STATE OF SIEGE

by Eric Ambler ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 17, 1956

A sophisticated, circumspect drama of revolution and political terrorism moves with the times to the Far East where ideas, as well as lives, are armed and where racial and ideological contrasts form a dangerous terrain. Steve Fraser, an engineer, hopes to leave the Netherlands East Indies where he has spent some time working on a dam project- on rather touchy terms with native officials. A night spent in Selampang, along with a Eurasian girl- Rosalie, ends in a local revolution effected by General Sanusi, and he is trapped there under military surveillance and suspicion. Rosalie, with her mixed blood, is a liability- and he manages to bargain for his personal security- and Rosalie's- with a Major Suparto whom he had known, while learning that Suparto is plotting with another General- Ishak- to take over the new regime. The city is under constant shellfire as Ishak moves in, Suparto keeps his promise and Steve and Rosalie are untouched, but their love for each other has no future as Steve is quickly cleared out of the country- alone... Not as sinister a chimera of intrigue as his earlier books, but an assured adventure tale to which the shifty, shifting character of this part of the world lends substance.

Pub Date: Sept. 17, 1956

ISBN: 0375726772

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1956

Categories: FICTION