He is one of the most haunting characters in all of literature. At last the evolution of his evil is revealed. Hannibal Lecter emerges from the nightmare of the Eastern Front, a boy in the snow, mute, with a chain around his neck. He seems utterly alone, but he has brought his demons with him. Hannibal’s uncle, a noted painter, finds him in a Soviet orphanage and brings him to France, where Hannibal will live with his uncle and his uncle’s beautiful and exotic wife, Lady Murasaki. Lady Murasaki helps Hannibal to heal. With her help he flourishes, becoming the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France. But Hannibal’s demons visit him and torment him. When he is old enough, he visits them in turn. He discovers he has gifts beyond the academic, and in that epiphany, Hannibal Lecter becomes death’s prodigy.
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"This one was tough to read and manage to get through the first chapters of Hannibal's earliest years with his sister. The violent times they had to survive were brutal and to read of children suffering more than any adult could withstand was difficult. It gave a clear background of the creation of "Hannibal the Cannibal", explaining much of his dark, twisted history. Sad, harsh, enthralling and impossible to put down despite it all. An excellent read."
— Deedee (4 out of 5 stars)
" my favorite by thomas harris. WATCH THE MOVIE "
— Meat, 2/20/2014" This might not actually be fair, because I didn't finish the book. I couldn't get through the first chapter actually. Horrid. "
— Ashleigh, 2/19/2014" I'm giving this three stars rather than two stars because I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated. I approached this book with a bit of trepidation because I'd heard some negative comments on the book and some downright awful comments about the movie adaptation (which I'll be skipping). But this book proved to be a decent read. It wasn't overly violent--or at least it wasn't as violent as I expected--and the examination of a young Hannibal Lecter proved interesting. I wouldn't recommend going out of one's way to find this book, but if you come across it and want a quick, escape read, then you could do a lot worse. "
— Paul, 2/18/2014" Absolute Classics. The studies of worst features of human nature. "
— Lukasz, 2/12/2014" I was never a big fan of the movies made from the Hannibal stories but I found this book more captivating and a good sign of a well-written book, is how fast you fly through it. It was one of those books that I found myself picking up every chance I could. Silence of the Lambs seemed a bit over the top sensationalism to me (the movie) but Hannibal Rising explains how he came to be the person he became as an adult. Now Silence of the Lambs makes more sense. I ended up going back and watching the movies as well and found them more enjoyable after reading this. "
— Gossymotto, 2/2/2014" nowhere near as good as "Silence of the Lambs" or even "Hannibal" "
— Adrienne, 2/1/2014" This book is a twisted little joyride into the mind of arguably one of our most feared and revered fictional characters, Hannibal Lector. This book was absolutely riveting. I devoured it almost as joyfully as Hannibal devoured his enemies. "
— J., 1/27/2014" I realize this is the 4th book, but I read it first because it explains how and why he started doing the things he did. I actually enjoyed the fact that it was tamer (at least in print) than the others. Although I've only seen the movies "Silence of the Lambs", "Red Dragon", and "Hannibal". "
— Carla, 1/23/2014" Absolute drivel. Reads like an extended screenplay and I must say the film version was far better than the book. Don't even bother with this one, see the movie instead. "
— Sezin, 1/17/2014" totally different read from hannibal, and silence of the lambs...not as gory as I expected...but nevertheless a good read....and I did enjoy it....loved the characters especially Hannibals stepmum.....gives an insight as to why he became a serial killer and cannibal...def recommend:) "
— Jeet, 1/11/2014" This is my favorite of all the Hannibal Lecter books because it gives you insight into Hannibal's mind, how it works and why it is so messed up. For me that was the biggest factor in me liking it. "
— Katie, 10/22/2013" Not my favorite of the series, but loved the insight to Hannibal's past given "
— Elessa, 10/11/2013" Listened on audio book. Read by the author. It was a great listen - the author uses so many accents. Great beginning to the Hannibal story. "
— Michelle, 10/1/2013" A lazy cash grab by a once great writer. "
— Michael, 9/8/2013" Everyone really hates on this book, considering it the worst of the series. It was decent, but not atrocious. "
— Julia, 6/19/2013" It gives some insight to the Hannibal character, but I was disappointed with it overall. "
— Shawn, 6/15/2013" ***+ Entertaining and well written. Very good thriller with beautifully textured and vivid descriptions of locations and events. A very enjoyable read. "
— lunaticprophet, 3/24/2013" My favorite Hannibal novel. Yeah, I said it. "
— James, 9/3/2012" from this series, only Silence of the Lambs was really good. "
— Eva, 4/25/2012" Definitely not comparable to Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, and Hannibal. "
— Vickie, 9/22/2011" This was my first Thomas Harris. I wasn't impressed. Instead bored. "
— Motorcycle, 8/24/2011" I truely enjoyed this book. I liked the background story of Hannibals childhood. It was beautifully written. I did develop feelings for Hannibal. He was disturbed and tormented as a child...he punished the "rude". "
— Deanna, 6/20/2011" I know the checks were huge, but these books are wrong. "
— Ross, 5/14/2011" A lot of people were disappointed with this book because of the sparse, lean writing style, but I loved it, and for the reason of the different style. It was very interesting to see how Hannibal became Hannibal. "
— Mike, 5/14/2011" I didnt like it it was dissaponting. I was expecting something more, considering that was the beginning of a troubled mind. I was expecting more about his psyche but nope! It was not enough good for me. "
— Amildelacruz, 5/4/2011" Not quite to the level of "Red Dragon' and 'Silence of the Butterflies (Lambs), but worth your time. "
— Nathan, 4/10/2011" Thought it would be more revealing about his early life. I actually found it kind of boring. "
— Terri, 4/8/2011" It was a both interesting and scary book. You really get a feel for hannibal the person not just the monster he became, and in the end i ended up feeling sad for him because of what he had gone through. anyway it is an amazing book and i can't wait to read the next one "
— Kyle, 4/7/2011" My least favorite book in the series. Decent beginning, lame ending. I struggled to get through the last quarter of the book. Im glad I read it to complete the series, but other than that, not worth it. "
— Logan, 4/6/2011" Absolute Classics. The studies of worst features of human nature. "
— Lukasz, 3/27/2011" Thought it was time for some pure entertainment.<br/><br/>Read this in 4 days. It was good, and a page-turner, but not great. If I didn't know it was the prequel to Silence of the Lambs I might not have finished it. "
— Amie, 3/2/2011" I couldn't ever finish this book. It was so unlike the previous installments of the series. It seemed like Mr. Harris was trying too hard to trump the success of the previous books that it was almost ridiculous. <br/> <br/>I tried to re-read it several times and could only make it about halfway. "
— Mimi, 2/28/2011" interesting...enough to grip u to the book...but still prefer silence of the lamb "
— Sobia, 2/26/2011" a prologue to the Hannibal series written way late, fun read on a winter day stuck in the house. "
— Nathan, 2/24/2011" This book did not make a lot of sense to me. Hannibal's backstory didn't make a lot of sense in explaining his current "condition." I think Harris is trying too hard to make Hannibal a sympathtic character. "
— Chris, 2/21/2011Thomas Harris is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Hannibal. He began his writing career covering crime in the United States and Mexico, and was a reporter and editor for the Associated Press in New York City. The first four of his Hannibal Lecter novels have been made into films, most famously with actor Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal; the film version of his book The Silence of the Lambs swept the Academy Awards in 1991, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.