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The Crossing
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Plot Summary of The Crossing
"The novel starts at the beginning of the Russian Revolution with a young man named Josef, a Brit who sides with the Communists. He becomes a spy for them but flees the organisation when he witnesses atrocities committed to non-Communists. He escapes and tries to live an ordinary life - however his wife is murdered and his young son stolen - undoubtedly an act by the Communists.
The novel then focuses on different spies within Britain. In particular in looks at the SIS's investigations on five Russian spies. They arrest the spies and they are tried, with all of them receiving prison sentences.

Joe Shapiro, head huncho of the Russian division of the SIS, wants to exchange one of those convicted (or more if necessary) for a spy that was caught in Russia, a young pilot named Powers. However, the exchange doesn't seem fair as the pilot is really a nobody, and the spy captured in Britain is someone Moscow wants to get back! But the deal is layered - Shapiro also wants a young spy the KGB captured as part of the deal that is to remain secret."

Louisa Eggleton, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Crossing
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%




Tone of story - depressing/sad
Time/era of story: - 1930's-1950's
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - kidnap/rescue
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Who's the terrorist enemy here? - commies!

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - spy
Age: - 60's-90's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - British
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount
Motive of antagonist - power
The antagonists are: - KGB
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK - Russia

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 0 (not a murder mystery)
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to The Crossing
The Innocent by Ian McEwan
The Good German by Joseph Kanon
Pale Horse Coming by Stephen Hunter
From Russia, with Love by Ian Fleming
Red Herring by Michael Hollinger


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Ted Allbeury Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Louisa Eggleton  

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