JAMES WOLFF: BESIDE THE SYRIAN SEA.
Price:
£8.99
EX-MI6
employee John Le Carre has had plenty of practice at looking over his
shoulder. This
time, though, it is
writer James Wolff that is on his tail.
Beside The Syrian Sea has
been praised
for being relevant and having a sharp contemporary edge. So it is but the real
pleasure in reading
this debut novel from James Wolff is to enjoy a well-crafted tale that
continues the great tradition of British espionage fiction. He may not regard them as
mentors but Eric
Ambler, Graham Greene and John Le Carre are all evoked by Beside The Syrian Sea.
At
least one of the themes pays homage to Graham Greene, the conflict
between
being loyal to friends or relatives rather than a country or profession. The authenticity and
detail echoes John Le
Carre, and Jonas, the deskman out of his depth amongst warriors, is the
kind of
character that fascinated Eric Ambler.
The
serious will respond to Beside The Syrian
Sea and fret about the political chaos and conflict in the
Middle East. But
even as tentative Jonas fumbles his way
through the action there is satisfying romance. The
solitary and remote human being is a
worldwide creation in escapist fiction.
The British are fortunate because they can add to this
clipped vowels
and impeccable manners. Nothing
rewards
British patriotism as much as our talent for deceit and performance. Hitchcock understood this
aspect of the
British personality as well as anyone.
In his classic spy movie North
By
Northwest the dangerous spy is played by Englishman James
Mason. He refers to
plays and the theatre when
discussing espionage. The
moment in Beside The Syrian Sea
when Jonas
identifies the charade that has been played by his colleagues is
especially
satisfying. Jonas
is not a hero but he
is a decent human being and, forced to leave his desk, he will not have
time
for women but he will be embraced by the romantic notions that inspire
so many
people to pursue intrigue as an occupation.
Besides The Syrian Sea will appeal to both romantics and realists.
By Howard Jackson