In the work of Boris Akunin (Grigory Chkhartishvili) Azazel, the reader gets acquainted with a very young detective Erast Fandorin. As conceived by the author of the protagonist, many mysterious investigations and dangerous adventures will await in subsequent novels. Fandorin appears there as a well-established and well-known foreman of investigation, but for now he is very young and for the first time is faced with the dangerous world of crime investigation.
The character that is loved by the reader and viewer
The first complicated case of Erast Fandorin is narrated in the historical detective "Azazel". The book, a brief summary of which will be given below, immediately fell in love with millions of readers. They were looking forward to continuing the amazing story of detective Fandorin. The incredibly complex crimes described in the novels dedicated to the detective Erast Fandorin, and the special methods of their investigation forced the reader to completely immerse themselves in the world created by the author. In 2002, Azazel, a novel about the first investigation of a young detective, was filmed, and the character Erast Fandorin got even more fans. Therefore, by the time the Turkish Gambit and the State Counselor appeared on the big screen in 2005, viewers already knew that they would meet with their beloved hero and his incredible adventures.
Acquaintance with Erast Fandorin
“Azazel” is a novel whose events take the reader to Moscow in 1876, where the first meeting with the protagonist of the series dedicated to the adventures of detective Erast Fandorin takes place. Remaining an orphan, young Fandorin is forced, despite his excellent education and noble birth, to earn his own living. A young man is working as a clerk in the Moscow detective department. Contrary to the expectations of incredible adventures and confusing cases related to serving in the police, the young man has to deal with domestic crimes, and then for days on end print out reports in calligraphic writing for Mr. Chief Police Officer.
Pending the present case
His mentor, investigative bailiff Xavier Feofilaktovich Grushin, paternally takes care of the young man, chuckling in his heart at his desire to become a famous detective. Yes, and where in Moscow to get things that Fandorin wants to investigate? Whether the case is St. Petersburg, there are crimes on a larger scale, and detective more educated, and investigations are conducted using advanced technologies. Perhaps the dream of Erast Petrovich to become an outstanding detective would not have come true, but Azazel is a novel not only about the very first, but also, perhaps, about the most decisive case in the life of detective Erast Fandorin. Fate threw the hero into an investigation of a simple, at first glance, suicide of a drunk and jolly young man. A study of the circumstances of the case led to a series of terrible secrets and dangerous adventures.
Becoming a hero
In the course of the investigation of the case, the strings of which lead to a world conspiracy, Erast Fandorin meets with the venerable capital detective Briling. This extravagant, interesting and educated person, appointed by the St. Petersburg authorities to lead the investigation of a complicated crime, influenced the development of Fandorin as a detective. Erast admires the manners and methods of the chef with admiration and tries to follow him in everything.
In order to understand how the hero changes and learns from his mistakes, turning from an inexperienced police official into a famous detective, of course, it is worth reading Azazel. The novel, the summary of which you are reading now, is incredibly interesting.
In subsequent works, the reader meets Fandorin in a completely different way. After all, the Russian detective, the popularity of which critics will compare with the famous Sherlock Holmes, will not become so right away. First, he will have to survive the events that occurred during the disclosure of the conspiracy codenamed Azazel. The novel describes them not only as dangerous and exciting adventures of the young hero, but also as a series of tragic circumstances that forever changed his life. The price of success will become too high for Fandorin, and at the end of the novel the reader will first see him in an image that will become the hallmark of this detective in the future.
Azazel (book): reviews
Readers note the unusual contemporary writing style of Boris Akunin. His works leave the impression that you read a classic of the nineteenth century. The details of what is happening, used to describe, the turns of speech - all speak in favor of a wonderful delusion. The fascinating story of "Azazel" is noted, the novel reviews are enthusiastic, although many are upset by the tragic turn of events at the end of the work. But could without such a result the character Erast Petrovich Fandorin be able to get that mysterious and magnetic appeal for which the reader loves him so much?
Screen version of "Azazel" (director Alexander Adabashyan)
As mentioned above, in 2002 the novel was filmed. Contrary to skeptical critics, the filmmakers and leading actors managed to convey the atmosphere of time, the nature of the characters and the mystery of the events described in the work. The role of the novice detective Fandorin was performed by the young actor Ilya Noskov. And although the stinging press noted that he was lost on the background of Sergei Bezrukov, who brilliantly performed the charismatic Brilling, those who read the novel will notice that the main character himself at first did not possess some character traits that later became characteristic of him. After all, it was Brilling that had a significant influence on Fandorin, therefore, we can say that Ilya Noskov completely corresponded to the image of young Erast Petrovich.
Such outstanding domestic actors as Marina Neyolova, Oleg Basilashvili, Marina Alexandrova also starred in the film.