Secret Kingdom - Softcover

Bennett, Francis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 057125165X ISBN 13: 9780571251650

Publisher: Faber and Faber, 2009

Synopsis

Secret Kingdom is the second novel in Francis Bennett's Cold War Trilogy. The first novel was set in 1947, this one at another pivotal moment in the Cold War, the summer and autumn of 1956, in the tense months leading up to the Hungarian uprising. Bobby Martineau, a member of the British SIS, has been posted to Budapest, from where he reports to London about the growing crisis; to his increasing dismay his warning are ignored. The Hungarians, he knows, are prepared to risk their lives against the Soviet oppressors because they believe the West will support them. But they, and Martineau, reckon without the cynical jockeying for position that is going on in London where whole nations can be sacrificed on the altar of career opportunity. Martineau's dilemma is exacerbated by his deepening relationship with the beautiful Eva, a woman well-known to both Russian and Hungarian security forces, and with plenty of reasons for hating the regime. 'The Cold War here is not just a political but also psychological landscape ... In picking out a personal history from the greater tapestry unfolding in the background Bennett has produced a literary thriller of considerable merit.' Peter Millar, The Times

About this title

About the Author:

Francis Bennett was educated at Radley and Cambridge. He worked in publishing for nearly twenty years, finally as the Group Managing Director of Thomson Books. In 1987 he co-founded Book Data, the first bibliographic agency anywhere to introduce full information about titles. He was its Managing Director from 1987 until 2005 when he was appointed Chairman. He retired from Nielsen BookData in 2006.For many years Francis Bennett served as the Vice-Chairman of the Book Development Council, the export department of the UK'S Publishers Association. He has Chairman of the Society of Bookmen and has served on many other boards, committees and panels. He has received a British Book Award 'Lifetime Achievement'. He now acts as a publishing consultant.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 057125165X
• ISBN 13: 9780571251650
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 318