See all books authored by tom rob smith, including child 44, and the secret speech, and more on. Tom rob smiths second novel, the secret speech, is set in 1956 as the soviet union takes its first baby steps toward destalinization. Tom rob smith answers questions about his books, in particular the historic background to the the secret speech. With his passing, a violent regime is beginning to fracture leaving behind a. Tom rob smith, 30 his first novel, child 44, appeared on last years booker longlist. The son of a swedish mother and an english father, both antiques dealers, smith was born and raised in south london.
A secret document based on a speech by stalins successor, nikita khrushchev, is distributed throughout the nation. In this book, stalin is dead, and the secret speech of the title is a. Jun 21, 2009 tom rob smiths second novel, the secret speech, is set in 1956 as the soviet union takes its first baby steps toward destalinization. Tom rob smiththe author whose debut, child 44, has been called brilliant chicago tribune, remarkable newsweek and sensational entertainment weeklyreturns with an intense, suspenseful new novel. Tom rob smith the author whose debut, child 44, has been called brilliant chicago tribune, remarkable newsweek and sensational entertainment weeklyreturns with an intense, suspenseful new novel. The son of a swedish mother and an english father, smith was raised in london where he lives today. He went to school at dulwich college between the years of 1987 and 1997. Reprisals against the speech recipients follow the deliveries. The secret speech by tom rob smith grand central publishing. Tom has worked as a screenwriter for the past five years, including a sixmonth stint in phnom penh storylining cambodias first ever soap. All of our paper waste is recycled within the uk and turned into corrugated cardboard. Below is a list of tom rob smiths books in order of when they were originally published.
What is the real secret speech, and why did you choose that as the backdrop for this story. The secret speech by tom rob smith books the guardian. Tom rob smith became a published author in 2008 with his novel child 44. From smith child 44, 2008, an intense thriller set in the soviet union during the tumultuous days that followed the death of stalin. Tom rob smith books list of books by author tom rob smith. May 19, 2009 tom rob smith the author whose debut, child 44, has been called brilliant chicago tribune, remarkable newsweek and sensational entertainment weeklyreturns with an intense, suspenseful new novel. Review of the secret speech by tom rob smith rhapsody. The secret speech was perhaps one of the most remarkable speeches ever delivered in modern history. Tom rob smith born 1979 is an english author, screenwriter and producer. In the novel child 44 by tom rob smith, leo demidov is a stalinera soviet war hero who must investigate the killings, but finds himself demoted and exiled because of it.
To say that tom rob smiths debut novel, child 44, caused something of a sensation in the crimethriller field would be to understate the case. In tom rob smiths novel the secret speech, copies of khrushchevs speech begin appearing mysteriously on the doorsteps of some former members of the secret police, who carried out many of the unsavory policies e. Tom rob smiths extraordinary debut novel, child 44, was longlisted for the. Buy the secret speech child 44 trilogy 2 by tom rob smith from amazons fiction books store. Kruschev makes the secret speech this is the next book from tr smith after child 44 which was a brilliant read. Iran is the latest place for us to visit in our great books set in series. Following his graduation from st johns college, cambridge, in 2001, he received.
That is the central question posed by tom rob smiths riveting new book, the secret speech, sequel to last years terrific, terrifying, and surprisingly moving, child 44. When khrushchev delivered a speech to the 20th congress of the communist party of the soviet union, admitting to the paranoid excesses of his predecessor stalins regime, he did much to loosen the bonds of fear that kept soviet society in line. The secret speech book san francisco public library. Review of the secret speech by tom rob smith rhapsody in. From the streets of moscow in the throes of political upheaval, to the siberian gulags, and to the center of the hungarian uprising in budapest, the secret speech is a breathtaking, epic novel that confirms tom rob smith as one of the most exciting new authors writing today. Child 44 is a thriller unlike any you have ever read. Buy the secret speech by tom rob smith from waterstones today. He started his writing career by writing plays while at school. Among its many honors, child 44 won the international thriller writer award for best first. If tom rob smith writes another thriller set in the dismal postwar ussr, with hopeless characters and maddening bureaucracies, i will devour it like i did child 44 and the followup, the secret speech.
A surprising, unexpected story of love and family, of hope and resilience. The hotly anticipated followup to tom rob smiths widely celebrated, bookerlonglisted. Secret speech, the by tom rob smith signed first edition book see all titles by tom rob smith a gripping tale of political betrayal and lust for revenge, set against the tumultuous backdrop of the soviet union in the 1950s undercover russian agent leo demidov has been assigned to infiltrate priest lazars church by order of the state. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on. The book features a repeat appearance of leo stepanovich demidov, the protagonist of smith s first book, child 44 2008. Tom rob smith author born in 1979 to a swedish mother and an english father, tom rob smiths bestselling novels in the child 44 trilogy were international publishing sensations. The secret speech by tom rob smiththeres a savage energy to tom rob smiths followup to child 44, charlie higson finds. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. A secret document based on a speech by stalins successor, nikita khrushchev, is. Aug 06, 2010 in tom rob smiths novel the secret speech, copies of khrushchevs speech begin appearing mysteriously on the doorsteps of some former members of the secret police, who carried out many of the unsavory policies e. Tom rob smiths extraordinary debut novel, child 44, was longlisted for the man booker prize unusual for a thriller and won a crime writers association dagger.
Tom rob smith was born in l979 to a swedish mother and an english father and was brought up in london where he still lives. The official website of bestselling author tom rob smith, author of child 44 and the farm. Features news, updates, tour information, and more. Tom rob smith s the secret speech is the sequel to his child 44, in which leo demidov is a state security officer with the mgb later called the kgb in stalins soviet union. Jan 12, 2009 tom rob smith talks about the followup to child 44, the secret speech. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. If you like tom rob smith books, youll love martin cruz smith. The secret speech npr coverage of the secret speech by tom rob smith. The secret speech by tom rob smith overdrive rakuten. The secret speech performs this tricky balancing act by taking the reader back to 1949, with leo the unreformed agent of the state, behaving with the callousness he once possessed before his life was turned upside down. Tom rob smith is a screenwriter and novelist whose literary debut, 2008s child 44, inspired an intense bidding war at the london book fair. Tom rob smith is a writer and producer, known for american crime story 2016, child 44 2015 and london spy 2015.
Im not a fan of series thrillers, but i find smiths work to be extremely compelling. May 03, 2010 tom rob smith the author whose debut, child 44, has been called brilliant chicago tribune, remarkable newsweek and sensational entertainment weeklyreturns with an intense, suspenseful new novel. Tom rob smith was born in 1979 to a swedish mother and an english father and he was brought up in south london. Tom rob smith s extraordinary debut novel, child 44, was longlisted for the man booker prize unusual for a thriller and won a crime writers association dagger. Im not a fan of series thrillers, but i find smith s work to be extremely compelling. The secret speech is the second novel in a trilogy by british author tom rob smith. Worked his magic again with the secret speech this year londons best young writers, evening standard 304 an epic journey across the blasted siberian landscape to the dreaded gulag 57.
The secret speech by tom rob smith paperback, 2010 for. The secret speech, by tom rob smith the independent. The secret speech is a further exploration of the soviet union joseph stalin created. He graduated from cambridge in 2001 and spent a year in italy on a creative writing scholarship. The wellreceived thriller was subsequently optioned by film director ridley scott. Former state security officer leo demidov is struggling to cha. The secret speech 9780446402408 by smith, tom rob and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The secret speech pa tom rob smith 1471112047 for sale. The secret speech opens in 1949, with young leo demidovs first case as an officer in the mgb, stalins secret police. Smith lives in london with his partner, bbc tv exec ben stephenson. Leo betrays a dissident priest and his wife, sending. Here, unarguably, was a novel of striking authority.
We are then taken to the midfifties, after the death of stalin as cracks begin to show in the totalitarian soviet state. This 2nd thriller, after child 44, by tom rob smith takes place in 1956, poststalin soviet union. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and. Tom rob smiththe author whose debut, child 44, has been called brilliant chicago tribune, remarkable newsweek and sensational entert. The secret speech, book by tom rob smith paperback. Feb 10, 2010 learn more about the secret speech at. The son of a swedish mother and an english father, both antiques dealers, smith was born and. The secret speech by tom rob smithtom rob smiths new novel doesnt hit the heights of his debut, says louise france. Leo gets to the bottom of a series of crimes, serial murders of children, at a time when murders were not talked about and denied because of the claim that there was less. Tom rob smith talks about the followup to child 44, the secret speech.
Tom rob smiths the secret speech is the sequel to his child 44, in which leo demidov is a state security officer with the mgb later called the kgb in stalins soviet union. Jul 07, 2011 tom rob smith, 30 his first novel, child 44, appeared on last years booker longlist. Secret speech 9781849834865 by tom rob smith and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. After graduating from cambridge university in 2001, he completed his studies in italy, studying creative writing for a year. All demidov has left is his wife, and he must uncover the truth of a killer in a country where theres. Since then, he has won the ian fleming steel dagger award, the waverton good read award and the galaxy book award. He graduated from the university in 2001 and went ahead to further his education in italy. The secret speech by tom rob smith nook book ebook.
To say that tom rob smith s debut novel, child 44, caused something of a sensation in the crimethriller field would be to understate the case. Apr 06, 2009 that is the central question posed by tom rob smith s riveting new book, the secret speech, sequel to last years terrific, terrifying, and surprisingly moving, child 44. A terrifying evocation of a paranoid world where no one can be trusted. Tom rob smiththe author whose debut, child 44, has been called brilliant chicago tribune. His character, leo is an unlikely, yet wholly likable. Tom rob smiths new novel doesnt hit the heights of his debut, says.