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Alan Furst
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Spies of the Balkans (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series) Hardcover – Large Print, July 7, 2010

by Alan Furst (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,272 ratings
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A tale set in World War II Macedonia finds senior police official Costa Zannis working with a resistance cell and secret operatives from various European regions to organize an escape route from Berlin to neutral Turkey.
Previous page
  1. Book 11 of 12
    Night Soldiers
  2. Print length
    475 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Thorndike Press
  5. Publication date
    July 7, 2010
  6. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1410428583
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1410428585
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thorndike Press; Large Print edition (July 7, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 475 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1410428583
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1410428585
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,272 ratings

About the author

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Alan Furst

Alan Furst

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Alan Furst has lived for long periods in France, especially in Paris, and has travelled as a journalist in Eastern Europe and Russia. He has written extensively for Esquire and the International Herald Tribune.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,272 global ratings
My First Time
4 Stars
My First Time
Confessions of a Day Trader: A Fact as Fiction Financial Thriller; Madness and Mayhem 1999-2008This was my first time reading a Furst novel--I liked the genre, the period, and the Place (Macedonia). Furst does a lot of Telling (versus showing), but the novel reads well.
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Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
A good read. Suspenseful. Enjoyed it.
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Melvin Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Alan Furst's "Spies of the Balkans"
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2010
Verified Purchase
First, a notice that I am downgrading my review because I got hung up over Furst's refusal to use the accusative (objective) case in his pronouns (who instead of whom, particularly).Otherwise I found the story entrancing, It seemed realistic, the people involed could be my next door neighbors. I am not able to check on their actions, it is only that they seem to do what I might do, not some superman performing beyond my abilities, or abilities of people I know. The atmosphere also seemed to be what I would expect, frightened at times but forced to continue, there were no coincidences to force the plot to continue.
One of the most noticeable things in the story was the supporting cast, they also were realistic, doing what was expected of them in a normal manner, not beyond their capabilities. There was a war on; it had not yet struck home but its effects were pervading their thoughts and actions. The events detailed are easily checked at any library but I did not bother, what countries did as they prepared for war were not really detailed, the action was constantly brought down to the local level, what the characters in the novel did, how they experienced what the countries were doing, how it affected them and their response to the developing war as it continued to come closer until it encompassed them.
The protagonist, Called Costa, took it upon himself to aid Jewish emigres and thus became involved directly. The British found out about him and tried to use him, and partially succeeded but there were limits. It was in aiding the refugees, and, for the British, in extracting a downed airman out of France, that a lot of the flavor of the war came out. It was quite interesting but was maintained at too much involvement of possibilities (almost coincidences) that spoiled the telling. Still, it made good reading.
One person found this helpful
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Gary Griffiths
5.0 out of 5 stars The Greek Underground Railroad
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2010
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When it comes to authentic World War II drama told behind the scenes and beyond sweeping military campaigns and grand strategies, Alan Furst heads the supreme command. Furst tells of the very real, very personal, and very poignant action behind the front lines - the pathos, tragedy, and triumphs of simple citizens, partisans, patriots, and victims who you'll never read about in the headlines, or never see in the newsreels. "Spies of the Balkans" is a prime example of Furst's talents in their prime: a gritty, unadorned, masterpiece of the stresses, hopes, and torments of a nation teetering on the brink of war.

Set in the unlikely WWII venue of Greece in 1940, this is the tale of Constantine "Costa" Zannis, a likeable and able senior cop in the historic northern coastal town of Salonika, an ancient crossroads of diverse cultures and warring factions. Hitler is marching across northern and central Europe and Mussolini is attempting to establish himself and Fascist Italy as a worthy member of the Axis. Salonika is caught in the crosshairs of international intrigue on multiple fronts across military and political import, from prosecution of the Jews in Nazi Germany to internal struggles for power across the Balkans. Zannis meets a wealthy German Jew whose marriage to a German senior officer affords a tenuous protection, and conspires with her to smuggle innocent Jews from prosecution in Germany to safe havens across the eastern and northern Mediterranean. In a town where it seems almost every other citizen is either a spy - or is suspected of being one - for England, Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia..., Zannis carves out a careful path around bureaucrats and conspiracists while cultivating a relationship with a like-minded Serbian policeman. As the Italian armed forces fumble the Greek offensive, Greek elation is quickly forgotten in the shadow of the very real threat of a direct assault on Greece from Germany in counterpoint to the Axis'embarrassment of Mussolini's failure.

Furst will never be accused of gratuitous action, relying instead on reality, historical accuracy, and relationships forged under the strains of war and oppression. This is the grainy black-and-white films of Bogart and Bacall without the melodramatics - a sobering view of the impact of war on the common folks out of uniform. Furst neither glorifies war nor ignores the very real practicalities of it, instead succeeding in portraying nobility and honor far from the bloody battlefields. While far from the action and spectacle of Wouk's "Winds of War", Higgin's "The Eagle has Landed", or Follett's "Eye of the Needle", this is nonetheless high drama - a snapshot of World War II that provides depth and perspective beyond the Hollywood romance. Well researched and insightful, "Spies of the Balkans" is a highly recommended read.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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PRD
5.0 out of 5 stars Speedy delivery and nice copy
Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
Just is time to prevent a gap in my pandemic reading. Arrived ahead of predicted delivery period and the book was in great shape, hard to believe it is 'used'.
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Cliente Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Alan Furst's the best!
Reviewed in Spain on January 31, 2022
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Each one of his Night Soldiers series is a masterpiece in itself!
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Varun
1.0 out of 5 stars Used or Poorly-Stored Product
Reviewed in India on November 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
The issue is with the quality of the product, which had yellowed, old pages and a maroon stain on along the breadth. It was obviously either a used book or had been stored in terrible conditions, and then sold under the guise of being new! Terrible attitude from the seller "SP Books".

The book is fairly dull with none of the finesse of "Night Soldiers" and a rather inert plot to boot!
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Issacoise
5.0 out of 5 stars Spies of the Balkans
Reviewed in France on August 17, 2016
Verified Purchase
The item arrived in good time and in condition as described. This is the first time we have read a book by Alan Furst. Enjoyed it very much and have since ordered more of this author's books.
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Aleqx Franz-Grieg
5.0 out of 5 stars Spies
Reviewed in Germany on May 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
Alles war ganz super und schnell! Service war sehr gut! Ich wurde diese Firma nochmals benutzen. Ich danke Ihnen nochmal.
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