August 22, 2012 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Furst is in fine form in his latest offering set in the heart of Paris and in Hitler’s Berlin on the eve of World War II. A master storyteller, Furst slowly unfurls a story of a Hollywood actor who finds himself in the midst of a clandestine espionage operation even as he films what may soon become another big hit motion picture on both sides of the continent.

There’s ambiance, glamor, mystery, extravagance, romance, surprise, and everything else that is necessary for a novel like this. Historical fact is woven beautifully into fiction, and the larger point made about celebrity– not unlike many a celebrity even today– rising above the immediate demands of their craft for a greater cause.

For history buffs, especially of this era, it is quite the treat to learn of the palpable fear and loathing of the Nazi regime slowly overtaking Europe, and the sheer frustration of France and Britain awaiting the aid of the United States. This aspect of the novel, I found most fascinating. Even more so than the somewhat contrived ending– which was harmlessly pleasant– although a shot of adrenaline toward the end is always welcome. Also, I noticed there were definitely times when I’d had to check the cover to make sure I wasn’t in the midst of a Mills & Boon paperback!

But on the whole, this was mission accomplished.

Updated August 21, 2012, 2:28 pm

On August 22, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first United States chief executive to ride in an automobile in public.

Go to article »

On Aug. 22, 1904, Deng Xiaoping, the powerful leader of the People’s Republic of China from the late 1970’s until his death in 1997, was born. Following his death on Feb. 19, 1997, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1485 England’s King Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, ending the War of the Roses.

1846 The United States annexed New Mexico.

1851 The schooner America outraced the Aurora off the English coast to win a trophy that became known as the America’s Cup.

1893 Author, poet, critic and wit Dorothy Parker was born in West Bend, N.J.

1902 President Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. chief executive to ride in an automobile, in Hartford, Conn.

1904 Chinese communist leader Deng Xiaoping was born in Sichuan province.

1920 Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Ill.

1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard M. Nixon were nominated for second terms by the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.

1986 Kerr-McGee Corp. agreed to pay the estate of Karen Silkwood $1.38 million, settling a 10-year-old nuclear contamination lawsuit.

2003 Alabama’s chief justice, Roy Moore, was suspended for his refusal to obey a federal court order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of his courthouse.

2005 The last Jewish settlers left the Gaza Strip, ending decades of Israel’s turbulent occupation.

2010 Chilean President Sebastian Pinera confirmed that all the miners trapped deep underground for 17 days were still alive after a probe came back with a handwritten note, “All 33 of us are fine in the shelter.” (The miners were rescued in October.)

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

Actress-comedian Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live”) turns 39 years old today.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski turns 73 years old today.

AP Photo/Elise Amendola

1934 H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Retired general, turns 78

1935 Morton Dean, Broadcast journalist, turns 77

1935 Annie Proulx, Author, turns 77

1939 Valerie Harper, Actress (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda”), turns 73

1941 Bill Parcells, Football coach, turns 71

1945 Steve Kroft, Broadcast journalist (“60 Minutes”), turns 67

1947 Cindy Williams, Actress (“Laverne and Shirley”), turns 65

1956 Paul Molitor, Baseball Hall of Famer, turns 56

1958 Vernon Reid, Rock musician (Living Colour), turns 54

1960 Regina Taylor, Actress (“The Unit”), turns 52

1961 Roland Orzabal, Rock singer (Tears For Fears), turns 51

1961 Debbi Peterson, Rock musician (The Bangles), turns 51

1963 Tori Amos, Rock singer, turns 49

1964 Mats Wilander, Tennis Hall of Famer, turns 48

1967 Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Actor (“Lost,” “Oz”), turns 45

1967 Ty Burrell, Actor (“Modern Family”), turns 45

Historic Birthdays

Deng Xiaoping 8/22/1904 – 2/19/1997 Chinese communist leader. Go to obituary »

? Denis Papin 8/22/1647 – //c1712
French-born English physicist; invented the pressure cooker

71 Samuel Pierpont Langley 8/22/1834 – 2/27/1906
American astronomer, physicist and aeronautics pioneer

69 Mary Elizabeth Wood 8/22/1861 – 5/1/1931
American librarian and missionary

55 Claude Debussy 8/22/1862 – 3/25/1918
French composer

89 Willis Whitney 8/22/1868 – 1/9/1958
American chemist; founded General Electric research laboratory

73 Dorothy Parker 8/22/1893 – 6/7/1967
American short story writer and poet

85 Elizabeth Bergner 8/22/1900 – 5/12/1986
Austrian motion-picture and stage actress

73 Arthur M. Sackler 8/22/1913 – 5/26/1987
American physician, publisher and art collector

64 James Kirkwood 8/22/1924 – 4/21/1989
American librettist, actor and playwright

1485	England’s King Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, ending the War of the Roses.
1846	The United States annexed New Mexico.
1851	The schooner America outraced the Aurora off the English coast to win a trophy that became known as the America’s Cup.
1893	Author, poet, critic and wit Dorothy Parker was born in West Bend, N.J.
1902	President Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. chief executive to ride in an automobile, in Hartford, Conn.
1904	Chinese communist leader Deng Xiaoping was born in Sichuan province.
1920	Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Ill.
1956	President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard M. Nixon were nominated for second terms by the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.
1986	Kerr-McGee Corp. agreed to pay the estate of Karen Silkwood $1.38 million, settling a 10-year-old nuclear contamination lawsuit.
2003	Alabama’s chief justice, Roy Moore, was suspended for his refusal to obey a federal court order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of his courthouse.
2005	The last Jewish settlers left the Gaza Strip, ending decades of Israel’s turbulent occupation.
2010	Chilean President Sebastian Pinera confirmed that all the miners trapped deep underground for 17 days were still alive after a probe came back with a handwritten note, “All 33 of us are fine in the shelter.” (The miners were rescued in October.)

1934	H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Retired general, turns 78
1935	Morton Dean, Broadcast journalist, turns 77
1935	Annie Proulx, Author, turns 77
1939	Valerie Harper, Actress (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda”), turns 73
1941	Bill Parcells, Football coach, turns 71
1945	Steve Kroft, Broadcast journalist (“60 Minutes”), turns 67
1947	Cindy Williams, Actress (“Laverne and Shirley”), turns 65
1956	Paul Molitor, Baseball Hall of Famer, turns 56
1958	Vernon Reid, Rock musician (Living Colour), turns 54
1960	Regina Taylor, Actress (“The Unit”), turns 52
1961	Roland Orzabal, Rock singer (Tears For Fears), turns 51
1961	Debbi Peterson, Rock musician (The Bangles), turns 51
1963	Tori Amos, Rock singer, turns 49
1964	Mats Wilander, Tennis Hall of Famer, turns 48
1967	Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Actor (“Lost,” “Oz”), turns 45
1967	Ty Burrell, Actor (“Modern Family”), turns 45

?	Denis Papin 8/22/1647 – //c1712 French-born English physicist; invented the pressure cooker
71	Samuel Pierpont Langley 8/22/1834 – 2/27/1906 American astronomer, physicist and aeronautics pioneer
69	Mary Elizabeth Wood 8/22/1861 – 5/1/1931 American librarian and missionary
55	Claude Debussy 8/22/1862 – 3/25/1918 French composer
89	Willis Whitney 8/22/1868 – 1/9/1958 American chemist; founded General Electric research laboratory
73	Dorothy Parker 8/22/1893 – 6/7/1967 American short story writer and poet
85	Elizabeth Bergner 8/22/1900 – 5/12/1986 Austrian motion-picture and stage actress
73	Arthur M. Sackler 8/22/1913 – 5/26/1987 American physician, publisher and art collector
64	James Kirkwood 8/22/1924 – 4/21/1989 American librettist, actor and playwright