Alan Furst

In 1940 occupied Paris, French film producer and bon vivant Jean Casson undertakes a dangerous mission against Germany in the world of espionage, an assignment that could cost him everything--even his life. Reprint. 30,000 first printing.

A Novel

The World at Night

Sarah Sammis

I am terrible at following series or sometimes even knowing that a book is part of a series. In the case of Alan Furst, I've read three books now out of his "Night Soldiers" series and until I looked Furst up on GoodReads tonight I didn't even know they were part of a series! Take my cluelessness as a compliment; I love it when books can stand alone and be good self-contained stories.

The World at Night is set in Paris right before and later during the occupation by Nazi Germany. The main character, who reappears in Red Gold (a book now on my wishlist) is a film producer persuaded into spying. His film company can travel where others no longer can.

As an ex-film major I found the film connection fascinating. It also felt real. The book fits well with To Be or Not to Be (the original version of the film) and Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene (or the film directed by Carol Reed).

Andrew John Kinney

If you are at all interested in WWII history in Europe, and are further interested in how the Resistance movements operated in France, Poland et al., this book is for you. Furst has done his homework on how the Resistance did its work under the nose of the lethal and efficient Gestapo. A page-turner.

Paris 1940. The civilised, upper-class life of film producer Jean Casson ends with the German occupation of the city. Out of money and almost out of luck, Casson attempts to work with a German film company but finds himself drawn into the dark world of espionage and double agents. More used to evading jealous husbands than the secret police, Casson becomes a reluctant spy, torn between honour, patriotism, love and survival.

The World at Night A Novel

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