Boris Akunin, “Death to the Brudershaft”: book order and plot description

Boris Akunin, as you know, loves and knows how to surprise. Having written ten very unusual stories about the confrontation between Russian and German intelligence during the First World War, and even in the genre of "movie romance", the writer started another game with his reader.

Literary "movie series"

A series of novels under the general title “Death at Brudershaft” (the order of books and their description will be given a little later) appeared after one of the country's leading television channels invited the author to write a script for a serial episode of World War I. However, it turned out that the channel’s vision did not coincide with the author’s. According to the author, ten stories under one title “Death to the Brudershaft” (the order of books is denoted by “films”) is a story about two opponents from the warring intelligence who clashed in a battle and, using their talent and dedication, without knowing it, destroy each his own empire.

According to the channel, the series should have been more straightforward - good patriots, very bad Germans and villainous Bolsheviks. It was not possible to conspire. After some time, another channel became interested in the Akunin version, but, as is often the case on television, the project was completed without starting.

Boris Akunin: “Death to the Brudershaft”

But it is worthwhile to dwell on the books themselves. More precisely, their design. As already mentioned, the author (as he himself has repeatedly admitted) likes to experiment with his reader. Having decided not to compromise with the producers anymore, the author creates “his own movie”, in which he will be responsible for casting, locations, budget and so on ... So the genre of “romance movie” appeared, where there are a lot of illustrations and there is even a photo chronicle. The role of Zepp (the German spy) is "performed" by Leonid Parfyonov, whose "alien fleur" Akunin really liked. Other characters are also “played” by famous artists, even though some, unfortunately, are no longer alive.

Igor Sakurov, Denis Gordeev and Mikhail Chereisky worked on the illustrations. In the “opening credits” of the book they are designated as “operators”. “Taper” is the author himself. The movie-book project “Death at Brudershaft” (the order of books can be found below) was released by the beginning of the next “television season”. Each such “season” is a volume with two “movie stories”.

The first film: "Baby and the devil"

The plot of the series “Death at Brudershaft” (the author designates the order of books by numbered “films”) begins in the summer of 1914. Alexey Romanov (just namesake) - a student who has a unique voice. By chance, he took part in the capture of a German intelligence spy , moreover, as they say, “on the wrong side”. Because of him, the spy manages to escape and disappear without a trace. Wanting to atone, Romanov is trying with all his might to help intelligence catch the fugitive. After all, only he saw the enemy in the face.

The second film: “Broken Heart Flour”

Due to an unsuccessful clash with enemy intelligence, Alexei volunteers to go to the front. After a wound in his right hand, he was completely written off due to possible paralysis. When he returned home, a new misfortune awaited him: the bride was going to become the wife of another. For romantic Alexei, this turned out to be a terrible blow and, it would seem, the pistol left from the previous pre-war life is the only and logical outcome ... But at the most crucial moment it turned out that intelligence really needed it. Ahead is Switzerland, where his voice is very useful.

Movie Three: The Flying Elephant

A new round of war - battles are fought not only on earth, but also in the sky. Germany began to lose ground when the Russians got a supernova multi-engine aircraft, proudly called "Ilya Muromets." Germany had only one option left - to attract the spy and saboteur of extra-class Zapp. He must discredit this miracle of technology during the imperial review.

The fourth film: “Children of the Moon”

To expose the enemy agent, Romanov will have to infiltrate the decadent society of the Children of the Moon club. He must uncover the traitor who transfers the secret data to the adversary.

The fifth movie: “A Strange Man”

Theofels has a new goal - General Zhukovsky, chief of the gendarme corps. But a plan thought out to the smallest detail unexpectedly fails. And the city is fascinated by conflicting gossip about the mysterious Wanderer, who has unusual abilities and has influence on the Empress herself ...

The sixth film: “Thunder of victory, be heard!”

And again Romanov is at the center of yet another espionage investigation, on the outcome of which the fate of the coming battle depends. Now his task is to figure out how the enemy is aware of the data stored in the strictest confidence.

The seventh film: "Mary," Mary ... "

Russia is again on the verge of dominance in the Black Sea. This is due to the dreadnought, united by the series "Empress Maria." The German command decides to destroy the Russian flagship. The case was assigned to Sepp von Theofels.

Movie Eighth: Nothing Holy

In the strictest confidence from the Kaiser, Reich decides to organize an assassination attempt on the Russian emperor. Sepp will again be transported to Russia. Meanwhile, in the person of a security inspector, an experienced intelligence officer was assigned a lieutenant, Alexei Parisovich Romanov, to the tsar’s train ...

The ninth film: "Operation" Transit "

1917 year. After the February Revolution, criminal power was overthrown. However, the Provisional Government still does not conclude an alliance with Germany. Theofels was instructed to ensure the safe departure of the leader of the proletariat in Zurich.

The tenth film: “Battalion of Angels”

Alexei Romanov, as an instructor, was seconded by the Provisional Government to the location of the female battalion of future foot soldiers. The story, according to Akunin himself, is the most important of the whole cycle.

Continued? ..

And although after the tenth story the “shootings” were officially finished, attentive readers could notice that Alexey Romanov (having changed his last name to Oktyabrsky) appears in other books - “Quest” and “Spy novel”. In the latter, by the way, could not do without restless Sepp ...

After all, everyone knows the author’s love for games with readers.