A Flag for Sunrise is a novel of Americans drawn into the maelstrom of Tecan, a small Central American country on the brink of revolution. At a mission on the coast a priest is lapsing into alcoholic mysticism, while a young American nun is veering towards commitment to the cause. In a bar in Brooklyn, Frank Holliwell is lunching with an old CIA friend who is begging for a favor. On the Tex–Mex border, Pablo, a Coast Guard deserter, loco on speed, is about to take a job carrying mysterious contraband to Tecan. As these lives converge, as this small, crowded world erupts, the novel builds to an electrifying climax.
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"Robert Stone amazes me. In this "thriller" set in Central America (in a fictional country as funereal as the right wing banana republics I visited in the 1980s, he explores themes of faith, avarice, love, lust, and cruelty with an eye as keen as Dostoyevsky and a skill as nuanced as Joseph Conrad." — Les (4 out of 5 stars)
"Robert Stone amazes me. In this "thriller" set in Central America (in a fictional country as funereal as the right wing banana republics I visited in the 1980s, he explores themes of faith, avarice, love, lust, and cruelty with an eye as keen as Dostoyevsky and a skill as nuanced as Joseph Conrad."
“Stone, who has a strong imaginative grip on the contemporary American scene and writes like an angel—a fallen, hard driving angel—is also a marvelous storyteller.”
“Perhaps Stone’s best and most celebrated novel to date…this novel is one intense scene after another…complex plot…a voyage so compelling that listeners may find themselves lost for hours at a time.”
" This is, by FAR, the WORST book I have EVER read. "
" Surprisingly enjoyable. I don't know why it's surprising. Got it at the used bookstore on a summer-reading type whim. "
" Stone's brilliant characters in a lush and frightening Central American setting. The nun struggling with her faith is particularly interesting. "
" Bloated scenes and characters lecturing each other. Very disappointing. "
" I remember reading this book long ago, and coming away impressed at how the author was able to take us into the world of covert politics but in a way that made us care about the hero. A Flag for Sunrise is powerfully told. "
" Dark, heavy, at times brutal, but with moments of beauty. In the style of Greek tragedy, there is no hope for any of these characters. "
" A great, terrifying book, where Stone puts himself in such different minds and inhabits them fully. You almost have to look away at the moments of horror. "
" a masterful political thriller and love story (of sorts); great dialogue "
" A disturbing book. "
" A highly intelligent, wonderfully written page-turner that is chock full of big ideas; political, philosophical, religious, romantic and all of them timelessly topical and relevant. "
" Stunning. A brilliant novel which explores America's dark, complicated and dirty legacy in Latin America. Robert Stone deserves to be much more widely read than he is. "
" For all of those obsessed with the anthropologos' irremediable influence on modernity you must read this novel. Stone's imaginative and philosophical insight makes him one of the best american authors. "
" Not a great read; I struggled to keep picking it up. It has it's merits in terms of bringing attention to the underworld of Americas hidden wars in the 70s. "
" I undervalued this extraordinary novel the first few times that I read it but realise now that it is the equal of Stone's other major novels... "
" very painful "
" Dry reading. "
" This book was recommeded to me, so I kept reading and reading as it plodded along with it's wooden dialogue and overwhelmingly dull storytelling, then ended. I would highly recommend not doing that. "
" Exellent. Gritty. "
" Interesting book, tough read, no chapters, one long narrative. "
" This is one of the great, underrated novels of the 20th century. A rich, compelling portrait of Latin America, expat life, the drug culture, and what life is about. "
Robert Stone (1937–2015) received most of the accolades and awards possible for a contemporary novelist, and he has been called the best writer of the post-Vietnam era. His many novels, which have enjoyed commercial success as well as critical acclaim, include the National Book Award winner Dog Soldiers, Damascus Gate, Bay of Souls, and A Hall of Mirrors. He was also the author of the short story collection Bear and His Daughter, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
Stephen Lang is a Tony Award–nominated actor who has made a name for himself on stages both at home and abroad. Perhaps most well-known for his role in James Cameron’s Avatar, his other film credits include The Men Who Stare at Goats, Public Enemies, Tombstone, and many more.
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