Man on Fire

It's strange reading a book after watching a movie adaptation. You can't help but give the characters faces, accents, and behaviors that you observed on the big screen. For A Man on Fire (the book), it is quixotic because the events really occur in Italy, and not Mexico. Creasy is ex-Marine, ex-Legionnaire, ex-mercenary, and now ex-bodyguard. His first and only bodyguard assignment ends in the grisly death of his young charge. He takes it personally: "It was simply revenge. They had killed someone precious to him. He would kill in turn. `An eye for an eye?' asked Guido quietly. Creasy shook his head slowly and said with great emphasis, `More than that. More than an eye. Every bloody piece of them'" (p. 148). Books have the luxury of explaining more than can be done in a 100 minute film. How Creasy gets himself into fighting shape. How he interacts with the world and other people. Guido's relationship with Creasy. Great book, engaging and exciting. I also note that author "A.J. Quinnell" keeps his/her identity to his/herself. "A.J. Quinnell is the pseudonym of a writer who wishes to remain anonymous because his future books will detail intrigues between nations and cultures and will move freely over international boundaries. He desires the same freedom for himself." I will look for the next installment!

I think schtinky got it wrong. This book is about Creasy and his redemtion. Nadia was not taking advantage of Creasy, she loved him. He loved Nadia as well, but he was only able to do so because of Pinta. She enabled him to release and recognize those good feelings which had always been repressed before. Since the plot is about Creasy and the change that he goes through, the part about his stay with Nadia's family is very relevant. Not only is he able to love Nadia, he is also able to fit in with this small community and become an "insider" so to speak. I liked the book because it gives a lot more background information about Creasy and his friend Guido. It made the whole story more meaningful to me.

I had already seen this movie when I noticed that in my Dads old book collection I saw "Man On Fire"... I thought that since I liked the movie so much and I was looking for something to read, Id read it. Its much like the movie where the first portion of the book is slow moving, but I found it apropriate to establish plot and character. Its a great book and an even better movie.Read the book first if you can, then buy the movie.

Mr Quinnel does it again. As both a former French Foreign Legionnaire and body guard - as is the main character in the book - I can say the Mr Quinnell is right on target with this book. So many novels nowadays disapoint professionals - revolvers with silencers etc etc. - but this one is on the money. I can only wonder if the author wasn't in the Legion at some point and/or a body guard. Do yourself a favor, if you can get hold of a copy, do it and read it...you won't regret it.

This is his first book - and the first featuring Creasy, thequiet, deadly ex-mercenary. Broken down, alcoholic, Creasy is offereda position as a bodyguard for a wealthy Italian industrialist's adolescent daughter.When the daughter is kidnapped, all hell breaks loose in this novel of redemption and ultimate revenge.There are no better books in this genre. It is an absolute travesty that any of Quinnell's books are out of print. All of them are fantastic. I spent six months buying out-of-print books to get the entire Creasy collection (plus the non-Creasy titles, which are also very, very well done).