The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon
The novel is a political thriller that delves into the dark world of espionage and brainwashing during the Cold War. It follows the story of a former prisoner of war who, upon returning to the United States, is hailed as a war hero. Unbeknownst to him and the public, he has been programmed by a foreign power to be an unwitting assassin. His conditioning is triggered by a complex set of stimuli, and he is directed to carry out a high-profile political assassination that could alter the course of history. As the plot unfolds, a fellow soldier begins to unravel the conspiracy, racing against time to prevent the programmed soldier from executing his deadly mission, which is orchestrated by a Communist conspiracy aiming to seize control of the American government.
The 961st greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1959
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 311
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.5)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Il Candidato Della Manciuria
- Il Candidato della Manciuria
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 5 lists:
- 46th on Top 100 Killer Thrillers (NPR)
- 79th on The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time (Crime Writers' Association)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- 500 Must Read Books (The Daily Telegraph)
- The 100 Best Crime Novels and Thrillers since 1945 (The Times)