Eric Clifford Ambler was born in 1909. His parents were very creative in earning money: they ran a string puppet-show (Ambler 1986, p. 61). Every now and then, they performed their show in public and were even able to gain quite a reputation. Little Eric Ambler was interested in reading mystery stories and started to spend his time on chemical experiments in a friend’s garage (Ambler 1986, p. 93) to find out how things work.
Eric Ambler took up a job in an advertising agency where he kept on writing plays and his first novel The Comedian, which was never completed. (Ambler 1986, p. 143 et seq.)
A very good friend of Ambler encouraged him to write mystery stories just as Somerset Maugham (Ambler 1986, p. 199), which he liked to read as well. In the following two years, Ambler wrote The Dark Frontier (1936) and Uncommon Danger (1937). The young man quit his job at the advertising agency and now worked as an author in fulltime (Ambler 1986, p. 211). He travelled a lot – to France, Spain and the USA, where he got to know his future wife Louise Crombie (Ambler 1986, p. 242).
Ambler joined the army and soon became a screenwriter for educational films for the army film unit (Ambler 1986, p. 276 et seq.). After World War ll, Ambler worked on films about civilian professions and everyday things which might have been changed during the war to give former soldiers a certain security back in the civilian life: A British Diary supplied this information (Ambler 1986, p. 352f.).
Writing novels again turned out to be difficult, since Ambler was not used to work with concentration for a longer period anymore. He himself had changed over the years and needed to find out what to write next. (Ambler 1986, p. 361) Ambler also kept on writing screenplays and even received an Academy Award nomination in 1953 for The Cruel Sea .He died in 1998 in Switzerland.
The Mask of Dimitrios was written in 1939. In the novel, Ambler perpetuated to create another kind of criminal – one with credibility and realistic features. The reader does not ‘see’ Dimitrios until the end of the novel, but Charles Latimer, who writes detective stories, decides to research the bad guy’s life, which puts him in danger and tests his mettle.
On the following pages, Dimitrios’ life is depicted and parallels are shown to a real life criminal named Basil Zaharoff. Moreover, important themes of the spy novel such as internationalism and crime by itself are explored.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction: Eric Ambler
- 2. Hunting a Criminal - Dimitrios' Life
- 2.1. A Biography of Dimitrios
- 2.2. Internationalism and Identity
- 2.3. Criminals and Crime
- 3. Fiction and Reality
- 4. Literature
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this text is to analyze Eric Ambler's novel "The Mask of Dimitrios," exploring the life of the titular criminal and examining its relationship to real-life figures and broader themes within the spy novel genre. The analysis delves into Ambler's biographical context and the novel's depiction of international crime and identity.
- The life and criminal activities of Dimitrios Makropoulos
- The blurring of lines between fiction and reality in spy novels
- The role of internationalism and national identity in shaping criminal activities
- Ambler's biographical background and its influence on his writing
- The thematic exploration of crime and criminality within the spy novel genre
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Eric Ambler: This chapter provides a biographical sketch of Eric Ambler, tracing his early life, career in advertising, and eventual transition to writing spy novels. It highlights his diverse experiences, including his time in the army and his work creating educational films, and emphasizes the influences that shaped his distinctive style and thematic concerns, drawing connections between his personal life and the realistic portrayals of criminals that would become a hallmark of his work. The chapter sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the author's background and how it informs the themes and style of "The Mask of Dimitrios."
2. Hunting a Criminal - Dimitrios' Life: This chapter delves into the intricate life of Dimitrios Makropoulos, the central figure of Ambler's novel, whose life story unfolds chronologically. It details his various criminal activities, from petty theft to international espionage and drug trafficking, illustrating how he operates within and exploits the political and social landscapes of several nations. The chapter examines Dimitrios' shifting identities and the ease with which he adopts new personas, showcasing the fluidity of nationality and identity in a world of international intrigue and criminality. The analysis includes a comparison to the real-life criminal Basil Zaharoff, emphasizing the novel's engagement with historical context and real-world criminal activities.
3. Fiction and Reality: This chapter (presumed, based on the provided structure) would likely explore the relationship between the fictional world of "The Mask of Dimitrios" and its grounding in real historical events and figures. It would likely analyze how Ambler blends fact and fiction, using real-world contexts and potentially drawing parallels to actual historical crimes and criminals to add weight and realism to the narrative. The significance of this blending would be highlighted as a key element in the novel's effectiveness in creating a believable and engaging portrayal of international espionage and crime.
4. Literature: This chapter (also presumed) would likely analyze Ambler's place within the broader context of spy fiction literature. This section would possibly discuss his influences and his contributions to the genre, comparing his work to other authors and exploring the evolution of spy novels as a literary form. The chapter would provide an overview of the literary landscape in which Ambler worked and situate him within it, evaluating his unique contribution to the genre and his legacy.
Keywords
Eric Ambler, The Mask of Dimitrios, spy novel, Dimitrios Makropoulos, international crime, identity, realism, Basil Zaharoff, fiction, biography, historical context.
Frequently Asked Questions: Eric Ambler's "The Mask of Dimitrios" Analysis
What is the purpose of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive analysis of Eric Ambler's novel, "The Mask of Dimitrios." It explores the life of the titular criminal, Dimitrios Makropoulos, examining its connection to real-life figures and broader themes within the spy novel genre. The analysis delves into Ambler's biographical context and the novel's depiction of international crime and identity.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis focuses on several key themes, including the life and criminal activities of Dimitrios Makropoulos; the blurring of lines between fiction and reality in spy novels; the role of internationalism and national identity in shaping criminal activities; Ambler's biographical background and its influence on his writing; and the thematic exploration of crime and criminality within the spy novel genre.
What topics are covered in each chapter?
Chapter 1: Introduction: Eric Ambler provides a biography of Eric Ambler, highlighting his experiences and influences on his writing style. Chapter 2: Hunting a Criminal - Dimitrios' Life details Dimitrios Makropoulos' criminal activities and shifting identities. Chapter 3: Fiction and Reality (presumed) explores the blend of fact and fiction in the novel. Chapter 4: Literature (presumed) analyzes Ambler's place within spy fiction literature and his contributions to the genre.
Who is Dimitrios Makropoulos, and how is he portrayed?
Dimitrios Makropoulos is the central figure of Ambler's novel. The analysis explores his life chronologically, detailing his various criminal activities across multiple nations, his shifting identities, and his exploitation of political and social landscapes. His character is compared to real-life criminal figures.
What is the relationship between fiction and reality in "The Mask of Dimitrios"?
The analysis examines how Ambler blends fact and fiction, using real-world contexts and potentially drawing parallels to actual historical crimes and criminals to enhance the novel's realism and believability.
How does the analysis position Ambler within the spy fiction genre?
The analysis situates Ambler within the broader context of spy fiction literature, discussing his influences, contributions, and legacy, comparing his work to other authors and exploring the evolution of the genre.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Eric Ambler, The Mask of Dimitrios, spy novel, Dimitrios Makropoulos, international crime, identity, realism, Basil Zaharoff, fiction, biography, historical context.
What is the overall objective of the provided text?
The objective is to provide a structured and professional academic analysis of "The Mask of Dimitrios," exploring its themes and placing it within its historical and literary contexts.
What kind of audience is this analysis intended for?
This analysis is intended for an academic audience interested in Eric Ambler, spy fiction, crime literature, and the intersection of fiction and reality.
- Quote paper
- Regina Schultze (Author), 2009, "The Mask of Dimitrios" - The character of Dimitrios, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/156022
