The Gordian Knot

Young lawyer Georg Polger gives up a comfortable existence in Germany to work as a freelance translator in the South of France. But business in the picturesque village is far from booming and Georg struggles to make ends meet. One day he is approached by a Mr Bulnakov, who wants Georg to take over a local translation agency whose previous owner has just died in mysterious circumstances.

Everything seems to be going perfectly: Georg falls in love with Bulnakov's attractive secretary, Francoise and takes on a lucrative project left unfinished by his predecessor, translating plans for military helicopters. But everything changes when Georg notices Francoise copying his plans. She tells Georg that Bulnakov has threatened to harm her brother, who lives in Poland, if she refuses to do his bidding. Georg quickly realises that he is stuck between the CIA and the KGB and further out of his depth than he can begin to comprehend. But which side was he working for?

“The Gordian Knot is a compact psychological tale, with well-drawn characters and an ambiguous moral tone.”

SOUTH WALES ARGUS

Bernhard Schlink was born in Germany is 1944. A professor of law at Humboldt University, Berlin and Cardozo Law School, New York, he is the author of the major international bestselling novel and movie THE READER, short story collection FLIGHTS OF LOVE and several prize-winning crime novels. He lives in Berlin and New York.

Young lawyer Georg Polger gives up a comfortable existence in Germany to work as a freelance translator in the South of France. But business in the picturesque village is far from booming and Georg struggles to make ends meet. One day he is approached by a Mr Bulnakov, who wants Georg to take over a local translation agency whose previous owner has just died in mysterious circumstances.Everything seems to be going perfectly: Georg falls in love with Bulnakov's attractive secretary, Francoise and takes on a lucrative project left unfinished by his predecessor, translating plans for military helicopters. But everything changes when Georg notices Francoise copying his plans. She tells Georg that Bulnakov has threatened to harm her brother, who lives in Poland, if she refuses to do his bidding. Georg quickly realises that he is stuck between the CIA and the KGB and further out of his depth than he can begin to comprehend. But which side was he working for?

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