“To the master from one of his disciples,” read a cable from Graham Greene to the author of A Coffin for Dimitrios, in acknowledgment of the latter’s influence not only on Greene’s own literary achievement, but also on the development of the international novel of intrigue. In its depiction of an amateur’s embroilment in unsuspected villainy, its attention to the nefarious predilections of government and business interests, its immersion in the seedy attractions of decadence, and—last but by no means least—its sheer page-turning pleasure, A Coffin for Dimitrios is a perfect example of Ambler’s contributions to the genre that has flourished in his wake.
I really liked the book. It was well paced and plotted. I never realized Dimitrios was still alive until Mr Peters told Latimer the picture he thought was Dimitrios was actually Visser.
Must one read this before that last kick at the bucket? Hmmm. If one has an interest in a certain style of novel one should. Ambler has been called the father of spy/espionage novels (though this is not strictly that). If you're interested in the evolution of the genre why not start with a book like Dimitrios? The genre here is really that of the unprofessional, naieve innocent bystander. One way or another he ends up deep in intrigue, murder, espionage and other such things one ends up in when NOT minding one's own business. Not a must read. You'll probably survive well enough without it. It is a good read, though, a fun read and again a good first rung on that genre's ladder.
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