Synopses & Reviews
This book follows the hapless Lieutenant Otto Prohaska in the waning years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and finds Otto taking an ill-considered break from duties to engage in a mad fling with a Polish actress. After a desperate attempt to elude his lover's husband, he finds himself mistaken by anarchists as one of their own. Otto soon masters their code names and secret handshakes, but when he also learns of their plans to assassinate the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, his duty is clear. He must alert his superiorsnow, if only he can find someone who will believe him!
Review
"Stark realism and finely crafted humor . . . use of narration, his thorough knowledge, and good technical details make this novel compelling reading." —Library Journal
Review
"Biggins writes with a fine sense of the sea and a truly marvelous wit." —Booklist
About the Author
John Biggins came across photos of the Austro-Hungarian submarine service in 1987. He subsequently wrote the four-book Otto Prohaska series, a cult classic with literary flair and an ironic twist. A native of England, Biggins currently lives in the Netherlands.