The Matarese Circle

The Matarese Circle
The Matarese Circle first edition cover.
Author(s)	Robert Ludlum
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	The Matarese Dynasty
Genre(s)	Spy novel
Publisher	Richard Marek
Publication date	1979
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	601 pp (first edition)
ISBN	0399900438
OCLC Number	4685151
Dewey Decimal	813/.5/4
LC Classification	PZ4.L9455 Mas PS3562.U26
Followed by	The Matarese Countdown

The Matarese Circle (1979) is a novel by Robert Ludlum.

Story

US Intelligence agent Brandon Scofield and Soviet KGB agent Vasili Taleniekov make their way through the obstacles and ravages of a cabal known as the Matarese. They find out that the Matarese has infiltrated the highest ranks of the society. They break the Matarese riddle and when they are on the verge of defeating the powerful conspiracy, Taleniekov and Antonia, a young and energetic woman whose love Scofield has sought, are kidnapped by the Matarese.

Fueled by the anger regarding the recent developments, Scofield decides to go after the Matarese himself and finds out that the consigliere of the Matarese include the next would-be President himself.

Scofield drives out the Matarese head, called as the Shepherd Boy and deals with him to let go Taleniekov and Antonia and he will in turn give in all the evidence that the Senator who was in line for the Presidency, was the son of the Shepherd Boy himself.

But nothing goes as Scofield planned and he finds out that the entire community of the heads America and Russia are members of the Matarese council, excluding the Presidents of the two countries.

Scofield kills everyone in the Matarese council and goes to the place where Antonia and Taleniekov are kidnapped. But Taleniekov denies all offers of running away and tells Scofield to run away with Antonia while he will take care of the rest as he cannot bear existence in a form where he cannot talk or move freely.

Taleniekov sacrifices himself by burning down the entire Matarese estate and Scofield runs away with Antonia. In the end, all is well and Scofield retires from his dangerous line of work to be a captain in his own ship with his wife, Antonia.

The story is followed by a 1997 sequel, The Matarese Countdown.

Real life references

In an introduction to the novel, Ludlum writes that he based the conspiracy on rumors about the Trilateral Commission.

The "Shepherd Boy" assassin character is based on Juan March Ordinas.

The title appears to have been inspired by a popular, now-gone steak restaurant named (Rocco) Matarese's Circle in Newington, Connecticut, about 10 miles from Wesleyan, that was in business when the novel was written and for many years before. ^[1]

Characters

• Brandon Scofield — an intelligence officer who is Taleniekov's enemy but who ends up helping him in their efforts to find the truth
• Vasili Taleniekov — the Soviet KGB agent who stumbles upon the web of political intrigue and public deceit that revolves around an elite group known only as the 'Matarese.'

Film Adaptation

MGM and Relativity Media picked up the rights to Ludlum's novel for $3 million in 2008.^[2] Writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas have been signed to write the script and Denzel Washington is attached to star as Scofield. Director David Cronenberg is set to helm the project. Tom Cruise is currently in final negotiations to star as Taleniekov.^[3]

The film is scheduled to released sometime in 2012. United Artists and Relativity Media has been in production with the adaptation, even though Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on November 3, 2010.

References

1. ^ http://www.hartfordjazzsociety.com/historyarticlescourant.html for a historical reference to the restaurant.
2. ^ Fleming, Michael (2008-04-04). "MGM spends big for Ludlum book". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983557.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 
3. ^ "Tom Cruise & Denzel Washington To Face Off In Spy Thriller". Access Hollywood. 2009-02-12. http://omg.yahoo.com/news/tom-cruise-denzel-washington-to-face-off-in-spy-thriller/18820. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 

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