Product Description

A thriller, about a man who is working hard to discover a way of making synthetic oil. Should he succeed the news could overturn the Middle East, and consequently put his life in danger.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2563209 in Books
• Published on: 1976
• Binding: Hardcover
• 273 pages

About the Author
Lionel Davidson was born in 1922 in Hull, Yorkshire. He left school early and worked as a reporter before serving in the Royal Navy during World War II. His first novel, The Night of Wenceslas, was published in 1960 to great critical acclaim and drew comparisons to Graham Greene and John le Carre. It was followed by The Rose of Tibet (1962), A Long Way to Shiloh (1966) and The Chelsea Murders (1978). He has thrice been the recipient of the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award and, in 2001, was awarded the CWA's Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award.

Customer Reviews

International intrigue!
Fascinating spy story about the search for a long missing (stolen ? I can't remember) chemical formula, developed by the late Chaim Weizmann (a chemist who became the first president of Israel), which has the potential to make petroleum out of sweet potatoes -- and thereby completely change the world, shifting wealth and power from the oil rich Arabia to impoverished Africa. Yes, it is "dated" in the sense that the plot is clearly influenced by the 1973 oil boycott. But if you like reading other "dated" mysteries, i.e., those whose plots no longer reflect present worries -- Graham Greene's Ministry of Fear (haunted by the Nazi menace), John Buchan's 39 Steps (German infiltration of England in WWI), the whole medley of cold war thrillers of Eric Ambler and indeed some of the early John le Carré-- that should not put you off of this well-written, well-plotted romp.

Slow starting, somewhat dated.
I couldn't finish this book. It took about 80 pages to be able to get my head around what was happening, but either because of that or for other reasons, I didn't care about anyone in the story. An interesting premise, and piqued my interest about Chaim Weizmann.

Fascinating historical novel, in British writing style
I loved this book which details the personal ascent of Chaim Weizmann organic chemist, Zionist and long-time president of Israel who directed the Weizmann institute in Rehovot. The story is a thriller, but that's not the satisfying part. I enjoyed the descriptions of Chaimchik's presidential mansion, the layout of the institute, the threads of lost research conclusions. Lionel Davidson is an excellent prose writer with clear, resounding descriptions animating the feeling of London, Israel and the early 20th century.

I recommend this, in fact I wrote so many notes that I am buying a second copy. Also, check out Davidson's other books on Israel, Tibet, Siberia, England, Scotland, etc.