In 1988, the novel “Silence of the Lambs” about the serial killer Hannibal Lecter was published. He became the third work of American journalist and writer Thomas Harris. The book aroused considerable interest and was even filmed. What is the story of the creation of the novel? Is there a real prototype of the main character?
Plot
Harris actually began work on the novel “Silence of the Lambs” back in the early 80s. It was then that his first creation, The Red Dragon, was released. Unexpected success encouraged the author. And soon an experienced journalist decides to finally become a writer.
The image of Hannibal Lecter first appears in The Red Dragon, but reaches his literary heyday in the second book. The novel “Silence of the Lambs” tells the story of the buffalo-killer maniac who the FBI is trying to catch. Investigation is carried out by a special department, in particular, Academy student Clarissa Starling and her supervisor Jack Crawford. Hannibal Lecter himself helps them in this, a former killer-cannibal, now in a psychiatric hospital (Maryland).
Why do FBI agents turn to him? The fact is that the prisoner is familiar with the maniac and has important information. But Hannibal is cunning. In exchange for clues, he asks to tell Clariss about his childhood. As it turned out, she had a nightmare. In her dreams, she tried to save the screaming lambs that were being led to the spell.
Suddenly, Buffalo Bill is kidnapped by the daughter of a Senator in Tennessee - Catherine Martin. The FBI knows that a maniac holds captive for his victims for several days and then kills them. The agents are trying in any way to extract from Hannibal information about the whereabouts of Buffalo Bill, even offering to mitigate the conditions of his punishment. But they are ahead of the head doctor of a psychiatric hospital. With the help of a senator, he transfers the dangerous killer to the Tennessee federal prison, takes off his mask and restraint straps, giving him a job as a psychoanalyst and books. Taking advantage of the situation, Hannibal kills the guards and escapes.
In the meantime, Crawford discovers that the maniac is a transgender who visits clinics for sex change but is refused. And his name is Jam Gumb. The novel culminates when FBI agents capture a maniac in the home of his victim's employer Frederica. During the pursuit, Clarissa kills Buffalo Bill. Hannibal Lecter, being free, writes a letter to a student, trying to find out if the screams of the lambs still haunt her. But they are silent ...
Hannibal Lecter Prototype
In 2013, the novel “Silence of the Lambs” turned 25 years old. This event was dedicated to a new edition of the book by an American writer. In the introduction to it, Thomas Harris unexpectedly discovered that the prototype of Hannibal Lecter was a real person - a prison doctor from Monterrey (Mexico). However, the author never revealed his name, confining himself to the fictional "Dr. Salazar."
Buffalo Bill Image
But the image of the serial buffalo Bill maniac is collective. The prototypes were designated by the author himself during the first edition of the novel. The image was:
- Ted Bundy was the killer of 30 women (the number of victims was approximately) in the 1970s. He, like a literary hero, lured his victims into a van, then took them away, raped and killed. Just like Hannibal Lecter, after being caught, he helped the police track down other serial killers.
- Ed Gain from Wisconsin. He robbed graves, killed women. A psychopath sewed clothes from their skin (like Buffalo Bill), and made furniture from the remains.
- Edmund Kemper is a brutal killer. Since childhood, he mocked animals, mutilated them. And at the age of 15, he killed his grandmother and his grandfather (parallel with Buffalo Bill).
- Gary Heidnik is a rapist who kept victims (women and girls) in the pit of his basement.
Film adaptation
The novel “Silence of the Lambs” was filmed in 1991. The role of Hannibal Lecter in the film of the same name was played by the inimitable Anthony Hopkins, and Ted Levine played the Buffalo Bill. The director of the picture was Jonathan Demmy. The film was recognized as one of the best in the history of cinema and immediately collected five Oscar awards.
The novel by Thomas Harris was also partially reflected in the series Hannibal. Here, the role of the protagonist of the cannibal killer fell to the Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen.
Awards
In 1988, the story of a serial killer was awarded the Bram Stoker Prize in the Best Romance category. A year later, “Silence of the Lambs” was nominated for a World Fantasy Award. However, the victory then went to Peter Straub for the novel Coco.
The work has already received several editions. And the wave of interest in him still does not go away.
Criticism
Critical reviews of The Silence of the Lambs were controversial. Some reviews noted excessive naturalism in the work, while others expressed admiration for the talent and imagination of Thomas Harris. However, readers agreed on one thing. The language of the work is graceless and quite simple and even poor. But the author focuses on the exciting action and elaboration of the characters' characters. The multi-layered plot is not at all confusing. And it allows the reader to carefully and without interruption follow the behavior and experiences of the heroes, without being distracted by the author’s lyrical digressions in the novel “Silence of the Lambs”. The cover photo of the first edition is also concise. In a word, there are no extraneous details in the book. Everything is aimed at a clear perception of the plot and quick immersion in it.
After the second bestseller about Hannibal Lector in 1999, the final part of the trilogy entitled “Hannibal. Ascent. " The novel became, in fact, a memory of childhood and the formation of the future killer-cannibal. He was filmed in 2001. The main role was again played by Anthony Hopkins.