The Last Frontier (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = The Last Frontier
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = 1975 UK paperback cover
author = Alistair MacLean
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Thriller novel
publisher = Collins; paperback by Fontana
release_date = 1959
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 253 pp
isbn = NA
preceded_by = South by Java Head
followed_by = Night Without End

The Last Frontier is a novel written by Scottish author Alistair MacLean, and was first published in 1959. It was released in the United States under the title: The Secret Ways. This novel marks MacLean's first foray into the espionage thriller genre, and was inspired by the events surrounding the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Written in the third person narrative, MacLean described the physical and political surroundings with more attention than he has in previous novels, and there are moments when MacLean purposely slows the action down to build character development.

Plot introduction

Michael Reynolds, MacLean's protagonist, is a British secret agent on a wintertime mission inside Hungary at the height of the Cold War. Reynolds must rescue Professor Jennings, an elderly British scientist who is held by the communist government against his will. Reynolds is no James Bond and does not have any fancy gadgets but he is highly resourceful. His biggest advantages against the cruel and efficient Hungarian Secret Service are an ability to make commonsense on-the-spot decisions and the heroic help of friends in the Hungarian underground. Reynolds hooks up with the mysterious Jansci and his friend “the Count” and they strive to transport the professor over the border and back to England. The plot has the twists, turns, and betrayals in which MacLean specialized, and Reynolds realizes that he has only one chance to escape with Jennings before he is captured and killed by the Hungarian secret police. MacLean manages to hold the suspense levels high to the very last page, as Reynolds scrambles to complete his mission and escape to the West.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The Last Frontier appeared in film under its alternative title of "The Secret Ways" in an April 1961 release directed by Phil Karlson. The protagonist, Reynolds, was played by Richard Widmark. The movie was filmed in Zurich and Vienna. It was the first of MacLean's works to appear as a movie, as the "The Guns of Navarone" was not released until June 1961. According to an interview with Euan Lloyd in Cinema Retro magazine, producer and star Widmark had disagreements with director Karlson who felt he should use a tongue in cheek approach for the story. Perhaps because one of the screenwriters was Widmark's wife Jean Hazelwood, Widmark took over directing the film. [Euan Lloyd interview "Cinema Retro" issue #1 Jan 2005]

References