The Translator by Harriet Crowley
Moscow, September 2017. Clive Franklin, a Russian language expert in the Foreign Office, is summoned unexpectedly to the city to act as translator for the British Prime Minister.
His life is turned on its head when, after more than a decade, he discovers that his former lover, Marina Volina, is now the interpreter to the Russian President. At the embassy, Clive learns of a Russian plot to cut the undersea cables linking the US to the UK which would paralyse communications and collapse the Western economy.
Marina stuns Clive with the news that she’s ready to help stop the attack, betraying her country for a new identity and a new life
About the author
Harriet Crawley has been a journalist, writer, and art dealer, worked in television and radio, and stood for the Westminster and European Parliaments. For almost twenty years Harriet had one foot in Moscow where she launched a technical publishing business for a Russian oil and gas company. She speaks five languages and this is her fifth book.
Review
‘The Translator’ feels very relevant as you can imagine every single thing happening very easily. It was a gripping tale of espionage, secrets and lies and kept me up till very early in the morning! This is a brilliant political thriller that manages to highlight some thought-provoking issues and certainly makes the reader think. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it definitely sets itself up for a sequel I would not hesitate to pick up.
Clive Franklin is on a well-deserved sabbatical in the Scottish Highlands when he is called back to serve his government. The newly appointed PM is about to embark on a visit to Russia and needs a translator immediately. Franklin is delighted to be back in Moscow, a place he knows and loves. He talks Russian like a native and has many friends in Moscow. But being in Russia is difficult when the FSB is monitoring every move you make. When the talks commence he is shocked to find his opposite number is a woman he hasn't seen for over 10 years and Marina Volina broke his heart. Marina is part of President Serov's inner circle but she is tired of this life, especially after the death of her foster son. Marina wants out but she has to have something to offer the British government and they want intelligence on something specific - the cutting of the Atlantic data cables. Can Marina find out the information and get out of Russin in time?
This was a fast-paced book which I devoured in a few sittings. It follows the idea that wars between nations are primarily going to be fought on a technical footing rather than via physical fighting. There are other ways to disable countries in this modern world. I liked how the author doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the description of Russia, it's disparity in the wealth of it's citizens and Putin (Serov). The idea of Serov wanting to be the ‘Russian Bear’, the cult of personality around him and the blatant desire for power and standing in the world. The language aspect was something else I found intriguing - I once tried to learn basic Russian as part of my uni course as I studied Russian history and I was terrible at it!! It seems my brain just does not like languages. But it is the allure of knowing a language to the extent of being able to translate it that I loved here. Especially the translation of the proverbs. Franklin and Marina are well-formed and nuanced characters and I found them to be relatable. I especially liked Marina’s strength and loyalty to her friends and family.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I don't hesitate to recommend it!
