Equal Danger

Last updated
Equal Danger
IlContesto.jpg
First edition
Author Leonardo Sciascia
Original titleIl contesto
TranslatorAdrienne Foulke
Country Italy
Language Italian
Publication date
1971
Published in English
1973
Media typePrint
Pages119 pp (first English edition, hardcover)
ISBN 0-06-013809-2
Preceded byLa corda pazza 
Followed byThe Wine-Dark Sea 

Equal Danger (Italian title: Il contesto) is a 1971 detective novel by Leonardo Sciascia where a police inspector investigating a string of murders finds himself involved in existential political intrigues. Set in an indeterminate country this novel is informed by the corrupt politics and the Mafia of Sciascia's experiences in 1970s Sicily.

Contents

Plot summary

The book starts with the murder of District Attorney Vargas, who is prosecuting a high-profile case. The subsequent investigation failing, the police assign the protagonist Inspector Rogas, "the shrewdest investigator at the disposal of the police," [1] to solve the case. While he is starting his investigation, two judges are killed. After Rogas discovers evidence of corruption surrounding the three government officials, he is encouraged by superiors "not to forage after gossip," but to trail the "crazy lunatic who for no reason whatever was going about murdering judges." [2] This near admission of guilt drives Rogas to seek out those wrongfully convicted by the murdered judges.

Rogas finds his likely suspect in Cres, a man who was convicted of attempting to kill his wife. Mrs. Cres accused her husband of trying to kill her by poisoning her rice, which she escaped only because she fed a small portion first to her cat, who died. Rogas concludes that he was probably framed by his wife, and seeks him out, only to find that he has sneaked away from his house. Meanwhile, another district attorney is killed, and eyewitnesses see two young revolutionaries running away from the scene. Rogas, close to finding his man, is demoted, and told to work with the political division to pin the crimes on the revolutionary Left.

From this point, Rogas finds Galano, the editor of a revolutionary paper, and has his phone tapped. This leads to Rogas discovering the Minister of Justice at a party with many revolutionary leaders. After this, he and the Minister have a discussion, where the Minister claims he would prefer the revolution, but feels the country is not ready. Following this, Rogas speaks to the President of the Supreme Court, who details a philosophy of justice wherein the court is incapable of error by definition. He also discovers that his suspect, Cres, is in the same complex as the President, but Rogas does not pursue him, hoping that he will kill the President. After Rogas realizes that Cres lives in the complex under a pseudonym and wasn't there to commit a murder, he meets with the Secretary-General of the revolutionary party. Both of them are killed. The book ends with the murder of the Secretary-General being blamed on Rogas.

Availability

Equal Danger is available in paperback under ISBN   1-59017-062-8 (New York: NYRB Classics, 2003).

Film adaptation

A film adaptation of Il contesto was directed by Francesco Rosi and released in Italy on 12 February 1976.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonardo Sciascia</span> Italian writer (1921–1989)

Leonardo Sciascia was an Italian writer, novelist, essayist, playwright, and politician. Some of his works have been made into films, including Porte Aperte, Cadaveri Eccellenti, Todo Modo and Il giorno della civetta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundiata Acoli</span> American political activist

Sundiata Acoli is an American political activist who was a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1974 for murdering a New Jersey state trooper. Acoli was granted parole in 2022 at the age of 85.

Triple Nine is an English language dystopian fiction television police procedural telecast on what was then the Television Corporation of Singapore's Channel 5 from 1995 to 1999. As the station's earliest attempt in an action-based drama series, the series revolved around the lives of a group of police officers, namely Inspector Mike Chin, Inspector Elaine Tay, and Sergeant Alan Leong from the Special Investigation Section of the CID.

<i>Made in U.S.A</i> (1966 film) 1966 French film

Made in U.S.A is a 1966 French crime comedy film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard, and starring Anna Karina, László Szabó, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Marianne Faithfull, Yves Afonso, and Jean-Claude Bouillon. It was a loose and unauthorized adaptation of the 1965 novel The Jugger by Richard Stark, and was also inspired by the 1946 Howard Hawks film The Big Sleep.

<i>Nemesis</i> (Nesbø novel) 2002 crime novel by Jo Nesbø

Nemesis is a 2002 crime novel by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø, the fourth in the Harry Hole series.

<i>Tattoo</i> (2002 film) 2002 German film by Robert Schwentke

Tattoo is a 2002 German film written and directed by Robert Schwentke.

<i>The Day of the Owl</i> 1961 crime novel by Leonardo Sciascia

The Day of the Owl is a crime novel about the Sicilian Mafia by Leonardo Sciascia, finished in 1960 and published in 1961.

<i>The "Human" Factor</i> (1975 film) 1975 British film

The "Human" Factor is a 1975 suspense-thriller film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring George Kennedy, John Mills, Raf Vallone, Rita Tushingham, Barry Sullivan, and Haydee Politoff. A young Danny Huston appears in his acting debut. The UK/US/Italy co-production was shot on-location in Naples. The soundtrack was by composer Ennio Morricone. It was Dmytryk's final theatrically released film.

<i>Illustrious Corpses</i> 1976 film

Illustrious Corpses is a 1976 Italian-French thriller film directed by Francesco Rosi and starring Lino Ventura, based on the novel Equal Danger by Leonardo Sciascia (1971). The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Case of the Hooded Man</span> 1912 murder in England

R v Williams (1913) 8 Cr App R 133 was a 1912 murder in England that took its name from the hood the defendant, John Williams, wore when travelling to and from court. After the murder of a police inspector in Eastbourne, with no witnesses and little forensic evidence, Edgar Power, a former medical student, told the police that his friend John Williams had committed the murder. Power helped the police conduct a sting operation to catch Williams; police also interrogated Williams's girlfriend Florence Seymour, who then confessed to having helped Williams hide the murder weapon.

"Sunday in the Park with Jorge" is the 240th episode of NBC's legal drama Law & Order, and the 11th episode of the 11th season. The title is a play on words on the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George.

<i>Star of Midnight</i> 1935 film by Stephen Roberts

Star of Midnight is a 1935 American mystery comedy film directed by Stephen Roberts. William Powell was loaned to RKO Pictures from MGM to star with Ginger Rogers.

<i>Shanghai Chest</i> 1948 film by William Beaudine

Shanghai Chest is a 1948 American mystery film directed by William Beaudine and featuring Roland Winters in his third appearance as Charlie Chan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assassination of Lalith Athulathmudali</span> 1993 murder in Kirulapana, Sri Lanka

Lalith Athulathmudali, the former Cabinet Minister of Trade, National Security, Agriculture, Education and Deputy Minister of Defence of Sri Lanka was killed at 8:10 p.m. Sri Lanka Time on 23 April 1993 in Kirulapana. Athulathmudali was fatally shot while addressing a gathering, approximately 4 weeks ahead of the Provincial Council elections for the Western Province, May 1993.

<i>Una storia semplice</i> (film) Film

Una storia semplice is a 1991 Italian drama film directed by Emidio Greco. It is based on the novel with the same name written by Leonardo Sciascia. It premiered at the 1991 Venice International Film Festival, in which it entered the main competition. The film was awarded with a Nastro d'Argento for best screenplay, two Globi d'oro for best film and best screenplay and a Grolla d'oro for best actor to the ensemble cast.

<i>Raven Black</i> 2006 novel by Ann Cleeves

Raven Black is a 2006 novel by Ann Cleeves that won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award for the best crime novel of the year. Raven Black is the first in the "Shetland" mysteries, a series of eight novels by Cleeves, composed of two quartets, all set in Shetland.

<i>Professor T.</i> (Belgian TV series) Belgian Dutch-language crime drama TV series

Professor T. is a Belgian TV drama series set in Antwerp about an eccentric professor at the University of Antwerp. Professor Jasper Teerlinck, a.k.a. Professor T, is a professor of criminology. Annelies Donckers, a former student of his who has become an inspector of the Federal Judicial Police, regularly summons the help of her former professor as a consultant. The show lasted for three seasons, released in 2015, 2016 and 2018. The producers, Skyline Entertainment, announced that the third season would be its last.

<i>The Girl in Room 105</i> Novel by Chetan Bhagat

The Girl in Room 105 is the eighth novel and the tenth book overall written by the Indian author Chetan Bhagat. The book became a bestseller based on prearranged sales alone. It tells about an IIT coaching class tutor who goes to wish his ex-girlfriend on her birthday and finds her murdered. The rest of the story is his journey where he stands by his ex-girlfriend after her death to find justice. The book also addresses the stereotypes and political issues in India.

<i>Pon Manickavel</i> (film) 2020 Indian action thriller film

Pon Manickavel is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by A. C. Mugil Chellappan of Kandaen fame. The film stars Prabhu Deva and Nivetha Pethuraj in lead roles. Music is scored by D. Imman. It is the 50th film of Prabhu Deva. The film was released on 19 November 2021. The film also marks the final film appearance of actor and director Mahendran, before his death on 2 April 2019. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

References

  1. p4 of 2003 edition.
  2. p8 of ibid.