Pascali`s Island

Basil Pascali lives on a small Greek island that, in 1908, is still part of the waning Ottoman Empire. He is a spy in the employ of the Sultan and, for the last 20 years, has filed a report each month on the activities of the local inhabitants and visitors. He becomes friends with Anthony Bowles, an English archaeologist excavating artifacts on the island. Gradually Pascali becomes aware both that the Greeks have found him out and that Bowles is running an elaborate swindle. When Bowles offers to let Pascali in on his plan, Pascali is torn between his need to escape the island and his innate suspicion of strangers. Barry Unsworth`s novel is not only an incisive and illuminating look at a time of political upheaval, but a page-turning novel of suspense. PASCALI`S ISLAND was made into a 1988 film starring Ben Kingsley and Helen Mirren. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.