Product Description

It begins in Geneva. There American lawyer Joel Converse meets a man he hasn't seen in twenty years, a covert operative who dies violently at his feet, whispering words that hand Converse a staggering legacy of death: "THE GENERALS...THEY'RE BACK...AQUITAINE!" Suddenly Converse is running for his life, alone with the world's most shattering secret. Pursued by anonymous executioners to the dark corners of Europe, he is forced to play a game of survival by blood rules he thought he'd long left behind. One by one, he traces each thread of a deadly progression to the hear of every major government—a network of coordinated global violence that no one believes possible. No one but Converse and the woman he once loved and lost. The only two people on earth who can wrest the world from the iron grasp of Aquitaine.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64575 in Books
• Published on: 1997-01-01
• Released on: 1997-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 704 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780553262568
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"You won't be able to put it down. (Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day.)" --Chicago Sun-Times -- Review

Review
"You won't be able to put it down. (Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day.)" —Chicago Sun-Times

From the Publisher
It begins in Geneva. There American lawyer Joel Converse meets a man he hasn't seen in twenty years, a covert operative who dies violently at his feet, whispering words that hand Converse a staggering legacy of death: "THE GENERALS...THEY'RE BACK...AQUITAINE!" Suddenly Converse is running for his life, alone with the world's most shattering secret. Pursued by anonymous executioners to the dark corners of Europe, he is forced to play a game of survival by blood rules he thought he'd long left behind. One by one, he traces each thread of a deadly progression to the hear of every major government--a network of coordinated global violence that no one believes possible. No one but Converse and the woman he once loved and lost. The only two people on earth who can wrest the world from the iron grasp of Aquitaine.

"You won't be able to put it down. (Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day.)" --Chicago Sun-Times

Customer Reviews

Well Put-Together Action Book
The Aquitaine Progression tells the story of an attorney, Joel Converse, who is in the middle of a business deal when he is recruited by a long-lost friend to uncover a conspiracy that would allow a group of generals and ex-generals to overthrow civilian governments and take over the major governments of the West and crush communism. He only has a short while to do this, he has little information, and he is soon on the run.

Robert Ludlum often uses one of two themes: an everyman is suddenly put into a position where he has to save civilization even though he has no special skills (e.g., The Osterman Weekend and The Holcroft Covenant) or a man with very specific and useful skills has to save the world but is reluctant to draw on those skills (e.g., this book and The Bourne Identity).

In The Aquitaine Progression, the hero learned his skills in a prison camp in Vietnam, but the horror of that experience and the dislike of the war make him unhappy to use them. I think this category of Ludlum book is more plausible, because there is a reason why the hero is able to outwit his enemies.

Overall, the book is well-done with gripping action and suspense, as well as the ever-present worry that the hero is trusting the wrong people or not actually one step ahead of his foes even though he thinks he is. Readers who like Ludlum will like this book.

Quite literally this is a literary Masterpiece
Not just good, but absolutely fantastic! I have to admit that I bought this book two days after it was released back in the early 80's...and attempted to read it probably 20 times, only to give up after about 50 pages or so. I just wasn't 'hooked' on the plot by that point...but after being urged to plod further on for the 100th time by friends who HAD finished the book, well I decided to give it a go yet again. I can honestly say that when the plot really begins to thicken, it hardens to the consistency of Titanium, and quickly, too! I really cheated myself all of these years by giving up way too soon on this novel.

Always sensing what could happen before it ever does, Ludlum sees the NOW popular 'New World Order' Global Conspiracy in a way that makes it seem plausible and VERY frightening indeed. Joel Converse is thrust into the thick of things totally against his will, and it seems solving this monumentally huge problem isn't so much a humanitarian thing to do, as doing so quite literally will keep him alive.

For those of you who have given up on 'The Aquitaine Progression' as I have done, I urge you to NOT GIVE UP. You are missing out on easily one of Ludlum's best novels if you pass this one by. Sure its a little dated...but look beyond that and you will find the events portrayed in this book to be absolutely horrifying. The story takes some time to get going, but like I said, once it does, grab on and hold on tight 'cuz it's gonna be a bumpy and thrilling ride. All Ludlum fans NEED to read this one, you will be forever glad you did, I know I am...FINALLY.

Outstanding Book!
This book was so close to reality that it was scary. A cabal of generals plotting anarchy and lawlessness so that they can impose a police state that is run by the military. The conspiracy that is discovered by Joel Converse thanks in part to his old schoolmate Preston Halliday turns out to be global. There are members of the military worldwide who are involved in the scheme to seize power worldwide. Converse is on the run fearing for his very life because of the farreaching conspiracy. Converse plays the perfect hero in this novel. The generals are the very embodiment of the forces of evil. The plot in this book is outstanding. Read this book. You will not be able to put it down. A definite page turner.