The Scarlatti Inheritance (2004) - Plot & Excerpts
By Robert Ludlum. Grade: ARobert Ludlum is the bestselling author of 37 novels once touted as the best in the world with his blend of sophisticated planning and extreme pace. He is best known for The Jason Bourne Series – The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum among others.According to this story, the Third Reich is in its death struggle. Elizabeth Scarlatti has a plan, a desperate, last-minute gamble, designed to save the world from a most dangerous man – her own son. Unless she can stop him, he is about to give Hitler’s Third Reich the most powerful instrument on Earth. In Washington word is received that an elite member of the Nazi High Command is willing to defect and divulge information that will shorten the war.But his defection entails the release of the ultra-top secret file on the Scarlatti Inheritance. If the contents if this file is made public, it will destroy the Western world’s greatest and most illustrious nations.The story begins with a discussion in a Washington D.C. military office about a certain Nazi high ranking official named Heinrich Kroger who wishes to contact an ex-Major Matthew Canfield (which is most unusual). The discussion entails the probability of the defection of Heinrich Kroger and the release of an ultra-secret document (only possible with the permission of the President of USA) demanded by Matthew Canfield (who happens to be the hero) along with the mention of a certain “April Red”.The story then goes back 52 years into the early 1890s following the establishment of the Scarlatti industries by Giovanni and Elizabeth Scarlatti and the transformation of the industries into an empire almost controlling the market. After their marriage, the Giovanni and Elizabeth Scarlatti had three sons – Roland Wyckham, Chancellor Drew and Ulster Stewart Scarlett (Scarlatti was changed to Scarlett to make it more American and less Italian). At the time of the First World War, all the three sons entered into the army.On returning from the army, Ulster begins to plot a devious plan (under the name Heinrich Kroger), a plan which involves the funnelling of funds into the Nazi Third Reich party. If completed, this would give the Nazis the most powerful weapon to control the West – money. Suddenly, amidst all of this, Ulster disappears with his inheritance (which is a hell lot of money) exhausted in his exploits. Following this was the erratic purchase of assets worth a lot of money all over the world.Elizabeth Scarlatti, with a little help from her daughter-in-law Janet (Ulster’s wife) and Matthew Canfield, discovers this horrific plan and devises a counter-plan to stop this atrocity. Though all the perils and threats on their lives, Elizabeth Scarlatti stops them from committing the most heinous crime in the history of the world.The best part about the novel is the sheer simplicity of the plot embroidered in the outer complexity and intricacy of the story. From the most powerful instrument being money to the planning and counter-planning to the utter basic nature of the motive, the plot thrives on the basic instincts of the human nature.The beginning of the novel has a set of newspaper clippings instead of the traditional prologue which is innovative on the author’s part.The only thing in which the plot fell short was the timeline. Had the timeline been a little clearer, it would have been easier for the reader to connect to the plot of the novel and get a better feel of the story.To sum it up, Robert Ludlum is an author who can very easily pull any reader to the edge of his seat with his twists and blinding pace at which he writes. The Scarlatti Inheritance offers a treat to the fans of the espionage genre with its sweep and intricacy of the plot and is a must-read for the sheer magnitude of the plot.Originally reviewed at : www.the-vault.co.cc
The first novel written by the late Robert Ludlum, "The Scarlatti Inheritance" is about as classic a cat-and-mouse global thriller can be, from its World War settings, to secret identities, financial machinations, and other grand subterfuge. Any concerns I may have had about Ludlum's work being too layered and unnecessarily complex were put to rest, thankfully, as well.I am a fan of historical fiction, and this book employs it nicely. By weaving in the Scarlatti/Scarlett family into the setting between World Wars and also developing them as a family who is self-made, "old money" once they settle into New York City, the scene is set for so much intrigue. Ulster Scarlett is vile, and painted as such quickly, while his mother makes for a great foil from the moment her backstory is told, as she is shown to be anything but meek. There is the natural villainy of having an emerging Nazi party as a backdrop that heightens the sense of dread, as well.As this book was written in the early 1970's, I love that - once again - the Internet is not a trope that can used in any capacity to further the story. Transactions and interactions between characters all happen the old-fashioned way: in person, over the phone, via telegram, etc. It's a small thing, but it adds to the urgency of any problem, I find, because nothing is instantaneous. So, in that sense, I am giving credit to Ludlum for not using something he couldn't have in the first place, but insofar as this book is historical fiction, it could have been written forty years later and still work just as well.I really credit the writing style Ludlum uses in this novel, and I am very curious to see how it evolves in other books of his that are perhaps have more of a modern setting. There is a true postwar feel to a lot of the text and vernacular written for the characters that seems appropriate, and as a reader, I felt like this book could have just as easily been written in the 1950's. It speaks to an authenticity a lesser author would not employ.Before we ever got "The Osterman Weekend" or were introduced to Jason Bourne, there was "The Scarlatti Inheritance" from a world-renowned author, and I quite enjoyed the straightforwardness of this story. It was very easy to digest. Because of that fact, I'm eager to pick up another of Robert Ludlum's books soon.
What do You think about The Scarlatti Inheritance (2004)?
The Scarlatti Inheritance was not as good as I had thought before reading it. I have never really liked Robert's Ludlum's writing style but found a copy of his first work (I think) and decided to read it because I wasn't up to challenging Umberto Eco's confusing but brilliant writing just then. This book is alright in every regard: the characters are not horrible but not especially memorable, the action is good during some parts of the book but is notably lacking in other sections, the dialogue is really quite standard and boring, the setting is a bit varied but not enough. The mental imagery is not overly existent. Overall, a less then decent pulp paperback read and which I'll give to someone when I'm finished.
—Stefan
The Scarlatti Inheritance is the first thriller by Robert Ludlum, and it lacks some of the flair, suspense, and character development of the later works, such as the Bourne series. It is an interesting look at the lives of the idle rich in the 1920's combined with an overview of the world of corporate finance.In the story, we follow the lives of a great Italian-American family over three generations and two world wars. Elizabeth Scarlatti is the widow of the great man, and she lives to see her oldest son die in WWI and her next oldest son start WWII. The third son is a prominent character for the first half of the book, and then Ludlum seems to have forgotten about him. Maybe there are chapters about him not in the book, but left stuffed behind the couch at the Ludlum compound.The second son, Ulster Stuart Scarlet (nee Scarlatti) takes his inheritance and heads for the dark side in the 1920's, aiding and abetting the likes of Hitler, Hesse, and Goebbels. Actually "steals" would be a better word choice, for Scarlet stealthily removes bearer bonds and securities from the family trust vaults, sells them illegally outside the US, and then appears in Munich, to ingratiate himself with the leaders of the Beer Hall putsch.His arch-nemesis is the field accountant, government man Canfield, who links up with Elizabeth and Ulster's wife, to track him down. The denouement is a chilling scene in Switzerland, where all the world's great financiers have assembled to decide the political and economic fate of the world.One should remember how grounded in fact this story might be, as the Third Reich in its early days, had no shortage of admirers and supporters in the West. We all know the story of Charles Lindberg, King Edward VII, and Joseph Kennedy. When Robert Kennedy ran for President in 1968, he was still making excuses for the behavior of his late father in the 1930's. Of course, England in the 1930's was a hotbed of supporters of the fascist doctrines.In sum, pick another Ludlum thriller over this one. If you do take this one on, be sure to take notes (it is rather confusing, with random appearances of important characters), and don't expect any real surprises. It is not particularly well-written. Characters come and go with no development or resolution. In addition to the mystery of the third son mentioned above, there are others who pop in and out, like the Mafia, government agents, and household staff.
—Lesley
I've often grumbled about Robert Ludlum. His books were written in the 1970s and 1980s, so they often feel dated now. This book was written in the 1970s, but it's set during the Second World War, which means the author knew it had the potential to be dated at the start, so it feels less dated, despite being set further in the past.It's difficult to talk about the plot without giving away the story, but it can be said to focus on the son of an Italian immigrant, who you just know is up to good (he's a sociopathic), the mother and wife who try and hem him in, and the American federal Agent who's investigating the nefarious wrongdoings that he just knows the son is up to with the Nazis.All in all it's a good read, it rattles along at a goodly rate, and you'll find yourself comfortably ensconced in the middle of the book pretty fast.
—Jim
