to capture the Czech network in Britain, and Nicolas is sent home in a prisoner exchange for Cunliffe. Instead of smuggling glass-making secrets out of Prague, Cunliffe is using Nicolas as a courier to smuggle British nuclear secrets out of England. He is thus informed however he has not inherited any money because his uncle is still very much alive and consequently begins the journey of Nicholas being tricked into Cold War espionage. His bossy Irish girlfriend Maura continually presses him to make something of himself. It has a great humorous theme throughout and reminds me of the old PG Woodhouse books. He is easily lured by the distraction of women and alcohol. The Night of Wenceslas was written by Lionel Davidson and published in 1960. However, Cunliffe now declares that Uncle Bela is very much alive; that he, Cunliffe, is in fact a moneylender, and that Nicolas owes him £200, with the MG as security. Nicholas returns to the land of his birth in Prague where he will either fail or succeed on his assignment. But he soon finds himself trapped between the secret police and the clutches of the mysterious Vlasta. but will certainly look out for his other books. Nicolas is a 24-year-old Londoner, a witty wastrel and the novel's archetypal anti-hero. The night of wenceslas. nice read after a trip to Prague. This Bildungsroman describes the reluctant adventures of Nicolas Whistler, a dissolute young man of mixed English and Czech parentage who finds himself caught up against his will in Cold War espionage. He barely makes ends meet earning a pittance from his father’s old business partner in the glass business. He hates his job in his late father's glass-making business, where he works under the odious Nimek in anticipation of making full partner one day. To find a pristine paperback in a second hand bookshop is a rare thrill. The Night of Wenceslas (Mass Market Paperback) Published October 6th 1998 by Random House Adult Trade Publishing Group Mass Market Paperback, 240 pages An enjoyable, quick read. Former Library book. It was filmed in 1964 under the title Hot Enough for June. An example of this would be when Nicholas is attempting to court a rather large Czechoslovakian female, whose large breast are described at every opportunity Davidson sees fit, in a humorous manner but none the less rather suspenseful and energetic. His girlfriend is far more ambitious than he is pushing him to earn more money. One 12th-century preacher said: The Night of Wenceslas. He goes to see Cunliffe, who forwards him a sum of £200 to tide him over until such time as he can begin to enjoy the fruits of his new estate. One night on the Feast Day of St. Stephen, they observe a poor man collecting wood. His waiter Josef attempts to drug him, and while Nicolas pretends to sleep, Josef finds one of the Norstrunds and starts to cut it open. In moments of desperation he rises to the occasion either wisely or foolishly. Nicholas returns to the l. 3.5 stars. 53 years ago in 1960 Lionel Davidson was 38 years old when he wrote his debut novel, Night of Wenceslas winning the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award. He’s reckless and arrogant. The film stars Jonathan Brandis in the title role, supported by Leo McKern , Stefanie Powers , and Joan Fontaine as … At least that's what he's been told. Brief Summary of Book: The Night of Wenceslas by Lionel Davidson. He returns to the hotel where he is beaten up by StB agents, who think he has given the document to someone else. Faber and Faber. Its taut prose and masterful plot pushed him to the front ranks of the genre. The Night of Wenceslas traces the (mis)fortunes of penniless reluctant industrial espionage patsy, Nick Whistler, as he is forced to travel to Stalinist Prague in order to bring a formula for unbreakable glass back to London. by St. Martin's Press. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Not Le Carre, but only Le Carre is. People in Bohemia and England in particular began to venerate St Wenceslas. Nicolas "wakes", and Josef leaves. From the author of A … Cold War paranoia and suspense are at every turn in this delightful novel but without being ideologically devoted in the prose. Being akin to foreign policy and foreign affairs I found this book enjoyable, one would not need to know much about this time period to enjoy this read at its foundation it is a spy thriller with excellent writing and an original story. He stays with Vlasta, but realises she is an StB agent because she has knowledge of him that he had not revealed to her. The novel won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger Award in 1960 and the Author's Club First Novel Award. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. His red MG convertible is his most prized possession, which is in hock. He’s no hero. Very entertaining cold-war thriller. misogynistic with little to no attempt at seeing women as human (though I'm sure some can pretend that of course that was only the CHARACTER not the author). The Night of Wenceslas is the debut novel of British thriller and crime writer Lionel Davidson. Show TV Channels Hide TV Channels TV ; Show Radio Channels In the novel that launched Davidson's career as a master thriller, young Nicholas Whistler, on a seemingly innocent business trip to Prague, finds himself caught between the secret police and an amorous suitor named Vlasta. He dreams of inheriting untold riches from his Uncle Bela in Vancouver, which will put an end to his current servitude. It was described by the New Yorker as 'so enriched with style, wit, and a sense of serious comedy that it all but transcends its kind' and by Newsweek as 'downright superb.' Nicolas travels to Prague. It was described by the New Yorker as ?so enriched with style, wit, and a sense of serious comedy that it all but transcends its kind? July 7th 1996 ... and the third we conveyed to the camp. However, he realises he has left his wallet and passport in the hotel room. The only other writers who I think have done as good a job as Davidson in that regard are Anthony Price and Graham Greene. His father’s early death meant that Neale attended many different schools; he eventually earned a degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. The Cold War was not yet in Détente, Cuba had just been revolutionized in 1959, and France successfully launched their first Atomic Bomb in 1960. In a panic, Nicolas flushes the document down the toilet. Absolutely brilliant! Invited to Prague on what seems to be an innocent business trip, he finds himself caught between the secret police and the clutches of Vlasta. It was Davidson’s début novel and won several awards including the Crime Writer’s Association Gold Dagger. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. His first novel, The Night of Wenceslas, was published in 1960 to great critical acclaim and drew comparisons to Graham Greene and John le Carre. He left school early and worked as a reporter before serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. However, Nicolas manages to spend this allowance in a matter of days, and returns to Cunliffe's office to request a further advance. Nicholas has to go to Czechoslovakia to obtain information regarding the manufacturing process of glass, or at least he thinks. The novel won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger Award in 1960 and the Author's Club First Novel Award. Hot Enough for June - Wikipedia It was during one of these trips that he came up with the idea for his first thriller, The Night of Wenceslas (1960). Unfortunately, the money came with conditions. His first novel, The Night of Wenceslas, was published in 1960 to great critical acclaim and drew comparisons to Graham Greene and John le Carre. This Bildungsroman describes the reluctant adventures of Nicolas Whistler, a dissolute young man of mixed English and Czech parentage who finds himself caught up against his will in Cold War espionage. A note arrives from a lawyer called Stephen Cunliffe, stating that his Uncle Bela has died in Canada and left him a fortune. The novel won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger Award in 1960 and the Author's Club First Novel Award. I read this, having read Kolymsky Heights a few years back on the recommendation of a friend .. that was a fairly good thriller, this on the other hand was lot less polished ... and that's not getting into the casual racism and misogyny littered liberally throughout the book ... female characters with descriptions such as 'bomb like breasts', is odd once, but repeated throughout the book, the repetition becomes more unseemly to the eyes of a modern reader ... to the point where it detracts from the narrative IMHO ... still, my moral indignation helped take my mind of the plot and it's culmination ... happy to have finished is the best I can say of it ... Best thing about this book is that the geography is recognisable. Kept me in bed all morning (it IS Sunday) racing to the end. The Night of Wenceslas, Lionel Davidson's debut thriller, was an instant and massive success upon publication in 1960. His red MG convertible is his most prized possession, which is in hock. It was followed by The Rose of Tibet (1962), A Long Way to Shiloh (1966), The Chelsea Murders (1978) and Kolymsky Heights (1994) . I'd never heard of this writer before (the book was published in 1960, so I'm very late to the party!) Unappealing main character with no redeeming features, occasional accidentally funny lines e.g. Used - Good. No sense of urgency or tension, main character is a dick. His first novel, The Night of Wenceslas, was published in 1960 to great critical acclaim and drew comparisons to Graham Greene and John le Carre. This was just so much fun! However, it is engrossing and thrilling. It was followed by The Rose of Tibet (1962), A Long Way to Shiloh (1966), The Chelsea Murders (1978) and Kolymsky Heights (1994). The Cold War was not yet in Détente, Cuba had just been revolutionized in 1959, and France successfully launched their first Atomic Bomb in 1960. When Nicolas receives a letter about an inheritance from his rich uncle, he quits his job and takes a cash advance. Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/244. I read all his books, pretty much as they were published, and I recall finding them to be fresh, of literary worth, and intelligently written. Lionel Davidson has had a recent resurgence of interest and I came across this, his debut novel, in the library. Eventually he is able to get to the British Embassy disguised as a milkman. The Night of Wenceslas is the debut novel of British thriller and crime writer Lionel Davidson. Download The Night of Wenceslas by Lionel Davidson in PDF EPUB format complete free. Genome BETA Radio Times 1923 - 2009. When repairs to his beloved sports car land him in debt, he's sent to Prague to carry out a seemingly simple assignment. Czechoslovakia, now known as Czech Republic and Slovakia respectfully, was from 1948 until 1989 an iron curtain communist country. Ater Nicolas’s first arrival from Prague, I read about 50 pages, only because I didn’t understand what it would be about when everything that should have happened, had obviously already happened. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I read this, having read Kolymsky Heights a few years back on the recommendation of a friend .. that was a fairly good thriller, this on the other hand was lot less polished ... and that's not getting into the casual racism and misogyny littered liberally throughout the book ... female characters with descriptions such as 'bomb like breasts', is odd once, but repeated throughout the book, the repetition becomes more unseemly to the eyes of a modern reader ... to the point where it detracts from. 53 years ago in 1960 Lionel Davidson was 38 years old when he wrote his debut novel, Night of Wenceslas winning the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award. 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